How to Vape CBD Oil
If you regularly deal with migraines or anxiety, you NEED to learn how to vape CBD oil.
There’s a reason why more and more people are turning to cannabidiol (CBD). Consumer Reports said that of the quarter of Americans who are using CBD, one out of every seven used it every single day. And there are so many ways to use CBD too! Some customers snack on edibles, others rub in topicals or ingest capsules. But for those of you looking for the fastest relief possible, you need to try vaping CBD oil.
If you’re unfamiliar with vaping, I get it, it can look a lot like smoking. And if you avoid smoking at all cost, fear not. Vaping is NOT the same. And if you DO enjoy the occasional smoke, then know that vaping CBD requires a different technique. Either way, if you need some CBD in your life right now, it’s important to know how to vape CBD oil.
What IS Vaping CBD Oil?
Vaping is when you inhale the vapor of a liquid (usually an oil). With the assistance of a vape pen, e-cig, or something with the ability to vaporize your preferred liquid, users are able to safely enjoy a variety of products.
According to research done by The Royal College of Physicians , vaping is 95 percent safer than smoking. Plus, the smell of vaping doesn’t cling to skin and clothing the way that smoking does. But is vaping CBD oil any different than vaping other products?
Not really. No matter what you’re vaping, the inhalation techniques are roughly the same. Vaping CBD products just means that you want to feel the medicinal benefits of CBD as quickly as possible. Like I said before, vaping is the fastest way to get CBD into your system.
When a substance is inhaled, your lungs process whatever you’re inhaling and plug it straight into your bloodstream. A lot of other CBD delivery methods have to go through your digestive system, which can take quite a while depending on your metabolism. But since your blood can make a round-trip to your heart in about a minute, that’s how fast it takes CBD to reach wherever you need it.
What Equipment Do You Need?
So now you’re convinced that vaping CBD oil is right for you, and you can’t wait to get started, so you get online to purchase...vape cartridges? Pens? Do you need batteries or do they plug into a wall thingy? What about the actual CBD Oil? Will any oil work?
At first, vaping can be overwhelming. While the science is pretty simple, there’s a surprisingly large amount of technology that goes in to vaping. And there’s a LOT of equipment to choose from, too. But the four basic pieces of equipment you need to have are a vape battery, the heating element (sometimes called an atomizer), the mouthpiece, and the oil chamber.
Vape Pens
Your standard vape pen has all of those items packaged neatly within its sleek body. Within this category, I’m also including e-cigarettes and pocket vapes. They have different shapes and looks, but they’re equally portable and function the exact same way.
The heating element is usually a coil inside the chamber. As the coil heats up, the oil vaporizes allowing you to inhale it through the mouthpiece. Most vape pens need to be charged so that you can easily vape your CBD oil on-the-go. Vape pens are practical, often disposable, travel-friendly, and they can be pretty stylish. They’re easily one of the most popular ways to Vape CBD Oil.
However, CBD Central says that one of the main drawbacks to using a vape pen is that the coils will eventually burn out. And for most CBD vape pens, when that happens, you throw the device in the trash. If you’re in it for the long-haul and want something that will last longer, you may want to upgrade to a tank-style, aka mod box, vape.
Vape Mods/Tanks
According to Vapor DNA, not only do they have a longer lifespan than pens, they also “have a larger battery, adjustable settings in many cases, and produce a larger more powerful vapor cloud when being used. They can be recharged, can have their batteries replaced, and come in a wide variety of styles, colors, and shapes.” If you’re a veteran vaper and plan to make vaping your main method for CBD use, I would consider a tank.
But if you’re just starting out and that all sounds like too much work, then stick with the vape pens. They’re seriously simple. Also, they’re less bulky and don’t require the manual adjustments that the tank/mod versions require.
