CBD flowers have become popular among those who want the benefits of Cannabidiol (CBD) without feeling any psychoactive effects or being concerned about drug testing at work or school. It’s common knowledge that people often smoke weed to relax, sleep better, or relieve pain symptoms. Smoking CBD hemp flowers offers many of the same potential benefits, but without the THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) found in marijuana. But what does smoking CBD flowers actually do? And how do you use CBD flowers? This ultimate guide to using CBD flowers will answer all of your questions.
What are CBD Flowers?
First, we need to look at what CBD flowers are, and how they are different from marijuana. CBD flowers, also called CBD buds, are dried buds from hemp plants. The buds are actually harvested before the plant flowers. What sets CBD flowers apart from marijuana buds is that they contain no (or below the legal 0.3% amount) of THC—THC is the psychoactive compound in marijuana that causes the “high” feeling. CBD is one of many compounds present in CBD flowers, along with other common cannabinoids like CBN and CBG, and terpenes which provide a wide range of potential health benefits.
How does CBD work?
The human body produces cannabinoids naturally in the Endocannabinoid system (ECS.) However, it also needs external cannabinoids to achieve balance in the Endocannabinoid system. CBD is a cannabinoid that can help achieve just that—homeostasis.
The ECS is made up of two components — the cannabinoid receptors, which are found on the surface of cells in your brain and nervous system, and endocannabinoids that bind to these receptors. The endocannabinoids that bind to cannabinoid receptors can be produced internally (endogenous) or obtained externally (exogenous). Under normal conditions, both endocannabinoids and cannabinoid receptors are present in cell membranes. Depending on their location within the body, these receptors might activate different responses. CBD interacts with the ECS system by blocking or lowering some of its activities.
This is why CBD has become a popular alternative treatment for many conditions and ailments, including chronic pain, mental health conditions, Alzheimer’s disease, and many more.
How does CBD flower benefit you?
Many people who use CBD find that they experience relief from a variety of symptoms, such as pain, inflammation, arthritis, and general illness. This is also why many medical marijuana patients choose to go the CBD flower route over THC flowers—they want to reap the medicinal benefits without experiencing any psychoactive effects or “high” feeling. Here are a few potential benefits of using CBD flower:
CBD may help alleviate chronic pain. CBD binds to a receptor called TRPV1, which may be effective in lowering pain levels.
CBD may help improve mood and reduce feelings of anxiety, stress and depression. CBD binds with serotonin receptors in the brain to produce anti-anxiety effects.
CBD is an antioxidant that can help fight off free radicals. Free radicals are unstable chemicals that damage healthy cells.
CBD may help reduce seizures, particularly in patients with epilepsy. CBD also helps control, or attenuate, seizures and convulsions by binding to a receptor called GABA.
CBD has anti-inflammatory properties and may help with the reduction of inflammation in the body. Inflammation is often related to pain, so CBD can help ease your discomfort.
CBD may also improve sleep quality and support restful sleep. If you’re experiencing difficulty sleeping due to pain or illness, try taking a small amount of CBD before bed, and see if this helps.
CBD may help relieve nausea and vomiting. Studies suggest that CBD might help quell nausea because it interacts with serotonin receptors, although CBD is not as effective at relieving nausea and vomiting as THC derived from marijuana.
CBD may assist with regulating insulin production to help with diabetes management. In addition to its anti-inflammatory properties, early studies suggest CBD may improve insulin resistance, decreasing fasting plasma glucose, and improving pancreatic health.
This is just a small list and CBD flowers may be beneficial to your health in other ways as well. However, additional research needs to be done to better understand how CBD flower affects people suffering different conditions.
Does CBD Flower get you high?
No, CBD flower does not get you high. The low levels or lack of THC present means that CBD flower has none of the psychoactive effects associated with THC. So you can enjoy all of the health benefits without having to experience a high feeling.
What are the different types of CBD flowers?
There are many different strains of hemp with varying levels of CBD and THC. However, CBD flower strains generally fall into one of two categories: hemp-derived CBD flowers or marijuana-derived CBD flowers.
