The Ultimate Guide to Vaping CBD Oil

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Vaping CBD oil means heating CBD oil in a pen or tank, or CBD-rich flower in a desktop device, and inhaling the vapor, which acts within minutes; the FDA has warned against THC vaping products tied to lung injuries, and CBD labels may not match what is inside. The most studied cannabis compounds are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). The FDA has approved THC-type drugs for chemotherapy nausea and AIDS-related appetite loss, and one CBD drug for rare seizure disorders; unlike THC, CBD does not cause a high.

What Are the Medical Benefits of CBD Oil?

Purified CBD is FDA-approved only as Epidiolex, a prescription drug for seizures in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, Dravet syndrome and tuberous sclerosis complex. For other ailments, the evidence is early or limited.

Chronic pain: a 2018 review of 47 studies, NIH reports, found a small benefit for cannabis and cannabinoids in chronic pain, one it says may be too small to matter to patients. NIH’s summary does not report trials of CBD alone for fibromyalgia or cancer pain.
Anxiety: NIH finds a small amount of evidence that cannabinoids might reduce anxiety, including one study of 24 people with social anxiety disorder. For PTSD, NIH says studies have not shown clearly whether cannabis helps or harms, and its summary does not cover depression or OCD.
Cancer: Some lab and animal studies have tested CBD on tumor cells, but the FDA has not approved CBD to treat cancer and has warned companies that claim it does.

These are reasons people give for using CBD oil. Vaping is only one way to take it. CBD also comes in edibles, capsules and tinctures placed under the tongue or added to food.

Swallowed cannabinoids take longer to act than inhaled ones: for THC, effects start 30 to 90 minutes after eating, versus within minutes when inhaled. But inhaling vapor brings its own risks: NIH reports that the FDA warned the public not to use vaping products that contain THC, which were implicated in many cases of serious lung injury.

Smoking vs Vaping

CBD can be inhaled by smoking high-CBD flower or by vaporizing it. A 2007 study found a dry herb vaporizer produced less carbon monoxide than smoking, and a 2009 lab study found a better ratio of cannabinoids to by-products in vapor made at 200 to 230°C than in smoke. Vapor still carries risks, and NIH notes that CBD products sold over the counter may contain THC.

Ways to Vape CBD Oil

If you are considering vaping CBD oil, it helps to know the four main kinds of hardware and the risks each carries.

Pre-filled CBD pen: a battery plus a pre-filled CBD oil cartridge that you replace when it runs out. You cannot see what is inside the cartridge, so the lab report matters.
Disposable CBD vape pen: similar to disposable e-cigarettes sold in convenience stores. Contents vary widely, and federal health agencies report CBD amounts that differ from labels.
Refillable tank vapes: you fill the tank yourself, so the liquid is your choice, and labels on CBD products may not match what is inside.
Desktop vaporizers: plug-in devices that heat dried plant material and send the vapor through a tube or into a bag. Lab tests show electric models release cannabinoids without burning the plant.

Choosing a CBD Oil

The CBD oil market has little federal oversight. The FDA has concluded that CBD products cannot be sold as dietary supplements, and NIH notes labels may not match what is inside. Because of this, you need to be sure you’re choosing a quality CBD oil. Here are some things to consider:

Where was it tested? A product’s origin tells you less than its lab report. Florida requires hemp extract to have a certificate of analysis from an independent lab before sale.
The manufacturing process is important. Poor extraction can leave solvents such as butane in the oil. Ask for a lab report that tests for residual solvents.
Look at whether the label says full spectrum, broad spectrum or isolate. Full spectrum products keep trace THC, which raised CBD absorption in one rat study; benefits in people are unproven.
Check the THC amount. Hemp may hold up to 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight today, and a federal limit of 0.4 mg of total THC per container is delayed until December 11, 2026.
Check the added ingredients. CBD oil is often thinned with other liquids before it can be vaped, and those liquids are inhaled too, so avoid any product without a full ingredient list and a lab report.

Vaping CBD acts faster than swallowing it, but it adds lung risks and the product may not match its label. If you are using CBD oil for your health, ask your doctor which form, if any, is safe with your other medicines.