How To Vape CBD Oil
The CBD market can sometimes be a little inconsistent with its terminology.
Many people will recognise the term CBD oil, but depending on who you ask it could mean anything from a CBD extract mixed with a carrier oil, to a pure extract of CBD and nothing else, to a CBD vape juice.
Because of this misunderstanding many people end up purchasing a CBD oil thinking that it can be used in a certain way, when in fact it cannot. One of the worst cases of this is with CBD oil and vapes.
A CBD oil - also called a CBD tincture - is designed to be taken either topically or sublingually. In certain cases CBD oil can be used in a vape, however this is often not the case.
Great care needs to be taken to ensure that you are using the correct CBD products in the best way possible. If you are wondering whether or not you can use your favourite CBD oil in your vape, we’re here to help.
We’ll take you through the specific requirements, the steps to using some CBD oils in a vape, as well as a few tips and alternative options to help you get the best from your CBD experience.
Can CBD Oil Be Vaped?
Unsure about how to vape CBD oil? That’s entirely understandable, the information around vaping CBD oil is far from clear.
Some retailers will sell CBD oils, CBD e-liquid and CBD boosters almost interchangeably, with little distinction between these vastly different products.
Although certain CBD oils are suitable for vaping, these are somewhat rarer than the many other CBD oils out there.
The vast majority of CBD oils are designed to be taken sublingually, meaning dropped directly under the tongue and held for a short amount of time before swallowing.
This allows the CBD itself to enter the bloodstream more directly than if ingested, and does indeed use a similar principle to how CBD enters your body when vaped, however, one key aspect of these oils prevents them from being vaped at all: MCT oil.
MCT oil is a smooth, flavourless, odourless carrier oil used by many CBD manufacturers as the primary carrier for their CBD oil.
Whilst it is perfectly safe to ingest, it is not suitable for vaping. As well as a range of health risks incurred when inhaled, MCT oil is simply not designed to deal with the temperatures a vape coil will heat it to.
Vaping MCT oil will not just risk damage to your lungs, it will likely damage your vape as well, leaving behind a thick residue that could easily ruin your coil.
If your product contains MCT it will be clearly labelled on the ingredients list. If you aren’t sure whether your CBD oil has MCT or not, do not try to vape it. It just isn’t worth the risk.
There are plenty of CBD oils out there that do not contain any MCT. If you’re certain that your favourite CBD oil is entirely MCT free, then it should be safe to add to a vape with the following method.
The Steps
Once you’re certain that your CBD oil is safe to vape, the steps for using it are fairly straightforward. Just add a few drops of the CBD oil to your tank, being careful not to get any onto the coil itself.
Top your tank up with your preferred e-liquid, swirl it a little to make sure it’s all properly mixed, then vape as you usually would.
We would advise you not to use more than one or two drops of oil for every tank, as this will degrade the overall quality of your vaping experience.
Trying to vape CBD oil without any e-liquid to dilute it, even in small quantities, will result in significant damage to your vape and likely incur health risks.
It is also worth noting that you should add a sufficient quantity of e-liquid, as too little will also likely result in a damaged coil and a generally unpleasant experience.
Extra Tips
In general we would advise CBD users to try a CBD e-liquid over mixing CBD oil with a conventional e-liquid. CBD e-liquids have been designed specifically to allow CBD to be safely and effectively vaped.
These products use the conventional carrier elements of e-liquids (vegetable glycerine and propylene glycol) rather than any kind of oil, ensuring both effective evaporation of the CBD and avoiding any excessive residue.
In general, a CBD e-liquid will give you a more straightforward, more effective and consistent CBD experience than repurposing CBD oil.
If you are set on adding CBD oil to your conventional e-liquid, make sure you avoid any e-liquids that contain nicotine.
Nicotine and CBD tend to break each other down when mixed together, inhibiting their mutual effects and generally being a waste of both e-liquid and CBD.
If you’re finding that you want to add some CBD to a conventional e-liquid, consider a CBD booster shot instead.
These products are designed specifically to allow you to add a good dose of CBD to any conventional e-liquid, though again nicotine e-liquids should be avoided.
Like CBD infused e-liquids, they use VG and PG rather than any kind of oil, so they both vaporise well and mix with e-liquids without issue.
If you want to double-down on this approach, consider a combination of a CBD booster with a shortfill e-liquid, giving you a fantastic range of customisation in your CBD experience.
Summary
CBD oil is not designed to be vaped. Even those that are free from MCT oil have not been developed with vaping in mind, so it is far from the best way to enjoy them.
If you love the flavour of your CBD oil, there’s a good chance that it will be lost through vaping, as the flavourings are not designed to reach those temperatures or persist in a vapour form.
Many people want to add a CBD kick to their favourite e-liquids, but that is what CBD boosters are there for.
The CBD market is filled with well designed CBD e-liquids, from those with complex flavours and fruity tastes to those designed specifically to carry an authentic smell and taste.
Adding CBD oil to an e-liquid is far from your only option for CBD vaping, something we hope this article has highlighted to you.
The CBD industry is filled with many different ways to get your CBD, from the utilitarian to the indulgent, and CBD oils are a cornerstone of that practice.
The lack of standardised terminology certainly has caused issues in the past, unintentionally misleading customers and leading to disappointment.
At Orange County CBD we consider knowledge of a product just as important as the excellence of the product itself, so we always encourage you to do your research before you buy and to only purchase your CBD vapes from those trustworthy, reliable suppliers.