Q: Can you vape CBD?
A: Yes, you can.
Q: Can you vape CBD oil tincture?
A: You can, but you SHOULD NOT!
Just as you shouldn’t ingest CBD vape juice or use it sublingually, it’s unwise to try and vape CBD oil tinctures.
- The ingredients of an ideal vape juice are unsafe to be used consumed orally (ingested or used sublingually), as it can potentially introduce some very harsh chemicals (no matter if the label says food-grade) into your digestive system.
- Tinctures contain some ingredients that certainly improve your experience when taken orally. But these very components that give you a nice feel in your mouth potentially mess up the experience when vaped.
So what are these components that make all the difference? Read on to find out…
Can you Vape CBD Oil Tincture?
(Contents of CBD tinctures)
Can… Yes. But should you…No!
Admittedly, inhaling CBD vape offers a more intense and fast relief. No wonder why more and more people are turning to this option these days. Recent research has even indicated that vaping CBD can help you quit smoking.
Even as a plethora of CBD products has become available to the common man, it has created more confusion for some. They’re confused about the terms – CBD oil, CBD tinctures, CBD vape oil, and even CBD vape juice.
CBD oil and CBD tincture usually mean the same thing and are often used interchangeably. But vape juice is something entirely different.
So, what makes CBD vape juices different from CBD tinctures?
For that, you must first understand what CBD tinctures are made of.
Components of CBD Tinctures:
- Carrier oil like hemp seed, olive, or MCT oil (a derivative of coconut oil)
- CBD isolate or full-spectrum CBD
- Natural flavorings (terpenes, etc.)
The issue is not with CBD or its spectrum or even the flavoring; it is with the carrier oils. These oils are actually real oils, vaping of which is not a pleasant experience. Tinctures don’t contain any kind of thinning alcohol, which is essential for any vape juice/oil, CBD or otherwise.
In fact, companies make it a point to ensure that their CBD tinctures and other edible CBD oils don’t contain any alcohols after the extraction production, as they would not only ruin the experience but will also be detrimental to a person’s health. Instead, they add oils that are largely high on fatty acids, as they not only get digested well, they also aid in the quick metabolism of CBD.
Making of CBD Tinctures
Meant to be consumed orally, CBD tinctures are made in a way completely different from vape oils. To make tinctures, CBD is first extracted from hemp by soaking its flowers and leaves in high-proof grain alcohol, followed by applying low heat over a long period to rid the extract of all the alcohol.
These days, CBD is usually extracted using the CO2 extraction method, instead of the alcohol method, making it even safer for human consumption.
The extracted CBD concentrate is then diluted with carrier oils, such as hemp seed oil, olive oil, or MCT (coconut-derivative) oil. Additional organic or artificial flavoring is also added in this phase to smoothen the hempy flavor of CBD oil.
So, what happens if you put any of these carrier oils into a vaporizer?
- Absence of thinning agents (alcohols) makes the CBD oil too thick, thus ending up clogging up your vape pen and damaging the coil set of your vaping device/vaporizer.
- Some vape juices DO contain MCT oil, but that doesn’t mean CBD tinctures mixed in MCT oil can’t be used, as the main thinning agents are missing.
- The carrier oils present in CBD tinctures are, in fact, oils, which when vaped through a vaporizer or vape pen will produce an awesome lot of unpleasant smoke, thus ruining the experience for the user.
- The usual thinning agents used in vape juice, i.e. propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG) (usually in 50:50 proportion), are suitable for being used with regular vape devices that use nickel, titanium or stainless steel coils. However, MCT oil needs a vape atomizer to break down into vapor and still, the experience is no good.
- The carrier oil-containing CBD oil is so thick that it would burn in a way that won’t be pleasant at all. The oxidized oils would leave an awful taste in your mouth and throat, and a weird smell in your nasal chamber. Besides, the thick smoke can also damage your lungs in the long run.
