The past few years have seen a continuous rise in the level of interest around cannabidiol, or CBD as it is more commonly known. In the UK in particular, this explosion has led to a thriving and innovative industry with enormous potential.

This steep increase in interest from around the globe has led to exciting levels of innovation throughout the CBD industry. While CBD oils were once the only widely considered delivery method, we are now seeing an influx of alternative products such as transdermal CBD patches, CBD E liquids and dissolvable CBD wafers.

This article will focus on the benefits of CBD e liquids and why one may opt for these as their delivery method of choice. First of all, let us recap exactly what CBD is.

What is CBD?

CBD is the second most dominant component found in the cannabis plant. The most prominent however, is THC.

THC is a psychoactive compound, which means it effects activity in our brain and produces the ‘high’ that is often associated with cannabis in your stereotypical stoner movie. 

CBD is quite the opposite. It is not psychoactive properties, so has no impact on brain function. This is ultimately why CBD has grown so much in popularity. By isolating CBD from the cannabis plant, we are able to extract its extensive health benefits while removing the potentially harmful side effects that can accompany THC. 

The actual method of extracting the CBD itself dictates what type of CBD it is. There are three main types, as follows: 

• Full Spectrum CBD – Full spectrum CBD contains terpenes, cannabinoids, flavonoids and trace elements of THC. It is important to note that the legal THC limit in the UK is 0.2%, which is not going to have any psychoactive impact on the user.
• Broad Spectrum CBD – Broad spectrum CBD is very similar to full spectrum CBD. It contains all the relevant flavonoids, cannabinoids and terpenes, but is absent of THC.
• CBD Isolate – CBD isolate is the purest form of CBD available. It is removed of all other cannabis compounds and is generally sold as a powder.

Since the World Health Organization (WHO) made its position clear on CBD, the floodgates have indeed opened, and CBD has hit the mainstream. The WHO stated in 2018 that “there is no evidence of public health related problems associated with the use of pure CBD”.

Consequently, this paved the way for renewed innovation and research within the industry and that is how we arrived at the rapidly developing market that we see today.

What is CBD E Liquid?

CBD E liquids are fast becoming one of the most popular delivery methods and interest has soared in recent years. To put this rise into context, there were around 1,000 monthly Google searches globally for ‘CBD vape oil’ in May 2015 and as of April 2020, this figure stands at 14,000. 

There are a number of simple reasons as to why CBD E liquids are becoming the fastest growing CBD product. 

For starters, CBD E liquid works quicker than any other delivery method. After taking 4-5 puffs of your vape, the user should feel the impact of the CBD E liquid in less than 5 minutes. This is in stark contrast to CBD oil, for example, which can often take hours to take hold (although a wide range of individual differences also contribute to this).

CBD E liquid typically contains a wide range of cannabinoids and terpenes that can be altered in their formulation in order to provide relief for specific aspects such as sleep, or pain relief.

One reason many turn away from using CBD oils sublingually is the dislike of the earthy taste that accompanies it. This is one of the many benefits of CBD e liquid - they can be formulated with taste in mind, which means that the process of consumption can also be enjoyable.

Why Choose CBD E Liquid?

There are a number of reasons as to why someone may choose CBD E Liquid over alternative delivery methods. A few of these are outlined above, but there are many more advantages to vaping CBD.

High Bioavailability

CBD e liquids have a much higher bioavailability than CBD products that are consumed orally. This ultimately means that more CBD reaches your bloodstream without getting broken down.

For context, oral CBD products such as CBD capsules, have a bioavailability of approximately 15%. By way of comparison, research into the bioavailability of CBD e liquids has suggested that it lies somewhere between 50 and 60% - up to 4 times higher! While CBD oils have a similar bioavailability to CBD e liquids, they also take far longer to have an effect on the user, as previously mentioned.

Helps to Quit Smoking 

There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that CBD is an effective tool for quitting smoking. Perhaps the most prominent of these was conducted by Prud-homme, Cata and Jutras-Aswad in 2015 (Cannabidiol as an Intervention for Addictive Behaviors: A Systematic Review of the Evidence) as they reviewed all existing peer-reviewed research on the subject.

It appears likely that our endocannabinoids system largely controls our drug seeking actions and feelings, ultimately triggering reward mechanisms such as dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter which provides feelings of joy and pleasure.

Multiple studies have suggested that dopamine levels are increased by using nicotine. That said, recent research has also revealed that the endocannabinoids anandamide (AEA) and 2-AG combine to produce higher levels of dopamine. Anandamide in particular heavily influences mood.

By using a CBD product, such as CBD e liquid, you are inhibiting the enzyme responsible for the breakdown of anandamide and in theory increase AEA levels, which then triggers a rise in dopamine levels. Put simply, this means you can get the ‘rewards’ that your body typically associates with smoking nicotine by using a CBD product.

Vaping CBD in particular is a great choice of CBD delivery method when it comes to giving up smoking, as you are also replicating the behavioural traits associated with smoking that draw many back in.

Easy Method of Dosing

Many CBD products can be a challenge to correctly dose. CBD oils in particular are notorious for this as it’s very difficult to tell how much you are dropping underneath your tongue without a mirror. Moreover, the fact that the CBD takes so long to have an effect on the user means that it is difficult to judge when to take more if the original dose was insufficient.

Vaping CBD E Liquid on the other hand, is far easier – particularly for those who are new to the world of CBD. There should be a clearly labelled mg of CBD on the bottle of CBD e liquid and the retailer should be able to tell you what this equates to per puff.

The CBD vape pen that you choose also has an impact on how much you consume. By using a medically certified device, such as the VapePod, then you do not need to worry about varying doses based on the effort you put into each puff. 

Furthermore, the fact that CBD E Liquids take effect so quickly, means that if you need to take any more in order to alleviate your ailment, it is a far quicker process. 

Conclusion 

As discussed throughout this article, the innovation within the CBD industry has led to an incredibly exciting space where the consumer is the true winner.

There are a number of reasons as to why one may choose CBD e liquid over an alternative delivery method, as outlined above. That said, there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ CBD product, it’s all about experimenting and finding the right solution for you.

Before leaving, it is very important to raise a note of caution as to the legitimacy and quality of your CBD products. Be sure to always seek out an independent third-party lab report from your retailer in order to ensure its quality, as well as the absence of harmful additives such as heavy metals or pesticides. This is even more important if you are buying CBD from that particular retailer for the first time!

Good luck on your CBD journey!