According to Action on Smoking Health, more than 3.5 million people use e-cigarettes (vapes) in the UK today – almost five times more than back in 2012. Vaping has become extremely popular as it’s relatively cheap compared to smoking cigarettes and is widely considered to be a less harmful option. In the same time, CBD consumption has also been on the increase, naturally leading to a crossover of the two products. However, we must be aware of the risks that may come with vaping CBD.
You might have heard a thing or two about the reported benefits of vaping. The e-liquid contains a mix of nicotine, water, solvents, and flavours, and its lack of tobacco is usually considered to be the biggest selling point of the products. It has often been reported that vaping helps to quit smoking cigarettes and to relax. On the other hand, it must be underlined that this is yet to be proven.
So, what is Vaping?
E-cigarettes are free from tobacco, but this doesn’t mean that they don’t contain a lot of harmful chemicals. While traditional cigarettes can harm the smoker in the long run and could lead to severe, painful health issues, such as lung cancer, emphysema, and heart attacks, research has found that vaping may also lead to serious health problems.
Usually, these issues are the results of consuming, cheaply-made e-liquids that contain more toxic chemicals. In addition, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH), vaping has been found to potentially cause cell mutation, leading to an increased risk of lung cancer in mice.
The Recent Vaping Illness Outbreak
Vape products made headlines around the world last year when a large number of users experienced lung illnesses. The majority of these cases were reported in the USA. A number of people suffered from life-changing illnesses, and some even died from vape-related complications. Some rehabilitation centres even created addiction treatment programs to help people stop vaping.
It is widely accepted that the complications were the result of cheap vapes containing unapproved ingredients. Some sources believe that unregulated products containing cannabis derivatives may also have played a role in the outbreak.
CBD and Vaping
CBD can be consumed in a number of ways, and vaping is one of the most popular methods. However, both the risks and benefits of CBD vaping should be considered. To inhale the product, smokers use CBD disposable vape pens with cartridges that serve as e-cig tanks filled with ‘e-juice’.
Some might be surprised here to learn that CBD made directly for consuming via a vaporiser doesn’t actually contain oil. CBD vape products are made using food ingredients and are completely different from CBD oils. If you are thinking about vaping CBD, you should always make sure that the product was designed for this purpose. Vaping CBD oils, as opposed to e-liquids, can cause health complications associated with the lungs.
But is it for me?
Despite the aforementioned horror stories, we do know that there are a number of potential benefits of vaping CBD.
First and foremost, it is absorbed rather quickly, thanks to the high absorption rate in the lungs. Vaping is the most efficient way to take CBD and effects last around 1 to 3 hours. Many users report that it eases anxiety and stress as well as offering pain relief.
You must be careful, though, as if the juice contains anything other than “Propylene Glycol (PG), Vegetable Glycerin (VG), CBD extract, terpenes, and cannabinoids, then it’s most likely unsuitable for inhalation.”
The label must be clear, and it must contain words like “vaping”, “vape juice”, “e-liquid” or “e-juice”. In a highly unregulated market, it is crucial that CBD vape products are always thoroughly inspected and consumed with caution.
