It’s pretty fantastic that the cannabis industry has been able to make so much ground in recent years, however, it goes without saying that the industry is still in its infancy. For those who are just delving into the products, it is most likely a confusing road ahead. Some of the most popular products out there are CBD vape juices, CBD oils, and CBD tinctures and if you’re not sure where to begin with these different products, it can be really confusing. So, in this article, we are going to break down the different options available as well as clarify the most basic terminology so you can better grasp the different CBD products currently available.
- CBD Tinctures: CBD tinctures are also often referred to as CBD oils. These specialty products are highly concentrated and are meant to be used on their own, taken in drops under the tongue sublingually. They are not meant to be vaped or smoked.
- CBD Juice: CBD juice, also known as CBD e-liquids, are designed to be vaped and their consistency is created to work like standard e-liquids in this regard. These liquids will vaporize well, so for anyone in search of CBD to vape, you need CBD vape juice/ e-liquids.
Inconsistency in the Industry
One rather disconcerting aspect of the CBD industry is that terms are very much loosely used and not always consistent. Many manufacturers use the “oil” interchangeably with tinctures and vape juices, and this can be really confusing. In the future, we expect this gray area to become more defined and more manufacturers to become more specific in their descriptions, as the products and how they are used is quite different (between tinctures and vape juices). In the meantime, while researching and shopping for your products, having the right terminology to use, in order to get the exact CBD products you’re after is essential. Imagine the frustration in purchasing a tincture intending to vape, only to read the packaging to find your “oil” isn’t going to be used that way.
What to Watch Out for
Be wary of any product labeled as a “CBD vape tincture.” This wording is massively confusing and may even indicate a lack of knowledge on behalf of the manufacturer. CBD vape juices and CBD tinctures do entirely different things by way usage. CBD tinctures typically have an oil base, which is often a food-grade oil such as canola, olive, or hemp seed oil, which is used as the carrier oil, enabling it to be digested and absorbed into the body in the most efficient manner. Even CBD vape juices will contain a small amount of carrier oil due to the extraction of the CBD, however, the vape juices, at least from the most qualified brands on the market, are designed specifically to be vaped, and not used like tinctures.
Understanding CBD
The big deal between tinctures and juices is how they’re used in the body. Both methods are excellent options for those who want to harness the benefits of CBD in the body, but the delivery methods are quite different, allowing options for those who may prefer one way over the other. In its purest, most isolated form, CBD, when extracted from raw cannabis is a solid product that has an appearance quite similar to salt. It has to be processed properly in order for it to be consumed, whether as a tincture, to be used sublingually under the tongue, or as an e-liquid to be vaped.
The carrier oil plays a major role in this regard, and specific types of oils are used for either vaping or digestion, and they are not to veer outside of this distinction, as certain oils are not compatible with digestion and others are not compatible with vaping. Vegetable oils, for instance, olive oil is one example, are often used in the ingredients of tinctures, enabling these liquids to be used quite effectively to maintain the purity and strength of the CBD, along with easy digestion. However, vegetable oils are highly viscous and they should never be used with vape devices. For vaping, vape juices are crafted to exact specifications with thinning agents for proper vaporizing and proper delivery of the CBD.
So, to sum up the difference between CBD vape juice and CBD tinctures, here are some important facts:
- CBD “oil” is a misnomer that can mean a lot of different things in the industry.
- Read labels and research your products very carefully; know what you’re getting ahead of time because “oil” does not explicitly mean CBD tincture or e-liquid.
- CBD tincture typically means the product is meant to be administered orally, under the tongue in a sublingual manner.
- CBD vape juice, CBD e-liquid, and CBD juices all refer to liquids designed to be vaped, not used orally otherwise.