What Kind of CBD Oil You Should Use
You’ve purchased your vape pen or tank, and you can’t wait to try it out. But now you have to figure out what CBD oil to use. This can be another tricky shopping obstacle to maneuver. To make sure that you’re getting the right product, choose a high-quality CBD vape oil from a trusted brand.
A lot of products contain additives and other substances that can be harmful to your overall health. That’s why finding the right product is so important. There’s no point in reaping the benefits of CBD oil if you’re just going to inhale it along with harmful substances.
Avoid products that use propylene glycol and polyethylene glycol. When heated, these substances can turn into formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. Hail Mary Jane also recommends avoiding artificial flavors.
You should only be purchasing from brands that disclose their full ingredient list, have been tested by third-party labs. Don’t forget to opt for products that are full-spectrum, too. A full-spectrum product contains the largest amount of beneficial properties, like terpenes and other cannabinoids, from the hemp plant.
How to Vape CBD Oil
Once you’ve chosen your equipment and found the right CBD oil, it’s time to light em’ up! I mean...click your buttons? When I said that vaping wasn’t the same as smoking, I wasn’t kidding!
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Read the Instructions/User-Manual
I know it seems like common sense, but you’d be surprised how many people forget to read the instructions. I had a vape pen once that needed me to click the main button five times just to turn it on, then I had to wait for a second, then I needed to click it twice more to heat up the coils, and THEN I could hold the button down while I inhaled the vapor. Not all of them are like that. So make sure you read the instructions to find out what the exact method is.
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Load Your Oil or Oil Cartridge
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Make Sure to Charge the Battery
Again, I know it seems like common sense...but I’ve made this mistake myself. I was so excited about my new vape pen, I thought I had done everything right, and I made sure to tell that to the sales clerk when I returned the pen. Let me tell you, my face turned red from embarrassment when he asked me if I had charged it at all. The pen was perfectly fine, the problem was all me. Lesson learned.
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Inhale and Exhale
General Vaping Etiquette
While vapor dissipates quickly and without odor, there are still some general pieces of etiquette you’ll want to follow. Since vaping is a relatively new phenomenon, not everyone believes it’s polite to vape in public. Some businesses are fine with it, while others aren’t. Until you’re absolutely positive vaping is allowed, don’t assume you can.
If you’re at someone’s home, always ask if you can vape before dousing their living room in a vapor cloud. Even if you’re at a bar that’s perfectly fine with vaping, always ask your companions first.
Luckily, second-hand vapor isn’t really a thing. Vaping 360 even says, “The vapor from e-cigs doesn’t have any carbon monoxide or tar ...The levels of toxicants are tiny compared to those in smoke, which means the dangers of second hand vaping are even less significant.” Even so, don’t be that guy. Ask first!
Mastering the Art of Vaping CBD Oil
Sorry, but no one masters the art of vaping CBD oil overnight. But it’s easy enough that you could probably do it in a few days. The equipment can be intimidating, but using it isn’t too bad.
If you’ve never used CBD products at all, the best rule of thumb to follow is “start low and go slow.” That is, start with low levels of CBD, inhale small amounts of vapor at first, and inhale and exhale slowly.
You may find that you want a higher amount of CBD to feel the medicinal benefits. Or maybe you just want to keep your vaping equipment with you so you can use it throughout the day. That’s the beauty of it! Figure out what works best for you and go from there.
As always, consult with your doctor before ingesting any substances that could affect your body. That goes double if you’re trying to substitute CBD for any prescription medications. It is never recommended to do that without doctor approval.
Let us know in the comments what your first vaping experience was like! If you haven’t tried it yet, let us know if you have any questions. And if you feel like a CBD Oil Vaping Master then leave any tips you may have for beginners down below in the comments.
Hannah Walker is a mostly-retired University English instructor who spends her time freelance copywriting. When not doing that, she’s writing articles related to CBD, skincare, and/or media. With an MA in English-Creative Writing she’s probably working on a creative piece at this very moment. See more about Hannah’s work on her website or on Instagram.