In recent years, CBD has become the answer to the health, wellness, and medical scene. Yes, it’s a bit alternative to what we are used to, but when everyone from anxiety sufferers to chemo patients are touting its advantages, who could look the other way?
CBD flower benefits have become a sort of media darling. I mean, who would rather take a prescription pill for something that can be addressed naturally. No one, that’s who.
In this post, you’ll learn all about the benefits of CBD flower, as well as how to use it properly. Think of this as a CBD flower 101 guide.
So, let’s get to it.
Table of Contents
What is CBD Flower?
Let’s break it down.
CBD stands for cannabidiol. One of the most common cannabinoids, or active ingredients, of cannabis.
Flower, or bud, is the part of the marijuana plant that has all the good stuff—the cannabinoids like CBD and THC.
So, CBD flower is the bud of a hemp plant that looks like marijuana, smells like marijuana, it’s even smoked like marijuana, but it’s fundamentally different.
Unlike marijuana, which is full of CBD and THC (the psychoactive compound responsible for that high feeling), CBD flower has less than 0.3% THC. CBD flower is the part of the hemp plant that contains the highest amount of CBD.
If you used to smoke weed back in the day, it was bud in its most natural form. It had THC and CBD in it, along with 130 other compounds that haven’t received much attention in the medicinal marijuana scene.
But those days are over, and nowadays, you can pick from a zillion different designed strains of marijuana. Some with THC, some with CBD, some with both. But no matter what, CBD flower is just a THC-free version of weed from days gone by.
All the CBD flower benefits you should know
You won’t get high
The first and most significant benefit of using CBD flower is it doesn’t come with any mind-altering effects.
Not that there is anything wrong with getting high, but a lot of users don’t want the psychoactive feelings associated with marijuana. What many people don’t know is that those mind-bending feelings only come from THC. And nowadays, they can be separated so you can choose when to get your party on vs. when you need to do life.
CBD affects your brain by interacting with different neuroreceptors than THC does. And because you’re not going to get high, you can use CBD all day, every day, if you wish. Or at the very least, as needed for whatever ails you.
You can still focus, work, and go about your everyday life without feeling like Janis Joplin at Woodstock. In fact, some people find that CBD high strains of hemp make them more focused, and they are able to get more work done.
CBD flower is not addictive
CBD isn’t addictive, so no matter how long or how much you use it, you won’t run the risk of being physically addicted to it. There is a freedom in using something that makes you feel good without running the risk of dependency.
CBD flower relaxes you
CBD puts you into that chill zone without making you feel intoxicated.
CBD flower is a pain-reliever
Studies have shown that CBD flower has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving benefits. It’s used for headaches, chronic pain, and neuropathic pain.
CBD flower can reduce anxiety and depression
CBD interacts with the serotonin receptors in your brain, which are responsible for controlling both anxiety and depression. It soothes mood swings and keeps your frame of mind even-keeled.
CBD flower is more affordable
Gone are the days when you’d smoke whatever your friend grew in their backyard. Today’s strains are designer. They are cultivated specifically to create desired certain feelings.
Certain strains are made to uplift you, others are made for sleeping, some have 10% THC, others have a hybrid of indica and sativa. The point is that everything you inhale, eat, imbibe, or rub on your skin has been designed and made in a lab to some degree. Unfortunately, because so much cannabis is costly to manufacture, that cost is passed down to you, the user and can be cost-prohibitive.
CBD flower is less processed and, in its raw form, more affordable than other forms of CBD. It’s not that your high-end CBD flower wasn’t created in a lab, but less manufacturing goes into the process of creating the bud or flower than oils, tinctures, and capsules.
CBD flower is legal
Another significant benefit of CBD flower is that it’s legal in all 50 states. But regulations and uses are up to the individual state.
It might be restricted in your state, but it’s pretty easy to buy online. No matter where you buy it, however, you should investigate your state’s restrictions before you purchase any.
Also, any strains of CBD that have more than 0.3% THC might be illegal in your state, so buyer beware.
How to use CBD flower to get all benefits
There are loads of ways to use CBD: oils, tinctures, vapes, edibles, and smokes, to name a few.
But CBD flower is another story. Since the flower is literally the raw form of the plant, some of those popular methods won’t work. You are primarily limited to three options to get all the CBD flower benefits.
- Smoking CBD flower
Can you smoke CBD buds? You sure can, just like smoking any old-school cannabis.
Smoking is the most common, tried and true method of using CBD or any marijuana for that matter. You can use a bong, a pipe, or a good old-fashioned joint.
One of the best smoking CBD flower benefits is how fast it provides relief. Inhaling the CBD allows it to be absorbed into your bloodstream super quickly. Your lung’s blood vessels direct the CBD to your brain, and voila, within 30 seconds, you’ll start to feel the effects of CBD.
Also, the absorption rate, or bioavailability, of smoking CBD flower is around 30-50%. With CBD edibles, it’s about 20% because it has to go through your entire digestive system before you feel the benefits.
A higher bioavailability means you can use less, and therefore spend less money. So, it’s a win all around.
Because it provides such fast relief, smoking CBD flower for anxiety or panic attacks is one of the best methods. It can help within a few seconds to a minute.
- Vaping CBD flower
Vaping CBD flower is another fabulous way to get all the benefits. While smoking is common, vaping is becoming a fast runner-up, especially if you don’t, or can’t, inhale smoke into your lungs.
In addition, the vapor is better for your lungs and absorbs better than smoke. Some studies have shown that vaping CBD flower may be more potent than smoking hemp flower.
You can vape the flower, or bud, using a vaporizer or a vape pen.
- Eating CBD Flower
Before you just pop a little nugget of CBD hemp flower into your mouth like popcorn, you need to heat it first. Also, that would be disgusting.
The only way to eat CBD flower is by heating it, so the cannabinoids are property activated. One of the best ways to eat it is to add it into coconut oil or make canna-butter. Once you infuse it onto oil or butter, you can use it for cooking pretty much anything.
Even mainstream sites like Bon Appetit are getting in on the weed scene. Check out this recipe for weed butter.
Side-effects of smoking CBD flower
The side-effects of smoking CBD flower are few and far between. There are a few minor things like dry mouth, sleepiness, and diarrhea and gastro discomfort in rare cases. But the CBD benefits far outweigh any rare side effects.
The Last Puff and Our Recommendation
So, there you have it—all the CBD flower benefits you need to know to get started on your wellness journey.
It’s time to get down to your local dispensary and give it a whirl. Start low and slow. Expect plenty of trial and error, and what works for you may not work for someone else. But it’s certainly worth a try.
We’ve been working with a new hemp brand, Marvel Roots. They are a family-run farm using all organic, handcrafted farming practices. They have a whole lot more than flower, so you will want to check them out!
Modern Aging readers get 10% off their purchase! Use the code: MODERNAGING10 when you purchase off their site. www.marvelroots.com.
Are you looking to learn more about the health benefits of cannabis and CBD, especially for women’s health? Then check out our new program, The Essential Guide on Cannabis and CBD For Women’s Health. World-renowned integrative cannabis physician, Dr. June Chin, does a deep dive into the science and health benefits of cannabis and CBD.
Check out our FREE LIVE WEBINAR with Dr. Chin on Sept 30, Oct 3 and 6, 2021. Go to cbdwomenshealth.co/webinar to register.
