Smoking cannabis is one of the most traditional forms of enjoying the plant, dating back thousands of years in human history. Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, dozens of hemp vapes, CBD pre-rolls, cigarettes, and raw hemp flower are now legally available for smoking, as long as they contain less than 0.3% THC.
CBD has experienced a surge in national popularity due to its federally legal status, are options seem limitless when it comes to what kind of CBD products are available. While some may opt for discreet CBD gummies or capsules, smoking CBD is an experience in and of itself that many people prefer that offers powerful access to the wellness benefits of CBD.
Read on to learn everything about smoking hemp CBD and the benefits and drawbacks of this particular consumption method.
Key Takeaways
- CBD is a nonintoxicating cannabinoid that provides many health benefits and a general sense of wellness.
- CBD flower can be smoked in pipes, bongs, or rolled into cannabis cigarettes or joints.
- Smoking CBD flowers may be a healthier substitute to help those seeking to quit using tobacco cigarettes.
- Smoking any plant matter, including CBD, can introduce harmful carcinogens to the lungs.
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the most abundant chemicals in the hemp and cannabis plant, second only to the intoxicating THC. While CBD is nonintoxicating, it produces its own type of psychoactivity by relaxing the mind, lifting mood, and gently dulling the sensory experience of pain.
CBD acts as an “agonist” on the body, blocking certain endocannabinoid receptors but not directly acting on them. This means CBD can potentially mitigate the symptoms of a too-intense cannabis high but still prolong the duration of it by keeping other cannabinoids longer in your system.
Some people seek to combine THC and CBD to benefit from what’s known as the entourage effect, while other manufacturers are experimenting with more recently discovered cannabinoids such as CBG and CBN to explore different outcomes.
CBD works on many bodily functions run by the endocannabinoid system, serving as an anti-inflammatory, mood booster, pain soother, and immunosuppressant, among many other benefits. Many people consume CBD for specific health concerns, and many others use it to cultivate a sense of well-being and calmness.
Can You Smoke CBD?
While smoking weed is typically associated with high-THC flower, many smoke CBD flower using varying tactics. One can smoke high-CBD bud in a pipe or bong or break apart pieces to roll into a CBD joint or cigarette. CBD or hemp can be smoked the same way as any other cannabis flower, depending on user preference.
What Does Smoking CBD Feel Like?
People have different responses to smoking CBD based on the product and their unique metabolism, tolerance levels, and physiology. Some may feel a profound sense of calm, while others may not experience any mental effects whatsoever.
Smoking high-CBD flower with any amount of THC will also feel different than smoking hemp, thanks to the presence of other cannabinoids and terpenes. These varying compounds work together to create the entourage effect, a phenomenon in which a combination of cannabinoids and terpenes produce effects they otherwise wouldn’t individually.
CBD is nonintoxicating but generally produces a state of relaxation and peace. Some individuals (and research) claim that CBD makes them feel energized at lower doses, while higher doses seem more sedating.
Potential Benefits
So why smoke CBD, as opposed to other delivery routes? Compared to edibles or tinctures, inhaling CBD produces the fastest-acting relief. Edibles can take up to two hours for effects to kick in, while inhalation delivers CBD’s calming benefits within minutes, with effects peaking in 15-30 minutes.
Another interesting perk of smoking CBD may be as a way for those addicted to cigarettes to replace the smoking habit with a material less harmful than tobacco. Indeed, one recent study found that CBD itself reverses tobacco cravings, and the act of smoking CBD joints may serve as a healthier habit substitute.
While we lack more research exploring why smoking may be a better option for some, many anecdotal claims support the benefits of smoking CBD.
Potential Risks
The primary risk in smoking CBD (compared to edibles or other delivery methods) comes from using fire on any plant substance producing harmful byproducts. The act of smoking CBD burns the plant matter, and while CBD gets introduced to the lungs, so too do tars and carcinogens, which can increase lung-borne diseases such as cancer.
However, a few studies have found that those who smoke cannabis are less likely to develop lung cancer than those who smoke tobacco, possibly due to THC and CBD’s anti-tumor properties. However, no research has specifically explored the risks of smoking high-CBD flower.
Smoking CBD vs THC
CBD and THC are both cannabinoids found in the cannabis and hemp plants and have many similar effects on the body when consumed. However, THC is intoxicating and interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system, whereas CBD is nonintoxicating, though still psychoactive.
CBD affects the brain and body, but not to the same extent as THC, and doesn’t yield the same “high” for which marijuana is known. When CBD is present in cannabis flower, it can actually work to mitigate the intensity of THC’s psychoactivity and prolong its health benefits, such as pain management.
Smoking CBD is also federally legal, as long as you’re consuming hemp flower with no more than 0.3% THC per dry weight. As long as these rules are followed, it’s legal to smoke CBD anywhere in the United States, and consumers can even order hemp flower online. THC-containing flower is only permitted in states with adult-use or medical marijuana programs and can be purchased from licensed dispensaries.
The Bottom Line
Smoking CBD is a fast-acting and often enjoyable method to gain the benefits of CBD that’s worthy of your consideration. CBD flower can be smoked in a bong or pipe or easily rolled into a cannabis cigarette or joint.
However, if you want to avoid potential harm associated with smoking, EVN’s CBD shop has a full range of non-flower products such as gummies, rosin, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is smoking CBD safe?
Smoking CBD flower is generally considered safe, outside of risks associated with smoking any plant matter, including inhaling tars and carcinogens.
Can you smoke CBD oil?
CBD oil is consumed orally (as tinctures) or through vaporization via CBD oil vape cartridges. Generally speaking, oils are vaporized or ingested rather than smoked via introduction to flame.