Marijuana-derived CBD flowers are typically used for medical applications, but hemp-derived CBD is more commonly used in personal care products and pet applications. This is because hemp has a much lower THC content than marijuana—usually under 0.3% THC while buds from marijuana plants may contain anywhere between 10 to 30% THC or higher.
While hemp-derived CBD flower strains may have low levels of psychoactive compounds like CBG or CBN, these cannabinoids do not produce the high feeling or psychoactive effects of THC.
How to Use CBD Flowers
Although there are many benefits to using CBD flowers, smoking them is one of the most popular and effective ways. However, it’s important to note that you cannot get high from smoking CBD. If you don’t want to inhale smoke, there are several different ways to use CBD flowers. Here are just a few of them:
Smoking Raw or Cured CBD Flowers
Smoking CBD flowers is a great way of absorbing CBD without requiring a vaporizer. If you’ve never tried this before (or are new to cannabis), it’s best to start off slow until you know how smoking will affect your body. Just like when starting any new medication, make sure you only take the recommended dosage (if any) and gradually increase over time as necessary for optimal results. Keep reading to learn how to smoke CBD flower.
Add CBD Flower to Edibles
Edibles are a very popular option for using CBD flowers as they offer increased bioavailability. If you have a cannabis cookbook, you can follow the recipes for many edibles that include CBD flowers. The bioavailability of CBD is around 6% when taken orally. However, when combined with fatty acids and proteins in the digestive system, it can have a bioavailability of up to 50% when taken orally. This means that it’s absorbed much better by the body and reduces the amount needed for the same effect.
Many people infuse CBD flowers into a cup of tea or coffee. To infuse your drink with CBD, put some ground CBD flower into a tea diffuser. If you’re making loose leaf tea, you can add it to your tea blend. Then, place the diffuser into either hot water or coffee and let seep for 3-5 minutes.
Vaporizing CBD Flower
Vaporizing CBD flowers is another way to enjoy the benefits of CBD. Vaporizing CBD flowers is an efficient way of delivering CBD to the body because vaporizing does not affect the cannabinoids.
How To Smoke CBD Flowers
When smoked, CBD flowers provide a non-intoxicating sense of relaxation and pain relief without the high caused by THC. CBD has been reported to reduce spasms, inflammation, anxiety, nausea, convulsions, and even raise your mood. Smoking CBD flowers is actually quite simple and only requires a few things:
- A joint, bowl or bong
- A quality CBD flower or bud
- Optional: filters
When smoking anything, filtering the smoke through water is always a good idea to minimize the number of harmful byproducts you’re inhaling. This can be done with joints by rolling them in cigarette papers beforehand, or by using a small pipe that has water built into it already. You can also use glass bowls designed for smoking CBD flower as well.
Once you have your materials, you’re ready to smoke your CBD flower. Keep in mind that your dosage will vary depending on how many cannabinoids are present within your strain of choice, as well as other factors like your age, weight, and fitness level, so it’s important to start off slowly until you know how you’re affected by CBD.
To smoke CBD flower, you first need to grind the bud using a grinder or by breaking it apart with your hands. This turns the CBD bud into a finer consistency which is easier to burn and smoke.
Next, sprinkle the ground CBD flower into a joint, pack it into a bowl, or load up your device of choice. Then, light it up, inhale, and enjoy.
If you smoke a lot of CBD flower at once, the smoke might get harsh in your throat. Try sipping on some water between hits to help clear the smoke out of your lungs and get rid of any irritation.
For those who want to smoke CBD hemp flower, but don’t want to go through the whole rolling process, you can buy CBD flower pre-rolls. CBD flower pre-rolls are conveniently rolled CBD joints that are ready-to-smoke.
What’s it like to smoke CBD Flower?
If you haven’t smoked CBD (or anything) before, you might be curious what it’s like to smoke CBD flower. Whether smoking a joint or using a vape pen, the experience can be broken down into two parts: the inhale and the exhale.
When you light the CBD joint or pre-roll, you will inhale on the end of the joint. The smoke travels from the end of the joint, up into your mouth. If you’ve never smoked before, you might be surprised at the taste and cough out the smoke. This is normal and unsurprising for first-time smokers. Try taking a smaller “hit” (inhale less) until you are used to the feeling. The end goal is to get a good inhale to help your body absorb the CBD.
