If you don’t live under a rock, then you must’ve heard about or used CBD at least once in the last few years. CBD has become one of the most popular substances owing to its various scientifically proven healing and soothing effects.
Be it chronic pain, severe anxiety, or disrupted sleep cycles, CBD can help you manage these conditions effectively without the risk of dependency formation and severe side effects. It’s a completely non-intoxicating and completely natural compound, which makes it perfect for everyday usage without the risk of getting high.
You can easily get it through the CBD product website, as it’s legally available in all 50 U.S. states. Its rising popularity has led to an influx of tons of different types of products, like CBD gummies, creams, shampoos, cookies, drinks, vapes, and whatnot.
Still, old-school people like to smoke their stuff and prefer CBD flowers over other products like CBD oil or tinctures. But which one is better for you?? Should you smoke a CBD flower or drop some oil under your tongue before bed? That’s exactly what we will cover in this article so that you can make an informed purchase decision.
What Is A CBD Flower?
All the CBD flowers you see on sites and in physical stores are simply the buds of female hemp plants. They carry out the reproduction process in hemp plants via seed production.
They are also known as hemp flowers and are curated in such a way that they end up having higher concentrations of cannabinoid CBD and only trace amounts of intoxicating cannabinoid THC.
In all the CBD flowers derived from industrial hemp, the THC limit is kept at a maximum of 0.3%. This limit is the legal one set by the 2018 federal farm bill for all hemp and its derivatives, like CBD, and in states like Idaho, even 0.3% THC is not allowed.
CBD flowers are rich in healing and therapeutic compounds like cannabinoids (THC, CBD, CBG, CBN, CBC, etc.), phytonutrients, terpenes, and flavonoids. CBD flowers have a unique and eye-catching appearance, and their surface is full of sticky and dense plant hair-like structures commonly known as trichomes.
These trichomes are full of cannabinoids and terpenes, which are further processed and extracted while making other CBD products. CBD flowers are also used to extract concentrated cannabinoids and make resins from them, but that’s mainly for industries to do.
Common folk usually consume CBD flower by smoking it through dry herb vaporizers or by crushing and rolling it into a cigarette or cigar. Some even put it in the smoke pipe.
Pros And Cons Of CBD Flower
- CBD flowers are quite versatile and can be used for both smoking and cooking. Some people crush and use them as topping over food items while others use them in baking or brewing a strong beverage.
- Flowers have a very fast onset time as the CBD-carrying smoke directly hits your lungs and starts to show its effect within a few seconds of taking the puff. But, it also wears off quite early, hence the effects are not much long lasting.
- In some places, CBD flowers are much cheaper than regular gummies or tinctures. But since you have to smoke them, they can negatively impact your lungs in the long term.
- Another drawback is the lack of discreteness, it’s hard to smoke CBD flowers when in public places, whereas CBD oils can be taken anywhere.
- CBD flowers have much higher bioavailability than CBD oils, and it’s as high as 31% in some cases.
What Is In CBD Oil?
CBD oil is made by mixing the cannabinoid-carrying extract from industrial hemp plants and mixing it in MCT carrier oil. Most brands use coconut oil as a carrier and mix some flavors on top to curb the odd earthy hemp taste.
CBD oils come in different strength options and are quite easy to measure and consume with a pre-measured dropper which comes with the bottle. It’s a much healthier alternative to smoking because all you have to do is put some drops under your tongue and wait for a few minutes.
CBD gets absorbed through capillaries present under the tongue and directly mixed in the bloodstream, making it a faster and more convenient method to consume CBD. You can choose between full spectrum, broad spectrum, and Isolates.
Full-spectrum CBD oils have a complete hemp profile including all the cannabinoids, terpenes, and phytonutrients. Broad Spectrum CBD oils are essentially full spectrum oils but without any THC in them.
They are perfect for people who have an upcoming blood test or have sensitivity to THC. CBD isolate oils have only CBD in them, the rest of everything is stripped away using specific extraction processes.
Just like flowers, oils can also be used to make beverages, snacks, baked goods, and other delicacies.
Pros And Cons Of CBD Oil
- CBD oils don’t cause any harm to your lungs or respiratory health but have a lower bioavailability, usually between 6 and 19%.
- CBD oils are a convenient and efficient way of consuming CBD and can be used in public places without the fear of getting fined.
- Consuming CBD oil sublingually will have much longer-lasting effects as compared to smoking or vaping the CBD flower. The only con is that it will take a few minutes to work.
- CBD oils are much easier and cheaper to do, as you have knowledge of their drop-by-drop potency, which is not the case with CBD flowers.
- You are more likely to get different flavors and varieties of CBD oil on most brand sites, whereas flowers are not easily available on all portals.
Conclusion: Which One Is Better?
In conclusion, both CBD flower and oil are effective ways to enjoy CBD’s plethora of potential health benefits. Both will help you relieve your pain, stress, sleep, and anxiety-related issues.
However, specifically from a health perspective, CBD oil might be a better option because it won’t cause any harm to your lungs or other parts of the respiratory system.
Other than this, it’s all about your personal preferences; some like to smoke and will enjoy flowers better, while others need a more discrete and convenient option, and they’ll find CBD oil better.
Plus, if you have kids at home, then it’s better to stick with CBD oil, as secondhand smoke from CBD flowers can negatively impact a child’s growth.
So choose wisely, start your wellness journey with a low dose, and try to buy it only from reputed and well-tested brands like Colorado Botanicals.