HOW DOES CBD WAX FEEL?

The legalization of hemp in 2018 put CBD back into the spotlight. Conversations surrounding CBD oil have sparked interest among younger and older folks alike, with many excited about the legalization of CBD. In contrast, others are still concerned and skeptical about its purported benefits. Undoubtedly, the CBD market is rapidly growing and has even become a multi-billion-dollar industry.

There are several forms of CBD. Some can be processed into tinctures, CBD gummies, and CBD capsules. For example, CBD gummies are user-friendly since they are easily customizable, easy to prepare, and have a delicious taste. CBD tinctures have a high bioavailability and are easy to use since they are normally administered under the tongue. But are these the only forms of CBD?

Many people are growing fond of CBD wax. Enthusiastic users have also realized that traditional CBD products may not be enough anymore, as they may need something stronger. This article deconstructs CBD wax, how it’s made, its several benefits, and its effects.

What Is CBD Wax?

Shannon et al. (2016) suggested that CBD is a non-psychoactive chemical compound in hemp. Therefore, CBD does not have any intoxicating or “high” effects. Other chemical compounds present in hemp include terpenes and flavonoids. Prakash et al.  (2013)  showed that terpenes have anti-inflammatory properties that aid in alleviating muscle pain and inflammation.

CBD wax is a type of cannabis concentrate which has a higher potency compared to conventional CBD. It is derived from hemp in its original form. There are several forms of CBD dabs (concentrates), such as CBD crystals, budders, crumble and shatter.

Is CBD Wax Legal?

Hemp was legalized in 2018 after Congress passed the Farm Bill. This legislation led to the removal of hemp from the legal definition of marijuana. However, states were mandated to develop laws to regulate CBD use. Seventeen states have legalized CBD for medical and recreational use.

How Does CBD Wax Feel?

As mentioned, CBD has no intoxicating effects since it does not contain psychoactive THC. Shannon& Opila (2015) noted that CBD is beneficial as it promotes restful sleep, reduction in anxiety, and pain relief. However, CBD consumed in a higher dosage can cause drowsiness, especially for new users.

CBD wax is similar to other CBD products such as CBD oils and capsules. However, the effect is likely to be more intense due to the higher potency of CBD wax. CBD wax has therapeutic properties that exhibit a relaxing feeling. Kleckner et al.  (2019) explained that CBD wax helps in alleviating anxiety and stress and reducing inflammation in muscles.

CBD wax can last for 6-7 hours when swallowed. However, inhaling CBD dabs lasts for a shorter time, about 3 hours. However, vaping might prove preferable since the bioavailability of CBD is higher in the lungs compared to the digestive system.

How Is CBD Wax Made?

Several extraction processes can be executed to obtain CBD wax. These processes include carbon (IV) oxide extraction and alcohol extraction as the main methods used, while lipid extraction is also an extraction method used in some cases.

Alcohol extraction – Also known as Butane Hash Oil extraction, this process uses butane to remove all the essential oils contained in the cannabis plant. Such essential oils and compounds include flavonoids, terpenes, and cannabinoids. Alcohol extraction is a popular extraction method as it is resourceful. However, it has its disadvantages. For example, there is a risk of explosion since butane is highly flammable. Moreover, residual butane could leave behind a solvent that could contaminate the final product.

CO2 extraction – in this process, pressurized CO2 is used to pull out essential oils such as flavonoids, terpenes, and cannabinoids. This process offers a “purer” CBD wax since no residual solvents are left behind.

How To Use CBD Wax

CBD wax can be vaporized using a dab rig. Dab rigs often come in multiple sizes and styles. Users need to take one hit, especially new CBD users. As time goes by, one can gradually increase the dose.

Heat the nail for 20 seconds, cease the heating process, and wait for the dab to cool for the next 60 seconds. Inhale the vapor through the mouthpiece of the dab rig

Possible Dangers Of Using CBD Wax

According to Layden et al.  (2020), vaping CBD wax can cause lung complications, especially if the vape juice contains harmful substances such as vitamin E acetate. Moreover, using CBD wax that contains THC can have psychoactive effects. Inhaling CBD wax at high temperatures can damage your throat and lungs. Learn more about what does cbd wax taste like?

Types Of CBD Wax

It is common for manufacturers to label CBD wax as CBD crumble, CBD shatter, CBD live resin, or CBD budder. Several characteristics make each type of CBD wax unique.

CBD budder – CBD budder is usually made by heating hemp at higher temperatures and pumping air pressure onto hemp. The result is a fleecy wax similar to butter.

CBD live resin – CBD live resin is produced in a unique manner. While other CBD wax requires hemp to be dried in the air, CBD live resin requires hemp that has been frozen, then dried while it is still fresh from extraction. CBD live resin is an expensive type of CBD wax since the process of freezing hemp first preserves chemical compounds such as terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids.

CBD shatter – according to Bidwell et al.  (2018),   CBD shatters have the texture of rock candy and look like shattered glass. Heat is used to extract the oil, which is later allowed to cool and harden to form “amber-hued” glass shapes.

CBD crumble – Its extraction process is similar to that of CBD budder. However, CBD oil which is highly viscous and has a significant amount of moisture, is used in extraction. The end product is usually more crumbly, similar to cheese. Learn more about what is cbd wax crumble?

CBD Wax Strengths

There are three major CBD wax strengths:

Full-spectrum CBD contains all chemical compounds present in hemp, such as terpenes, CBD, THC, CBG, and flavonoids. However, THC levels are significantly low (not more than 0.3%) to avoid any psychoactive effects.

Broad-spectrum CBD is similar to full-spectrum CBD. However, THC is completely extracted from it.

CBD isolate only contains CBD as its primary chemical compound since all other chemical compounds have been extracted from it.

Summary

CBD wax is a highly concentrated version of CBD. Due to its higher potency, many people have grown fond of CBD wax. Therefore, you can achieve more relaxing effects with less CBD consumption.

There are various types of CBD wax, such as CBD shatter, CBD crumble, and CBD budder. Furthermore, alcohol and CO2 extraction are the most common extraction methods. CO2 is preferred since it guarantees higher purity levels.

CBD wax generally has a relaxing effect. Therefore, it can relieve pain and inflammation and reduce anxiety levels since it has a calming and stress-reducing effect. If you are a new CBD wax user, it is important to start with small doses. Also, purchase higher quality CBD wax to minimize potential health risks, such as lung damage caused by inhaling vitamin E acetate.

References

Bidwell, L. C., YorkWilliams, S. L., Mueller, R. L., Bryan, A. D., & Hutchison, K. E. (2018). Exploring cannabis concentrates on the legal market: User profiles, product strength, and health-related outcomes. Addictive behaviors reports, 8, 102-106.

Kleckner, A. S., Kleckner, I. R., Kamen, C. S., Tejani, M. A., Janelsins, M. C., Morrow, G. R., & Peppone, L. J. (2019). Opportunities for cannabis in supportive care in cancer. Therapeutic advances in medical oncology, 11, 1758835919866362.

Layden, J. E., Ghinai, I., Pray, I., Kimball, A., Layer, M., Tenforde, M. W., ... & Meiman, J. (2020). Pulmonary illness related to e-cigarette use in Illinois and Wisconsin. New England journal of medicine, 382(10), 903-916.

Prakash, O. M., Kumar, A., & Kumar, P. (2013). Anticancer potential of plants and natural products. Am J Pharmacol Sci, 1(6), 104-115.

Shannon, S., & Opila-Lehman, J. (2015). Cannabidiol oil for decreasing addictive use of marijuana: a case report. Integrative Medicine: A Clinician's Journal, 14(6), 31.