Should I Smoke Hemp Flower?: The Benefits of Smoking CBD

Dirty blond haired women in her late 20's taking a hit of hemp flower from a see through glass pipe.

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When doing research into the benefits of CBD and how to consume it, you’ll likely encounter many methods that are mentioned far before smoking hemp flower. Your options include:

These consumption methods are all at the top of the list, and are frequently brought up as viable options to get the most use out of your CBD products.

However, it is possible to smoke hemp as well. Smoking hemp flower, whether in CBD cigarettes, vapes, or in a pipe, can offer a wide variety of health and wellness benefits, and might be the ideal method of consumption for you. 

What is CBD flower?

The flower of the cannabis plant is covered in small hairs called trichomes. These trichomes produce a sticky resin that is rich in cannabinoids, and is the part of the plant that is most typically harvested for consumption and distillation due to its high CBD content (though other parts of the plant also produce CBD). 

What is sometimes called “CBD flower” are flowers harvested specifically from hemp plants, which have high CBD contents and relatively low THC contents. While hemp and marijuana are both types of plants in the Cannabis family and are not all that distinct biologically, hemp is cultivated to have less than 0.3% THC content by dry weight, making it perfect for CBD oil distillation. Hemp is often grown for the purpose of industrial use, and hemp and marijuana plants can have distinct looks to people well-versed in cannabis cultivation: hemp tends to be skinner, tall, and hardier, making it better for harvesting its fibers. 

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Pros:

✔️Unique CBD Rich Strains

✔️100% Organic, No Pesticides, No Additives

✔️Premium Dispensary Grade – Grown Indoors

✔️Hand Trimmed to Perfection

✔️Small-Batch, Bi-Weekly Harvests, Ensure the Flower Is Always Farm Fresh

Cons:

✖️Popular Strains Sell Out Quickly Due to High Demand

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Secret Nature Indoor CBD Flower

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Price vs Value 
Experience 
Company Reputation 

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CBD hemp flower effects

Smoking CBD can provide a great variety of benefits and effects, the most obvious of which being the feelings of relief that come from consuming it. After smoking CBD flower, you will likely experience feelings of calm, ease, or drowsiness, and you’ll feel it relatively quickly after smoking it.

The benefits of smoking CBD

  • The effects are faster. CBD bioavailability, or the ease with which it is absorbed into one’s body, is at its highest when it comes to inhalation. With smoking CBD flower, your body will not only absorb the most of any method, it will absorb it the fastest, with concentration levels peaking in the body within three minutes. If you’re looking for instant relief with the most potent effects, smoking hemp flower may be the way to go.
  • The entourage effect makes both THC and CBD more effective. Furthermore, smoking hemp flowers may give you the widest range of benefits due to something called the “entourage effect.” This effect, which has been theorized by scientists studying the effect of various compounds found in the Cannabis family of plants, seems to state that taking compounds like THC and CBD together will be more powerful than when taken alone, as the combination of them can potentiate one another. This is why full and broad spectrum CBD products tend to have a reputation for alleviating the most pain for users, and hemp flower is no exception to this rule — it is hemp in its purest form, cannabinoids, terpenes, and all.
  • It’s safer than vaping. Smoking hemp flowers may offer a safer alternative to vaping CBD oil. While smoking the flower may have effects on respiratory function long term, poorly regulated markets for all sorts of vapes may mean that you are inhaling heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, and carcinogens. CBD flower is just that — the flower. While you should still be informed about the potential impacts of smoking, you can feel better knowing that you’re limiting what harmful chemicals you’re inhaling. 
  • Some prefer the smoking experience. Some people simply enjoy the sensation of smoking. Through smoking the flower, you get a nice, herbal smell, and the pleasing effect of smoking.

    Does CBD make your eyes red?

    Despite these side effects, however, smoking CBD does not make your eyes red. After smoking marijuana, your eyes may become red because of THC’s properties as a vasodilator — meaning it dilates your blood vessels, increasing blood flow in your eyes and giving them a red appearance. CBD does not seem to have this effect, and it’s thought that CBD may, in fact, increase blood pressure in the eyes.

    What are the side effects of CBD?

    Every method of CBD consumption has its own side effects. Smoking CBD, while highly effective and therapeutically beneficial, may cause

    • Dry mouth
    • Diarrhea
    • Drowsiness
    • Fatigue

    Smoking, even non-nicotine or tobacco products, can also have long-term effects on your health, and may cause damage to your lungs or teeth. While certainly not as bad as smoking tobacco, it’s never the healthiest thing to inhale burnt material. Avoid smoking hemp flower if you already have lung problems or trouble breathing. 

    Conclusion

    Smoking hemp flowers can be an excellent way to consume CBD, whether you’re looking to use CBD for anxiety, pain, arthritis, or some other ailment. Inhaling CBD has very high bioavailability, especially when compared to other methods of use for CBD, and it means that you will likely experience the relief you’re looking for much faster than you would with an edible or a cream. Additionally, it can provide an alternative to smoking concentrates or vaping, which can both be harmful to your health. 

    However, smoking CBD is not without its drawbacks, unfortunately. Inhaling any sort of smoke can be bad for your health, and it’s important to be aware of the possible effects of doing so. Additionally, it may come with the risk of the same general side effects that may sometimes come from CBD use. 

    If you’re looking to smoke hemp flowers but would only like to buy from a trustworthy, high-quality source, check out our directory. We’ll help to connect you with sellers offering a variety of smokable CBD products, from pre-rolls to pure, raw CBD flower. 

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    Josh Murdoch

    I was born with Cystic Fibrosis, and although it is incurable, CBD and THC have been allowing me to live my life as a healthy adult now for years. For that reason, I’ve dedicated my career to spreading the good news about cannabinoids. Currently, I work for a cannabis distribution company called Humble & Fume which operates in California. Previously, I worked on two cannabis farms in northern California, one of which was located in the famous Humboldt County. I’ve also managed a medical cannabis delivery service in Marin County, California. I created CBD Facilitator to share what I’ve learned, and to recommend the best products that I have found in this chaotic market.

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    Our Mission

    Our goal is to educate you on all things CBD, enabling you to navigate this vast unregulated industry like a pro. We know all too well how overwhelming it can be to find trustworthy brands in this crowded market, so we’re here to help!

    Shop CBD Products

    Our Favorite Brands

    FACILITATOR25
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    FACILITATOR
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    Topical Cream

    Perfect for Localized Pain and Inflammation Relief!