- MCT vapor is not good for health. A user runs the risk of suffering from a condition, known as lipid pneumonia. Lipid pneumonia is a condition in which fat molecules travel through the pulmonary system and reach the lungs, causing inflammation. This condition causes issues/triggers symptoms like:
- Fever
- Chronic cough
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Dysphagia (which is difficulty swallowing; rare)
- Hemoptysis (coughing up blood; also rare)
- Some alcohol-based tinctures are also available. But the alcohols used in those products are not suitable for inhaling. With such tinctures, there is also the fear of the tincture fluid catching fire.
So if you want to opt for the vaping method of using CBD oil, it is best to stick to products that are customized and optimized for vaping, often known as CBD vape oil or CBD vape juice.
So, what do CBD vape juices contain?
What you can Vape? CBD vape juice
To vape your CBD, you need to make sure your product contains thinning agents, like vegetable glycerin (VG) and/or propene glycol (PG). While some vape products have either, others contain both. The best carrier base for vape juices is a combination of these two ingredients in 40:60 (VG-PG) proportion.
Some CBD vape juices also contain MCT oil. But, as we have discussed earlier, it not offers a poor experience, it is also bad for health.
Ingredients Optimized for CBD Vape Juice/Oil
- Vegetable glycerin (VG) and/or propene glycol (PG)
- Usually, CBD isolate (makes it safer)
- Flavoring
Making of CBD Vape Juice
Meant to be inhaled with the help of e-cigarettes or vape pens, CBD vape oils are made by mixing CBD extract with thinning agents, as CBD concentrates are too thick to smoothly flow through vape pens.
Besides aiding the flow of CBD through the vaporizer, the intent of adding thinning agents is to create a higher volume, thinning out the dosage.
While propylene glycol (PG) or propanediol (PDO) is cheap and feels more like any other vape fluid, vegetable glycerin (VG or Glycerol) is costlier and produces a sweet and smooth taste and much more vapor. So, VG may seem like the best option. But, we still need PG, as CBD isolates aren’t entirely soluble in VG. Then again, a vape juice made entirely with PG as the sole thinning agent would be too harsh on our throat, causing dryness and cough.
Vaping vs. Sublingual CBD
Vaping CBD is one of the quickest ways of delivering CBD and it’s increasingly becoming popular among CBD users across the world. Meanwhile, CBD tinctures, which are used sublingually (i.e. under the tongue), is also quite a quick method of administering CBD. However, its effects take a little longer to take effect.
To get a broad idea about the differences between the two types of CBD products, and their uses, take a look at the table below:
Product Property | CBD Vape Juice | CBD Tincture |
Delivery Method | Inhalation, CBD is absorbed into the bloodstream by the alveoli of the lungs | Dropped under the tongue for the sublingual glands to absorb the CBD and pass it on into the bloodstream |
Dosage | Needs the least CBD dosage for any person | Needs a little more than vaping products, but much less than the ingested forms |
Time taken for CBD to take action | Around 1 – 3 minutes | Around 15 minutes |
Period for which effects last | 4 hours | 5 – 6 hours |
Bioavailability | 34 – 56% | 12%-35% |
Popularity | Increasingly popular | Already popular |
Convenience | Good for smokers, or those who are accustomed to using vape pens or other vaping devices; may take a bit of getting used to for new users | It’s easy for all to use. But carrying a bottle around and administering it under your tongue when you’re on-the-go can be a bit messy. |
Parting Thoughts: Making sure you’re vaping CBD vape oil
Not only is vaping CBD tinctures not suitable for vaping, but it can also be quite dangerous. So, make sure to keep your CBD tinctures and CBD vape oils separate and never interchange them while using them.
To ensure you are using only a CBD vape juice, and not a CBD tincture, to vape, look for these on the label:
- If the package says ‘tincture’, you know it’s not meant for vaping.
- If the directions suggest taking it orally, it’s not a vape juice.
- If the ingredients include Vitamin E, Omega-3, or Omega-6, it is a tincture, not a vape juice.
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