Healthcare Technology Featured Article

June 03, 2021

What You Need to Know About CBD Cigarettes




Since the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized the production of industrial hemp, the popularity of CBD cigarettes has been on the rise. As a result, tobacco smokers began to add non-addictive, non-toxic CBD cigarettes to their product lines. 

A survey of over 5,000 CBD users found that 24% have used hemp to quit smoking, and quitters replaced tobacco with vaping or smokable hemp, according to the data provided by the Brightfield Group, a firm that studies the CBD market. The same report also added that 41% of quitters have completely replaced their tobacco with hemp CBD.

Evidently, there isn’t a more satisfying CBD product for smokers than hemp cigarettes. However, not all American smokers know what CBD cigarettes are. 

There’s much more to learn about this interesting product. And to explain this, you will need to continue reading.

CBD Cigarettes vs E-cigarettes vs Vaping CBD Oil

Cannabidiol (CBD) has been discovered to help with anxiety, chronic pain, and even rare forms of epilepsy. And now, CBD is also being studied for its effectiveness as an aid to quitting smoking, based on the report on PR Newswire.

Because of this, an explosion of CBD companies began to develop new products, including CBD vapes, and E-cigarettes products to meet the changing needs of their consumers. Let’s take a closer look at each of these products and what users and studies say about them.

CBD Cigarettes

Also called CBD pre-rolls or CBD joints, CBD cigarettes contain ground-up CBD-rich hemp flowers rolled into smokable products that look like a regular cigarette, only that it’s filled with CBD. In some cases, CBD cigarettes may have filters like tobacco, but they often feature cardboard tubes called “crutches” that make joints easier to hold and prevent any plant matter from getting inside the mouth.

Wales 247 explained that cannabidiol-infused cigarettes have no nicotine and contain less than 0.3% of delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), making them a healthier and safer alternative. Since these products contain CBD instead of THC, they do not have mind-altering effects. Hence, consumers can smoke these cigarettes without ingesting tobacco or nicotine or getting intoxicated.

Smokers around the world are using CBD cigarettes for all sorts of reasons. Some individuals simply enjoy CBD’s effects, and they find pre-roll products to be convenient for experiencing these effects. While others use CBD pre-rolls for serious health aid. Observer reported that many people enjoyed machine-rolled joints as a much healthier alternative to tobacco.

Scientific studies have not yet discovered any serious side effects of using CBD cigarettes. While, in general, CBD can sometimes cause minor side effects like drowsiness or dry mouth, it is not found to pose any short-term or long-term health risks.

In line with this, it appears that cannabidiol has impressive beneficial effects, and unlike tobacco, CBD cigarettes are non-addictive. Instead of getting you high, cannabidiol provides a general feeling of calmness and relaxation. 

Whether you’re trying to quit tobacco smoking or you’re just curious about CBD’s effects, cannabidiol-infused cigarettes are an excellent way to explore the benefits of CBD or find an alternative to tobacco smoking.

E-cigarettes

Truth Initiative, a nonprofit tobacco control organization, defined e-cigarettes as, “devices that operate by heating a liquid solution to a high sufficient temperature so it can create an aerosol that is inhaled by the user.” E-cigarettes’ solutions (or e-liquids), almost always include flavoring, nicotine, and a humectant (propylene glycol), to retain moisture and produce the aerosol when heated.

E-cigarettes can come in many forms: regular cigarette-shape, pipes, cigars, pens, and even USB flash drives. To elucidate the diversity in product design, some experts have classified e-cigarettes as first, second, and third-generation devices.

  • First-generation e-cigarette–are disposable and closely resemble a cigarette.
  • Second-generation e-cigarette–are larger in a pen-shaped device and can be charged.
  • Third-generation e-cigarette–these devices don’t resemble a combustible cigarette. They have huge and customizable batteries. Some parts of these devices are replaceable (usually called “mods”). They are also refillable.
  • The latest e-cigarettes have a sleek, high-tech design and come with easy rechargeable batteries.

While using e-cigarettes is usually called “vaping,” the devices create an aerosol, not a vapor. Unlike vapor (a simple substance in gas form), the aerosol from e-cigarettes contains minuscule chemical particles from both the device (e.g., metals from the heating coil) and the liquid solution.

There is scientific evidence suggesting that these particles lead to cardiovascular injury, with links to negative effects on resting blood pressure, heart rate, and the cells that line the blood vessels.

Vaping CBD Oil

Vaping360 clarified that users should not confuse CBD Vape Oil with hemp seed oil. CBD oils are traditionally used as an oral tincture, meaning they are strictly for ingestion.

Users should also know that the CBD vape oil that is said to be for inhalation, does not actually contain oil and should be avoided. This is because studies have found that inhaling oil can pose serious health risks like lipoid pneumonia. 

Verywell Mind backed this one up when they reported that vaping, in general, is an unsafe practice regardless of what substances are in the vaping device. And CBD Oil is not an exception.

