Vaping: the most effective way to use CBD

Photo credit: www.blacknote.com

Cannabis use has reinvented itself at a furious pace in recent years. Only a few decades ago, very few people had heard of cannabidiol (CBD), and vaping cannabis was just as unusual. But times change, and as more and more users start to choose vaporizers over the classical joint - which is far more damaging to the body than water vapour - companies are beginning to see these devices as the future of the industry.

Meanwhile, cannabidiol is gaining support as a non-psychoactive substance both from medical practitioners and from new users who want to unwind after a hard day at work while saving themselves the psychoactive effects of THC. In fact, this novel combination gives users the possibility of enjoying cannabis in a healthier, more laid-back way but also more effectively - CBD has been found to give the best results when vaped. Find out why below.

The bioavailability of CBD

The growing demand has resulted in a myriad of CBD products being medically available. These include everything from spray cans, sublingual drops, chewing gums and tablets, but not all the methods are as effective. With some, a large part of the ingested CBD doesn't make it to the bloodstream, just a small amount travelling through the blood and having an effect on the body. Scientifically speaking, this is referred to as bioavailability, which is largely dependent on the route of administration of the substance, CBD in this case.

The oral bioavailability of CBD, for instance, is about 15%, which means that out of 100 mg of cannabidiol just 14 mg would make it to the bloodstream, the rest building up in the body's fat deposits. This is because CBD is a hydrophobic cannabinoid - i.e. not water-soluble - which does not enjoy coming into contact with blood, and this dramatically reduces the amount of bioactive CBD in the bloodstream.

Likewise, the ingestion of CBD triggers the so-called first pass effect, a phenomenon whereby CBD's concentration of bioactive compounds is reduced in the liver before it can reach the intestine. And this is precisely where vaping comes in, as it allows to avoid the tolls CBD has to pay before reaching the bloodstream.

Vaporised CBD oil

When vaping, CBD goes straight to the lungs, and from there it is transferred to the bloodstream without passing through the intestine or the liver, completely neutralising the first pass effect and nearly quadrupling the amount of CBD that riches the bloodstream, which, in turn, results in a bioavailability of 50-60%. This means basically that vaping can have the same effect as oral administration, but with a substantially smaller amount of CBD.

Another upside to vaping is that the CBD kicks in much faster because there's no need to wait for it to be digested - a vaped CBD-rich oil or concentrate takes effect 30 to 60 minutes sooner than orally administered CBD. This, together with the cost-saving that comes with a smaller dose, makes vaping not only the most effective way to use CBD, but also the preferred choice of users.

As for the size, there are all sorts of options available, including 100 ml bottles with a CBD concentration of 25 mg and even 500 mg. This, of course, can overwhelm the uninitiated, who might find themselves at a loss to find the dose that works for them. As one man's meat is another man's poison, the advice is clear: start with a small dose (10-15 mg of CBD) and increase it gradually until you find the amount that works best for you, one that makes you feel relaxed yet awake. And remember that with CBD you have to look for significantly higher concentrations, expressed in tens of mg, than with THC - CBD doses can be up to 10 times higher than THC doses.

Photo credit: Vapor Vanity

Other benefits of vaporizers

Vaping is a fairly reliable way to avoid the problems that come with the inhalation of burning plant material - CBD oil vapour is easier on the lungs than the harsh smoke of cigarettes - and has no match when it comes to dose control. Instead of binge smoking or having some more edibles because they haven't kicked in yet, with vaporizers you get full control over the dose. And as it takes effect faster, you can make adjustments as you go.

Portable and versatile, vaporisers can be taken anywhere and everywhere, and are one of the most discreet ways to enjoy cannabis - the oil format tends to mislead the ordinary citizen, who is more used to the frowned-upon ritual of crumbling the buds. Besides, portable vaporisers are virtually odour free, so no-one can know what's inside. And if you're in an indoor environment, you won't have to worry about the smell clinging to the walls or to your clothes.

Definitely, vaporisers have revolutionised the way we interact with cannabis, and, if as a user, you have turned to CBD or are considering to do show, just know that responsible vaping is the fastest, cheapest and most effective way to enjoy it.