Thinking about vaping CBD oil, but aren’t sure how?
You’re not alone. Vaporizers can be complex beasts, especially if you’ve never used one before.
But don’t worry. In today’s guide, we’re going to teach you how to vape CBD oil, including the required equipment, types of CBD vape oil, and potential health concerns (just so you’re informed).
CBD (Cannabidiol) oil and CBD products have loads of great benefits, from pain reduction to lessened anxiety, nausea relief, and more. The health benefits of CBD have become so incredible that even the FDA has begun to approve products that contain it.
Is CBD vaping right for you? Let’s dive in!
Vaping CBD Oil: The Equipment
When it comes to vaping anything, you need a vaporizer. A vape is a metal case with a few different parts (don’t worry, they’re simple to use). But before I explain the two kinds of CBD oil vapes, let me explain how vaporizers work.
THE PARTS & HOW THEY WORK
Not all vapes are the same, but they all have the same four parts:
- 1. A battery
- 2. A heating element (also called an atomizer)
- 3. A mouthpiece
- 4. A chamber to hold the oil
Vape Parts
Types of Vaporizers
There are two kinds of vaporizers you can use to vape CBD oil.
Pen-Style Vapes
The pen-style vape is more common and probably the one you’re more familiar with. The pen’s heating element is a coil inside the chamber that holds the oil. This coil heats up (directly touching the CBD vape oil) to vaporize it.
The issue with this vape style is that these coils burn out and need to be replaced periodically, which costs upwards of $20.
Plus, as you’ll learn in the section on health concerns, over time these coils break down and oxidize. This can cause metal nanoparticles to become aerosolized (turned into a fine mist) in the vapor you inhale. Obviously, this isn’t ideal.
The alternative to vape pens is the tank-style vape, which uses e-liquid (a mix of propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, flavorings, and CBD) instead of concentrated CBD oil. This kind of vape creates those big, billowing clouds of smoke you so famously see when people are vaping.
The heating coils in these tank-style pens are filled or wrapped with cotton, nylon or silica wick. The e-liquid is absorbed into this material and vaporized into smoke.
There are two kinds of tank-style vapes: Disposable and Reusable.
Disposable vapes are also called “cartomizers” because they come with prefilled, disposable cartridges. Because they’re disposable, they’re often made with cheaper, lower-quality (and sometimes questionable) materials. The reusable vapes can be refilled with your own CBD e-liquid.
Tank-Style Vapes
Tank-style vapes look something like this. They’re generally more powerful, but more difficult to learn and use.
So which should a beginner use?
If you’re new to vaping, we recommend starting with a simple vape pen that uses CBD vape oil (aka CBD vape juice). They’re easier to use and if you stick to pure, full-spectrum CBD oil with no fillers or flavorings, the heating coil won’t oxidize as quickly so you can avoid the metal nanoparticles.
How to Vape CBD Oil: STEP-BY-STEP
STEP 1: Get Your Equipment & E-liquid Or Concentrate
If you haven’t already purchased your vaporizer or CBD vape oil cartridge, obviously you should do that first. You can buy one online or from a local smoke shop.
Make sure you get the proper oil type for the kind of vape you’re using. CBD oil concentrate for vape pens, and CBD e-liquid for tank-style vapes.
STEP 2: Learn How To Use It
Using a vape is simple once you get the hang of it. Here’s a video explaining how they work:
STEP 3: Vape & Enjoy!
Once you’re ready, simply turn on your vape and inhale!
If you’re not sure how much CBD oil to take, a good rule of thumb is “start low and go slow”. Start with a small dose and see how you feel. If you’re not feeling the effects as much as you’d like, slowly up the dose until you get it right.
You can also use this CBD dosage calculator to help you decide on your dosage based on the strength of your CBD oil and your body weight. (1)
STEP 4: Don’t Forget To Keep It Clean
Keeping your vape clean is the best way to ensure you don’t inhale metal nanoparticles and your vape experience is great every time. Vaporizers can develop mold and bacteria if not properly taken care of, so never skip this step!
HERE’S HOW TO CLEAN YOUR VAPE USING WHITE VINEGAR:
1. UNSCREW the steam and power unit from the oil reservoir.
2. SHAKE OUT ANY EXCESS OIL OR MOISTURE from the steam unit and dump any excess moisture from the oil reservoir.
3. Set the steam unit upright in a bowl. Fill the bowl with WHITE VINEGAR until the vinegar level is just below the battery (If you can detach it, do so. Don’t let anything inside the battery compartment!). Make sure the vinegar is just covering the filter area and soak for at least 10 minutes.
4. WIPE DOWN THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE of the reservoir with a soft cloth dampened with vinegar. For heavy build-up, a soft scrub brush can be used. To disinfect further, fill the reservoir with water and add a teaspoon of bleach. Allow it to soak for 20 minutes, then dump and rinse thoroughly.
5. Remove the steam unit from the vinegar. Cover up the hole on the bottom with your hand. FILL THE UNIT WITH WATER, pouring water in through the top. Cover the top with your hand. Shake well, then remove your hand from the bottom to release the water.
6. Thoroughly DRY EVERYTHING using a clean, soft cloth.
We recommend cleaning your vape at least twice a week; more often if you use it heavily.Potential Health Concerns When Vaping CBD Oil
Of course, while there are a plethora of great effects of CBD oil and very few side effects, vaping may not be the best way to consume it. There are two reasons why: 
1. METAL NANOPARTICLES
As we discussed earlier, it’s possible for metal nanoparticles to come off the heating element and into your lungs as the coil oxidizes over repeated use. However, the amounts found are negligible.
One study from the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that “overall exposure to metals from electronic cigarette use is not expected to be of significant health concern for smokers switching to electronic cigarette use, but is an unnecessary source of exposure for never-smokers.” (2)
The takeaway here? Vape at your own risk. While it may not be a significant health concern, it can still negatively affect you. It’s up to you if you want to deal with that or not.
Of course, the nanoparticles were only found in pen-style vapes and not tank-style vapes. But tank-style vapes have their own concern:
2. ALLERGENS IN CBD E-JUICE
Another potential health risk is allergens found in the e-juice or e-liquid used in tank-style vapes. E-liquid has two main chemicals: propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin, which some people are allergic to.
Anyone with sensitivities to either of these chemicals may notice sinus irritation, nausea or a headache upon use. People with more severe allergies may experience hives, swelling, or difficulty breathing.
Note that these two chemicals are so common that if you are allergic to them, you’d probably already know it before you start vaping. To avoid any reactions from other substances, make sure you’re working with a reliable provider of the best CBD vape oils and products available: purity matters!
Alternatives To Vaping CBD Oil
If you’d rather not deal with the health concerns of vaping CBD oil or CBD vape juice, there are plenty of other ways to take your CBD without a vape.
Specifically, you can try:
- CBD edibles
- Topical CBD ointments or creams
- CBD tinctures taken under the tongue
- CBD capsules
Each way has its own pros and cons. You’ll have to weight them out yourself to determine which method is the best for you.
Vaping CBD not for you? That’s okay! CBD products and CBD isolate come in many varieties, as mentioned above. It’s easy to find a way to incorporate this compound into your daily routine whether you choose to vape it or not! Finding the right delivery method, along with the best CBD product for your needs is what matters most.
And that’s it! That’s how to vape CBD oil in four simple steps.
Eager to learn more? Check out the history of CBD oil or learn exactly what CBD oil is and how it can help you. Happy vaping!