While you might cough initially, try to keep the vaporized CBD or smoke in your lungs as long as comfortably possible. This gives your body more time to absorb the CBD into the bloodstream. Then, gradually exhale the smoke. Generally, the exhale is much less flavorful than the inhale. However, it does provide an opportunity for you to appreciate the aroma and taste of the flower.
How long does it take to feel the effects of smoking CBD flower?
The effects of smoking CBD flower are felt very quickly. It usually takes less than 10 minutes after your first inhaled to feel the effects (compared to 30 minutes or longer when taking CBD orally or topically.) This is because more CBD makes it into the lungs, where it is absorbed into your bloodstream more effectively.
Don’t be discouraged if you don’t feel anything after only a few puffs on the CBD joint. Wait a few minutes to give your body more time to absorb the CBD, as everyone’s body reacts differently and it may take a little more time. If after 10 minutes, you don’t notice any effects, take another hit or two of your CBD joint or vape pen and wait again.
Is CBD Flower Legal?
CBD flowers are legal in all 50 states, as long as they contain less than 0.3% THC. CBD is considered a controlled substance, but hemp-derived CBD products like CBD flowers and other CBD-infused products (e.g., CBD oils, CBD gummies) are exempt from the Controlled Substances Act. If you live in an area where CBD flowers are legal but THC is not, make sure you check the local laws to understand which types of CBD products are allowed.
Where can I buy CBD flowers?
You can easily buy CBD flowers online, where there are multiple strains and brands to choose from. Additionally, your local dispensary likely offers CBD flowers for sale, although there may be a limited selection. Consider buying your CBD flowers from a brand that specializes in CBD flowers when looking for premium CBD hemp flowers. At the moment, companies like Cannaflower and Secret Nature CBD offer great selections of high-quality, premium CBD flowers.
If you decide to buy your flower online, make sure you looking for a third-party Certificate of Analysis for the CBD flower you are buying. This lab report provides an analysis of the product so that you can see what percentage of cannabinoids are contained in each bud before purchase—this way, you may choose the finest quality buds with the best cannabinoid profile for your needs.
What are the best CBD flower strains?
There are numerous strains of premium CBD flower available to buy. Each strain has its own unique cannabinoid and terpene profile that provides a different experience.
There are several great CBD flower strains on the market right now including:
OG Kush from Cannaflower
OG Kush from Cannaflower is a hybrid strain originally from California. This strain has both indica and sativa properties, but its ratio leans more towards the latter. This strain is known for its cerebral high that uplifts moods and helps with stress relief. OG Kush has a light piney flavor, but it’s not nearly as pungent or harsh as other strains out there.
Frosted Kush from Secret Nature CBD
Frosted Kush CBD flower from Secret Nature CBD is a relaxing indica strain with a pungent aroma of sweet cream and fresh berries. Its exotic bud structure displays colors of neon green and frosted white. Frosted Kush is the perfect strain to wind down your day and enter into a more grounded state.
Hawaiian Haze from Avid Hemp
Haze Hawaiian Haze CBD Flower from Avid Hemp comes with a forward and sharp aroma of pineapple and citrus followed by subtle earthy floral notes. This tropical strain delivers a smooth floral taste and is a sativa, which is great for day-time smoking. Rich in bright fruity aromatics, Hawaiian Haze offers energizing clear-headed effects ideal for social occasions.
Conclusion
CBD flowers are a great way to enjoy the benefits of CBD without any psychoactive effects. We hope this guide has given you some insight into what CBD flowers are, the potential benefits of CBD hemp flowers, and how to use them. If you have any additional questions about CBD flowers or other CBD products, send us an email or leave a comment below!
Crystal is a qualified doctor and a sex and relationships adviser at Dimepiece LA. In her spare time, she enjoys nature and is a budding tennis enthusiast. Crystal is involved with several governmental and educational initiatives aimed at increasing awareness about sexual health and making free advice more accessible to everyone.
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