In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), according to the same article, has recently associated vaping products with an outbreak of about 3,000 lung illnesses that were so critical that even teens were being admitted to the hospital. Meanwhile, around 70 people have died from what is now being termed as EVALI (e-cigarette and vaping associated lung injury). No less than 26 of the EVALI cases were hospitalized after vaping CBD oil.

Hence, the appropriate name to be used here is “CBD vape juice.” Users should look for products that say something about vape juice, vaping, e-juice, or e-liquid on the label and should not contain any actual oil.

The market has also developed CBD cartridges. These devices are similar to THC oil cartridges but slimmer and are designed with disposable e-cig tanks filled with CBD e-juice. Some contain pure CBD distillate, made with a solvent-based CBD or CO2 extraction method. 

CBD cartridges connect to a standard 510 battery and offer an easy entry into vaping cannabidiol. Pods are another type of cartridges that are compatible with popular devices like the JUUL.

It’s still crucial to look for high-quality products and consult your physician before trying any CBD products.

Why are CBD Cigarettes More Effective?

While you can choose from a variety of CBD consumption methods, smoking is considered the best and one of the oldest ways to enjoy cannabidiol. This is because hemp CBD cigarettes allow users to experience the benefits of CBD faster.

According to HealthWorks Collective, inhaling is an effective route of CBD administration because cannabinoids are quickly delivered directly to the lungs, brain, and bloodstream. Therefore, users will only need to wait for a few minutes to feel the calming effect after smoking a CBD cigarette compared to other CBD products that require 20-40 minutes to start acting. Weed Barcelona stated that the bioavailability of cannabidiol from cigarettes is from 30% to 60%.

One of the striking uses of CBD cigarettes besides their benefits is that it has also helped people to quit smoking. Based on the Wales 247 article, the following are some of the ways how smoking CBD-infused cigarettes aided those struggling with nicotine addiction.

Aids in Neutralizing Smoking Cues

CBD has the capacity to reverse specific attentional biases that cigarette smoking impacts, as per a 2008 study. That being the case, consumption of hemp extracts over time can help prevent the triggers that can cause a user to smoke more.

In the study, the participants were given 800 mg of oral cannabidiol and showed them smoking-related photos intermixed with neutral ones. The researchers discovered that the hemp extract helped make the smoking-related photos look less appealing while also decreasing the systolic pressure of the group. Therefore, hemp CBD extracts can work as anti-addictive substances as it has the power to normalize drug cues.

Helps Lower Nicotine Cravings

The Journal on Addictive Behaviors infers that hemp extracts help decrease nicotine cravings in smokers. The research revealed that smokers who ingested cannabidiol smoked 40% fewer cigarettes within a controlled study. As a result, the study discovered that these products have neurobiological effects that aid in rewiring a user’s cravings.

Can Act as an All-Natural Alternative to Tobacco

While working as a relaxant, hemp, where CBD is extracted, possesses a variety of Neuroprotectant properties. Thus, CBD cigarettes can help with addiction by reducing impulsive behaviors, anxiety, and stress.

What’s more, they also have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties that help fight withdrawal symptoms. As a result, hemp extracts have vast therapeutic potential as an anti-addiction remedy.

Bear a Resemblance to a Traditional Cigarette

Over the years, CBD cigarettes have grown to become a natural remedy that helps smoking cessation. These cigarettes work and look the same way as traditional ones, making it easier for smokers to turn to this healthier alternative. Therefore, CBD cigarettes can serve as the perfect tobacco substitute to aid individuals struggling with tobacco or nicotine addiction.

Enables Users to Relax Without Being Intoxicating, Addictive, or Unhealthy

High-quality hemp-based CBD cigarettes have no additives and purely contain organic cannabis flowers. They have no tobacco or nicotine, making them an organic and all-natural substitute for regular tobacco cigarettes. 

When smoked, hemp creates a light relaxing effect that aids to take the edge off addicted users. Therefore, it can aid individuals to relax over extended periods without being addictive or creating adverse side effects.

Are There Any Risks When Smoking CBD Cigarettes?

According to Neurogan, there are two dangers you should be aware of when smoking CBD cigarettes:

  1. Smoking a CBD pre-roll or a CBD cigarette may appear to non-smokers that you’re smoking marijuana due to a similar appearance and smell. The company where you purchase your CBD smokable products can’t be held accountable for the occurrence of a misunderstanding of the true nature of the product. Purchase and consume responsibly.
  2. Smoking has been found to cause potential long-term effects on the user’s lungs. However, if smoking is the medium you enjoy and infused with CBD, go for a CBD smokable product with 100% pure cannabidiol and no unpleasant additives for a pure smoking experience.

Finishing Thoughts

To ensure that CBD cigarettes are right for you, consult with a physician first especially if you want to plan your experience more carefully. You can also visit a dispensary and ask for advice from a budtender. They are likely to have various strains to offer and can help you select the perfect CBD cigarettes for your personal needs.



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