CBD Cartridges: What's In Your Vape Tank?

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With the increase in popularity of vaping and the ongoing research into the health benefits of Cannabidiol (CBD), it’s no wonder that people are choosing to combine the two and vape their CBD.

There are many benefits to vaping CBD including portability and discretion, pain relief, stress reduction, and improvements in sleep.

However, there are some things to keep in mind if you choose to vape your CBD. CBD cartridges for vape pens come in a wide range, so it’s important to be informed of all of the possible substances that could be in your CBD vape cartridge. There are both beneficial and harmful potential ingredients in CBD vape cartridges, which we break down below.

Nicotine

CBD e-liquids should not contain nicotine, simple as that.

Not only is nicotine a highly addictive stimulant, according to the World Health Organization, but it also affects the accompanying CBD oil. While CBD should help you relax and de-stress, nicotine can stimulate your body in a way that mimics anxiety.

The good news is that products with any amount of nicotine must be labeled, so you will always know if your CBD vape cartridge contains nicotine. Amphora’s CBD E-Liquid never contains any nicotine. If you do encounter a CBD vape juice with nicotine, run the other way.

THC

Because CBD oil can be derived from cannabis plants, you might be worried that it will also contain THC, the cannabinoid responsible for the ‘stoned’ feeling that some people experience. However, some of the processes for extracting CBD oil remove all other cannabinoids including THC. If you’re concerned about THC, use a CBD isolate to ensure there are no traces.

CBD is influenced by the “entourage effect”, where CBD in combination with other cannabinoids produces a different effect than straight CBD. Some CBD vape cartridges contain varying amounts of THC and other cannabinoids or terpenesto provide a different experience for users. We’ll break down the different types of CBD vape oils below.

CBD

If you’re purchasing a CBD vape cartridge, there will be CBD e-liquid in it. If you’re unfamiliar with CBD, it’s a therapeutic compound derived from both hemp and cannabis plants.

There are a lot of ongoing studies to explore all of the health benefits of CBD oil, but read more below or check out this blog post to discover all of the known benefits.

CBD e-liquids sometimes contain varying amounts of other cannabinoids like THC. The different forms of CBD are:

●     CBD Isolate:

This is pure CBD. The extraction process for CBD isolate entirely removes THC from the oil, meaning there is no chance of intoxication. Because it is pure CBD, there will be no entourage effect when taking CBD isolate, so you might miss out on some of the benefits of the phenomenon.

●     CBD Distillate:

For one of the purest forms of CBD oil, use CBD distillate. Unlike CBD isolate, distillate is refined cannabis extract that induces the ‘entourage effect’ by containing all of the CBD hemp flower’s beneficial parts including other cannabinoids, terpenes, fatty acids, and <0.2% THC. This THC level makes it legal in the UK.

●     Broad Spectrum:

This form of CBD oil uses a process that leaves most of the other cannabinoids present in the final product. Do not worry about legality with broad spectrum CBD oil if you live in a place with THC regulations. Most forms of broad spectrum CBD remove most of the THC to keep them under legal percentages.

●     Full Spectrum:

Full spectrum CBD oil is the most organic form. It contains THC, along with all of the other cannabinoids found in the original hemp or cannabis plant. Because of this, full spectrum CBD oil is illegal in most countries. This is unfortunate because some studies suggest that it is the most effective form of CBD oil.

Propylene Glycol (PG) and Vegetable Glycol (VG)

Some vape cartridges come with a PG/VG ratio that lists what the balance is between the two organic compounds.

PG keeps the oil at a thinner consistency, meaning taste and CBD concentration come primarily from the PG part of the PG/VG ratio.

VG, a chemical compound made from animal fat, plants, or petroleum, is a sugar alcohol that has been used to mix and thicken substances. It’s used in some CBD e-liquids to thicken the vape juice to allow it to turn into vapor when heated.

This ratio will influence the vape experience in a few different ways. If there’s too high of a PG to VG ratio, the CBD e-liquid will be too watery, making it unable to turn to vapor when heated in the vape pen. If you have a CBD vape cartridge with a higher ratio of VG to PG, you’ll notice thicker vape clouds and less concentration of CBD.

However, PG and VG have been selected by health researchers as possible unsafe ingredients for vape juices. They can cause lung inflammation, dry mouth, irritated throat, and might break down in toxic byproducts. Also, there are no long-term studies on the safety of inhaling PG and VG, so long-term health effects are not currently known.

Because of the potential to cause harm to users, Infused Amphora CBD vape cartridges are completely free of VG and PG. This ensures a safe and comfortable CBD vaping experience.

Vitamin E Acetate

If you’ve been following the news for the last few years, you’ll probably remember the sudden outbreak cases of Vape-Associated Pulmonary Injury (VAP). There were thousands of cases and dozens of deaths linked to young people that had recently used THC vaping products. Vitamin E acetate is most likely the agent behind this outbreak, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

So what is Vitamin E Acetate? It’s an artificial form of vitamin E used in many dermatological products. It is safe to use topically, although there are no substantial studies that prove the benefits of external application.

In THC vape cartridges, vitamin E acetate is used to thicken vape juice to the proper thickness. It is harmful in CBD and THC vape cartridges because heat can affect the compound. 

When heated to high temperatures, the vitamin E acetate can break down into toxic byproducts like carcinogens and ketene gas. Then, when inside the lungs, it can cool back down into oil form. This vitamin E acetate oil covers the inside of the lungs with thick grease, causing serious harm to the user.

Because of the health risks, Infused Amphora CBD e-liquids do not contain any vitamin E acetate. All of our products are rigorously third-party tested to ensure the safety of our customers.

Terpenes

Terpenes are aromatic compounds found in plants, fruits, and spices that give them flavor and scent. They exist in very high concentrations in the cannabis plant, which gives the plant its distinct aroma.

However, terpenes exist beyond aromatics. There are many physiological benefits of terpenes when included in CBD e-liquids:

• Terpenes can cause you to feel more relaxed and positive from their aroma alone. When the aromatic compounds reach the brain by way of the olfactory system, they interact with the limbic system to physically and mentally calm you down.
• Terpenes have the potential to be antimicrobial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory, meaning they can prevent pathogens and other harmful organisms from impacting your health.
• They are antioxidants, so that can help protect against liver, renal, cardiovascular, and neurological issues.
• They are anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing

Research is just starting in this field, but it’s only the beginning of the potential health benefits of terpenes.

Other Additives

Solvents

In addition to PG and VG, some producers of CBD vape cartridges include other harmful solvents like Polyethylene glycol. When broken down by the heat of your vape pen, they can release carcinogens like formaldehyde.

Why CBD Lab Testing is Important When Shopping For CBD

As you can see in the list above, CBD vape cartridges can contain many different ingredients. Knowing the contents of the CBD vape juice you are about to inhale is crucial to being a safe and healthy CBD user. Third-party testing is essential in becoming an informed and safe consumer.

Infused Amphora’s CBD products are all thoroughly and rigorously third-party tested to ensure that what we say is on the label is in the cartridge.

Final Words: Benefits of Supplementing with CBD

Vaping CBD has a long list of health benefits from improved mental and physical health to better sleep and pain reduction. If you suffer from stress, chronic pain, low mood,, or sleep issues, CBD oil can provide relief without intoxication or harmful substances.

Learn more about the benefits of using CBD here.

Written by | Infused Amphora Team

The Infused Amphora Team is dedicated to creating resources to educate and engage consumers on the growing evidence of CBD benefits and the extensive health and wellness properties of CBD Oil.

Contributor  | Angus Taylor CEO