What Is CBD / Hemp Flower?
The hemp plant produces flowers just like its cousin, marijuana. These flowers are commonly processed and cannabidiol (CBD) is extracted to create oil. However recently, the CBD market has had a growing demand for hemp flower in it's true form with high concentrations of this beneficial cannabinoid.
For hemp enthusiasts, few things compare to the potency of smoking hemp flower, and it seems to be taking the cannabis industry by storm. For people who are looking for the flavor, benefits, and process of smoking cannabis without the intoxication often associated marijuana, CBD hemp flower may offer the ideal solution.
What Is Cannabidiol Flower or CBD / Hemp Flower?
Cannabidiol Flowers are the flowers produced by the industrial hemp plant. They contain many naturally occurring cannabinoids that, when consumed, interact with your body’s endocannabinoid system, leading to what is often referred to as "the entourage effect."
CBD / Hemp Flower does not go through the same extensive extraction process that is required to create CBD Oil. These flowers are cannabis in it's true form. They are simply harvested, dried, tested, and packaged prior to sale. Although other CBD products that do go through an extraction process are still known to create highly valued medicinal benefits, these pure Cannabidiol Flowers are argued to produce additional health benefits and more immediate results due to the fact that they contain a much greater number of naturally occurring cannabinoids and terpenes compared to any other CBD delivery method.
CBD Flower Vs. Marijuana
Because hemp is naturally low in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD / Hemp Flower doesn't have the intoxicating psychoactive effects that marijuana does. In fact, legally grown, federally regulated industrial hemp plants must contain less than 0.3% THC to be compliant with the 2018 Farm Bill (Agricultutal Improvement Act).
With that being said, before you purchase CBD flower, make sure your product of choice complies with the federal cannabis laws and any state regulations. Any reputable distributors of Cannabidiol Flower will be able to present a Certificate of Analysis (COA) showing that their strain(s) of flower are compliant with these laws and regulations.
What Are the Benefits of CBD Flower?
Cannabidiol Flower is believed to have similar benefits and uses as CBD Oil. Users and scientific research alike have reported back the positive effects of CBD, including its:
- Use as a powerful anti-inflammatory
- Calming, anxiety and stress reducing effects
- Neuroprotective properties, which are being studied for their effectiveness in managing conditions like Alzheimer’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
- Endless other medicinal benefits.
When comparing CBD Hemp Flower to other cannabidiol delivery methods, smoking the flower provides an excellent, almost instantaneous way to consume a vast range of cannabinoids and terpenes, allowing the whole hemp plant to work together to produce the strongest benefits. Although these compounds are effective on their own, studies show they are most effective when working together in the body simultaneously.
How to Use CBD Hemp Flower
Before deciding if Cannabidiol Flower is right for you, asking your doctor about using CBD Products is recommended. Although CBD is considered safe and well-tolerated, there is the possibility that mild side effects and certain drug interactions that can occur.
CBD Hemp Flower is typically smoked on its own using a glass pipe in smokeable wrapping papers. Inhaling CBD allows absorption into the bloodstream directly through the lungs, expediting the effects.
If smoking isn't for you, CBD Hemp Flower can also be used in baking or cooking. CBD, like THC, is fat soluble. This means it’s easy to infuse CBD flower into butter or oil the same way you would create a THC edible. If you choose to consume your CBD flower through ingestion, keep in mind the effects take longer to feel as the cannabidiol must pass through your digestive system.
Unfortunately, managing consistent dosing with CBD Flower can be difficult, regardless of whether you smoke it use it for cooking infusions. CBD Hemp Flower does not come with a specific recommended dose, nor is its CBD content able to be measured by inhale, but it's effects are usually recognizable within 1-3 inhales to determine whether you've had the desired amount.
That being said, using CBD Hemp Flower will require some trial and error when it comes to dosing. This method of consumption may be better suited if you’ve used other CBD products before to determine what higher and lower doses feel like.
Are There Different Kinds of CBD Hemp Flowers?
Yes! Cannabidiol Flower comes in a wide variety of strains. All strains have a different THC and CBD level, but to be legal they must contain under 0.3% THC. Each strain will have a different cannabinoid and terpene profile determining the benefits, color, and odor. A strain with high CBD concentrations (15-30%) is ideal, but trying different strains to see which works best for you is best practice, given that all people react differently.
No matter the strain, make sure that the strain contains legal amounts of THC, and contains a sufficient amount of CBD. You can do this by checking to see if there are up-to-date Certificates of Analysis available so you can understand the exact cannabinoid breakdown and genetic history of the plant. It’s important to do your research so ensure you get a high quality product to enjoy.