CBD (which stands for Cannabidiol) E-Liquid is a type of e-liquid that uses marijuana instead of nicotine to create a marijuana infused product (or MIP). CBD e-liquids, also called CBD vape juice or cannabis e-juice, is used as fluid for vaping, just like regular e-liquid.
Like its primary component, Cannabidiol, the e-liquid is usually used for healing people, like medicinal marijuana, but unlike marijuana, it does not get people high. This is because the component of marijuana that gets you high is the Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). CBD had been used decades before vaping even became popular.
What are the medicinal benefits of CBD e-liquids?
CBD has many medicinal benefits, and has been approved by the NHS, with pharmacists looking to stock CBD e-liquids. CBD has also been legalised recently by the Home Secretary Sajid Javid.
Seizure Reduction
CBD is notable for its ability to reduce seizures, as seen with the story of Charlotte Figi. Charlotte Figg suffers from Dravet Syndrome, a type of epilepsy, which at worst would give her 300 seizures a week. Her parents and doctors tried everything, but with no hope. Her parents tried CBD as an alternate treatment, and it worked. Her seizures suddenly dropped down to only one a day. This brought a lot of attention to CBD, to the point where a special strain of high-CBD cannabis called Charlotte's Web.
A randomised controlled trial was done to test if CBD can reduce seizures in Lennox–Gastaut syndrome sufferers. Lennox–Gastaut syndrome is a hard to treat version of epilepsy that means people suffering from it will have to have help with normal activities. The participants were randomly assigned to 3 different treatments, a 20mg dose of CBD per kg body weight, a 10mg dose of CBD per kg body weight and a matching placebo. All groups experienced reductions, with the 20mg group getting the most reduction, at 41.9%, followed by the 10mg group, with 37.2%, and the placebo group, with 17.2%. The researchers concluded that CBD causes a greater reduction in seizures for Lennox-Gastaut syndrome sufferers.
Anxiety
There is evidence to prove CBD helps to cope with anxiety. One study investigated the effects of CBD on people suffering from social anxiety by giving 12 sufferers CBD and 12 sufferers a placebo. They then simulated a public speaking task, and found the people using CBD were less anxious than the people with placebos. Many people use CBD to treat their anxiety problems, and find it works well for them.
Other Conditions
There is evidence that CBD can help treat psychosis and schizophrenia, as well as evidence from animal cells that it can have positive effects on diabetes, heart and blood vessels and even cancer. However, this is still ongoing research so it's possible that these results may not be the same for humans.
Is CBD E-Liquid Legal?
It depends where you live. Different places have different rules for CBD and, while it may be legal in some places, products also containing THC may not be legal.
UK: Recently, Sajid Javid, the home secretary, has made prescribing CBD legal, but he has said it can only contain up to 0.2% of THC, and the THC must not be easily separated.
USA: This is where it gets complicated. Hemp oil, made from the seeds of the marijuana plant, is legal, but anything made from the leaves or the rest of the plant isn't, and it must only contain up to 0.1% THC.
India: Anything from cannabis is illegal, apart from bhang, a cannabis drink, allowed in a registered shop.
Australia: CBD oil is legal, but you may need a prescription, and must have extremely low amounts of THC.
Sweden: CBD is classified as a medical product.
Switzerland: CBD products with up to 0.1% THC is allowed.
What is in a CBD e-liquid?
CBD e-liquids are basically the same as normal e-liquids, but with 1 difference. They still have the VG, PG and the flavour, but they have CBD rather than nicotine. The CBD in most of these products is CBD "Isolated", which is pure CBD, though you can have "full spectrum" extractions that include other cannabinoids (though not THC, which is illegal).
How to buy CBD e-liquids?
CBD e-liquids can be bought in the same way as normal e-liquids, from tobacconists and online vape shops. If you are buying CBD for medical purposes, contact your doctor first to see which is best. Always make sure if the e-liquids are legal in your location before vaping it.
Now hopefully you should know everything you need to know about CBD e-liquids, so you can make the right choice on what to buy.