The landscape of the CBD industry has changed a great deal over the past few years. Once upon a time, CBD oil for oral consumption was virtually the only type of CBD product that was available, and it was the only type of CBD product that anyone used. Companies quickly realized, though, that there was significant demand for different types of CBD products. People were interested in easier ways of taking CBD, so products like CBD capsules and CBD gummies became popular. Topical CBD products became popular among people who wanted to target specific bones or muscles. For people who wanted the fastest-acting CBD products available, vaping became popular as a method of consuming CBD – and today, CBD vape cartridges are hot sellers for many of the world’s top CBD brands.
Most CBD companies, however, don’t sell vaping equipment – they only sell the pre-filled cartridges. What that means, then, is that you’ll get your CBD vape cartridges from one vendor, and you’ll need to buy your vaping device from a vape shop like ILL! HQ.
So, can you use CBD vape cartridges with any vape pen or mod? What type of device is best for vaping CBD, and how do you use CBD vape cartridges? This brief guide serves as your introduction to using CBD vape cartridges.
What Is a CBD Vape Cartridge?
A CBD vape cartridge is a threaded cartridge that’s pre-filled with liquid CBD for vaping. Most CBD cartridges are made from powdered CBD isolate diluted in propylene glycol or an oil such as MCT oil. Since CBD vape cartridges are generally made from CBD isolate, they usually contain no detectable THC. They may, however, contain flavor enhancers such as food-grade flavorings or plant-derived terpenes.
What Type of Vaping Device Works Best for CBD Vape Cartridges?
The best type of device for CBD vape cartridges is one that’s designed to operate at a low wattage. That’s because CBD oil is a delicate substance that vaporizes at a relatively low temperature. With a vaping device that’s designed to operate at higher temperatures, CBD oil can burn. That could harm the effectiveness of the CBD, and it can also make your vaping experience unpleasant.
The best thing about CBD vape cartridges is that they typically conform to a vaping industry standard called “510.” Virtually every vaping device on the market has 510 threading, which means that a CBD vape cartridge will generally fit on just about any vaping device. That’s the good news.
The bad news is that a great many of the vaping devices sold today are designed to operate at high wattages. A device that has a large, boxy shape is usually optimized for maximum cloud production and may have a very high wattage range. Such a device isn’t ideal for CBD vaping because it’s much more power than you need and because it may cause a CBD vape cartridge to produce harsh “dry hits.”
The ideal device for CBD vaping is usually the smallest and simplest vape pen you can find. If the vape pen has just a single fire button and is small enough to fit in your pocket, it’ll probably work well for CBD vaping. Ideally, the device should operate somewhere in the range of about 8-12 watts. You may even find devices that are specifically advertised as being for “vape carts,” which is perfect.
What’s the Most Important Thing to Know About Buying CBD Vape Cartridges?
The most important thing to know about buying CBD vape cartridges is that it’s always best to buy from a company that sends its cartridges to a third-party lab for testing. That’s because of EVALI, the vaping-related lung injury that seems to stem from vape cartridges containing Vitamin E. Vitamin E has been found in both THC-based and CBD-based vape cartridges, and it’s conceivable that even a reliable CBD brand could have a supply of CBD vape cartridges tainted with Vitamin E because of the way the CBD industry works. Most CBD brands do not grow or extract their own hemp. Instead, they buy ready-made products from outside suppliers and therefore do not supervise every aspect of the extraction process. Before you buy CBD vape cartridges, you should make sure that the seller has sent samples of those cartridges to a third-party lab to confirm that no Vitamin E is present.
How to Use a CBD Vape Cartridge
CBD vape cartridges are very simple to use. They come out of the box pre-filled and ready for vaping, and when a cartridge is empty, you just throw it away.
If you’ve used another form of CBD – like oral CBD oil – before, there are three things that you should know about CBD vape cartridges before you begin using one.
- When you use an oral CBD product, your liver process and neutralizes a portion of the CBD before the rest reaches your bloodstream. That’s called the first-pass effect. CBD that you inhale isn’t processed by the liver. It’s more bioavailable, which means that you should start with a lower dose than what you might normally use.
- Inhaled CBD reaches your bloodstream much more quickly than CBD that you consume orally. You’ll begin to feel the effects of a CBD vape cartridge in seconds rather than hours. Don’t overuse a CBD vape cartridge until you’re certain that you understand how it affects your body.
- CBD vape cartridges are more expensive than CBD oil on a dollars-per-milligram basis. If you vape constantly without ever taking a break, you’re likely to drain a cartridge very quickly. You might find that combining vaping with an oral CBD product helps you conserve your supply of CBD vape oil.
To use a CBD vape cartridge, start by connecting it to a charged vaping device. If the device has adjustable wattage, use the lowest available setting. You can raise the wattage as you go if needed, but it’s important to start at a low wattage because that’ll ensure that you don’t burn the CBD or singe the cartridge’s delicate wick.
Place the tip of the cartridge in your mouth and inhale while holding the fire button on your vaping device. If your device has no fire button, just inhale. Draw the vapor into your lungs and hold it there for several seconds before exhaling.
In a typical vaping session, you’ll probably puff on your CBD vape cartridge about five times. After you’re done, take a break and give the CBD a little time to work its way through your system. You can use a CBD vape cartridge as often as you like, but it’s wise to take breaks between your vaping sessions to conserve your supply of CBD vape oil and avoid waste.
