How To Use Smokable Hemp Flower

CBD hemp flower is the bud from the female hemp plant. These flowers or buds are high in CBD, low in THC, and can be consumed in a variety of ways. CBD hemp flower is typically harvested in full bloom because that’s when the flower contains the highest amount of CBD, terpenes and other cannabinoids. Once harvested, CBD hemp flower is dried and cured before it can be smoked. CBD hemp flowers look very similar to marijuana or weed buds that many people are more familiar with. Often times, only a lab report will allow you to determine which is weed and which is hemp!

While CBD hemp flower may look similar in appearance and undergo a similar production process to regular cannabis buds, there are some key differences between the two that should be noted.

The main difference between CBD hemp flower and marijuana flower is the THC content. Industrial hemp plants have to contain no more than 0.3% THC to meet federal regulations, meaning the THC content of hemp flower will be extremely low and not likely to induce any mind altering effects. However, marijuana flowers can be very high in THC and will induce psychoactive effects when consumed. Some marijuana strains can also have low levels of CBD. Because of the differences in cannabinoid content, CBD hemp flower is a more suitable whole flower product for those who want high levels of CBD with no psychoactive effects.

One of the most common ways to consume CBD flower is by smoking it, and there are a range of benefits that can come from smoking CBD flower.

This consumption method increases the bioavailability of cannabinoids, (1) and smoking CBD flower means you are likely to experience more concentrated effects of CBD. You are also likely to experience those effects faster.

Smoking CBD flower, rather than CBD extract, also offers advantages because there are other compounds in CBD hemp flower that can improve the effects of CBD, known as the entourage effect. Compounds such as cannabinoids, terpenes, and fatty acids are thought to be more effective when consumed together (2).

You might not be familiar with smoking CBD because it is commonly purchased as an oil, topical or edible. However, smoking CBD hemp flower is becoming a favorite consumption method among hemp enthusiasts. Smoking is an effective way to consume CBD because of its interaction with the lungs. Your lungs are extremely permeable, which means that a compound like CBD can more effectively be absorbed into the bloodstream when it is delivered through the lungs (3). The high bioavailability that smoking delivers means that smoking CBD hemp flower is a great choice for those wanting immediate and strong CBD effects.

While it may look like a cannabis flower that has high amounts of THC, smoking CBD hemp flowers won’t get you high. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the main cannabinoid found in cannabis and is responsible for the psychoactive high typically associated with cannabis. CBD, on the other hand, will not get you high.

The different psychoactivity of these two cannabinoids is thought to occur through their activation pathways. THC largely induces its effects by activating the CB1 and CB2 receptors, while CBD has a low binding affinity to CB1 and CB2. Instead, it induces its effects by acting on non-cannabinoid receptors and modulating receptor pathways (4).

Heavy in CBD, but low in THC (<0.3%), CBD hemp flower offers an alternative cannabinoid smoking option for those who want to avoid the psychoactive effects of cannabis while still benefiting from CBD and other compounds.

For those used to cannabis flower, figuring out the proper dosage and the safe but effective amount of CBD hemp flower to smoke can be confusing. While consumer finished goods products, like tinctures and soft gels, come with the exact “number of milligrams per serving”, CBD hemp flower does not come with the specific number of milligrams that a consumer is likely to ingest or inhale when consumed.

What this means is that it can take some experimenting on the users part to establish the proper amount of CBD hemp flower amount for each individual. But generally speaking, a gram of hemp flower tends to be a solid amount to achieve desired effects. The good news is that CBD has a high safety profile, and studies have shown that consuming upwards of 1500 mg per day with little to no side effects.

Side note: Smoking 1500mg of CBD from hemp flower is not recommended at one time. There are better ways to increase daily CBD intake if a person wanted upwards of 1500mg per day. (5).

If you’re unsure as to the amount of CBD hemp flower to start with, it’s best to start small and work up until you experience desired effects.

