It is estimated that some 3.6 million in the UK now vape regularly, with this representing a rise of 12.5% in the last 12 months. Not only this, but vapers now comprise 7.1% of the total UK population, meaning more people are using e-cigarettes than ever before.
Of course, this has also created another way of consuming the cannabis-derivative cannabidiol (CBD), with CBD-infused e-liquids offering an option that is an incredibly convenient and highly effective way of taking your daily dose.
Despite this, some of you may still see CBD vapes as a trend or gimmick, so in this article, we’ll look at the benefits of vaping CBD while answering the question: why might you choose to vape over other consumption methods?
What’s the Difference Between CBD Oil and E-liquids?
CBD oils arguably remain the most popular way of consuming CBD, with these products typically manufactured by combining a CBD extract with a food-grade oil.
In the UK, CBD oils are most commonly made using olive, hemp or coconut oil, which in turn means that they’re not designed to be exposed to high heats or the process of vaporisation.
In contrast, CBD-infused e-liquids are produced by combining a cannabidiol extract with a thinning agent, usually either PG/VG or MCT.
These ingredients ensure that the liquid is thin enough to be vaporised safely and effectively, producing a clean and consumable vapour for inhalation.
Why Would You Choose to Vape CBD?
One of the main benefits of vaping CBD is the level of convenience that it provides, as cannabidiol-infused e-liquids can be consumed easily throughout the day.
Interestingly, vaping also provides the highest level of bioavailability, which refers to the proportion of CBD that actually enters your body’s circulation system once it has been introduced into the body.
More specifically, vaping CBD could offer an absorption rate of up to 56%, while it also takes between 10 and 20 minutes to take some form of effect. These figures compare favourably with other consumption methods, including oils, tinctures and edibles.
For example, ingesting CBD edibles provides a bioavailability rate of between 4% and 20%, while it can also take up to two hours to experience any kind of subsequent benefit.
Consuming an oil sublingually (or under the tongue) improves the absorption rate to an estimated 35%, while the time to take effect is reduced to a maximum of 25 minutes.
Interestingly, the consumption method that comes closest to matching vaping and e-liquids is topical, with products such as shampoos and moisturisers allowing CBD to be rubbed directly into the skin.
In this instance, the bioavailability rate can reach as high as 45%, although it should be noted that it tends to stay localised and enter small blood vessels only.
It can also take as little as 25 minutes to take effect, depending on your dosage levels and the precise nature of the CBD-infused product that you use.
You’ll also find that the best CBD vape liquids are often available in a large variety of flavours, enhancing the typical vaping experience and making CBD consumption arguably a little more appealing to newcomers.
For example, this flavour range includes sweet and fruity options such as mango or berry, so there should be something to suit every taste and preference.
Traditional Vapes vs. Sub-Ohm
If you intend to vape CBD using a traditional vape pen, you should note that this features a coil with a resistance that’s greater than 1 ohm.
Conversely, a customisable sub-ohm vape take employs an atomiser, which boasts a resistance that’s lower than 1 ohm.
What’s the importance of this, we hear you ask? Well, a lower level of resistance lends itself to the quicker and more efficient transfer of heat, which in turns results in the production of more vapour and an intensified flavour.
If you use flavoured e-liquids, you’ll already benefit from an enriched and optimised consumption experience, so the need to use a sub-ohm tank may be less pressing.
Currently, CBD Asylum is the only brand with a specially made sub-ohm CBD e-liquid available on the market. Always take care to ensure you buy the right product or your vape liquid may not be suitable for sub-ohm vaping!
How Do You Know if Your E-Liquid is Safe?
When shopping for CBD-infused e-liquids, it’s important to ensure that you’re buying a high-quality product from a safe and reputable brand.
Your first port of call should be to check the ingredients, as UK law dictates that all CBD products should be completely free from the psychoactive agent THC. So, if the ingredients include more than trace amounts of THC (0.2%), this product should be avoided at all costs.
We’d also recommend that you avoid diacetyl, which is an organic compound that has been unofficially linked to the development of lung conditions.
We also recommend that you only ever buy CBD products from retailers that provide lab reports for their products. Lab reports will show that the product has been tested by an independent body, and allow you to verify its ingredients list.
The lab report also provides the date of analysis and the precise levels of compounds such as THC, which allow you to make even more informed decisions when comparing the different CBD vape products available on the market.