1. Smoking vs. Vaping Hemp

While smoking is an effective way to consume CBD hemp flower, it is not the only option. Depending on your personal preferences, there are different consumption methods that may be better for you.

Smoking and vaping might seem like similar consumption methods, but there is some differences with bioavailability. Since both smoking and vaping involve the lungs, they both have a high bioavailability; however, vaping has higher bioavailability. Vaping’s bioavailability is as high as 70% (6), so you might find greater results from vaping CBD. Smoking CBD still has a relatively high bioavailability, but at around 31% (7), it is less than vaping.

Yet smoking CBD is better in terms of which is easier to use. Smoking CBD hemp flower can be easily consumed through rolling papers, blunt wraps or a pipe while vaping hemp CBD flower requires a specific dry vape system.

2. High-CBD Dabbing

Dabbing is another popular cannabinoid consumption method for those who want an intense hit of cannabinoids at one time. Dabbing is when you take a "dab" of cannabis concentrate and vaporize it by placing it on a heated surface and immediately inhaling the vapor.

Dabbing doesn’t heat plant material. Instead, it heats an oil or wax substance that contains high concentrated levels of cannabinoids like CBD. While dabbing can be a strong and effective consumption method, you have to use an oil or wax from CBD hemp flower in order to use this method. We don’t recommend making this yourself unless you truly know what you are doing. Instead, you can try CBD concentrates here.

3. Cook With It!

Cooking with hemp flower is a great way to get your cannabinoids without combustion or vaping. A easy recipe to get started with is making Hemp Butter. Simply take your hemp flower and grind it up to the consistency of about the size of a grain of uncooked rice (don't powder it, this will make it tough to filter later on). Then, take a medium sized sauce pan and add water and some butter or coconut oil (or any kind of fat). Add the ground up hemp flower to the butter and water mixture and bring to a slow rolling boil. Once the butter is melted in the water, reduce the heat and simmer the hemp flower in the butter for 45 minutes.

Check the water level and add more as needed in case too much evaporates. You want to have a little water mixed with the butter so it doesn't burn. After about 45 minutes, turn off the heat and filter the butter water mixture through a cheese cloth. This will remove the plant matter from your liquid. Then, take the butter/water mixture and put it in the refrigerator and leave it for a few hours. The butter will float to the top of and you can easily separate it from the water. And there you go, you've just made hemp butter that you can use in all of your favorite cooking recipes. A great way to incorporate cannabinoids into your diet!

CBD has been shown to reduce pain levels (8), reduce anxiety (9), improve sleep (10), and reduce inflammation (11), so while you may not feel any intoxicating effects after you smoke CBD, you may feel relief from a range of ailments. Because CBD has been shown to positively impact mood, you may experience a change to your cognitive function (e.g. reduced depression, stress, or anxiety), but keep in mind that these are the therapeutic effects of CBD and not the results of intoxicating chemicals.

Yes. Because hemp contains many compounds that are also found in cannabis, it can be confusing to understand its legality. CBD is legal in all 50 states under federal law, provided that it comes from hemp and contains a Delta-9 THC concentration of no more than 0.3% by weight. As long as it meets these requirements, CBD hemp flower is legal.

However, there is a lot of variation between state laws regarding both CBD and THC, so be sure to consult your local state laws to ensure that CBD hemp flower meets purchase and consumption regulations.

CBD has a wide range of therapeutic benefits, and CBD hemp flower offers all of these, plus the added benefits from other cannabinoids and terpenes.

While vaping produces the highest bioavailability among consumption methods, smoking can be more convenient (no tools needed) and still allows for a high consumption of CBD.

One benefit of CBD hemp flower is its legal status, industrial hemp is legal in all 50 states. This makes CBD hemp flower a much easier form of cannabis to consume for many Americans.

For effective, convenient, and legal CBD flower, contact your local hemp farmer or you can safely and easily find premium CBD hemp flower here.