The Ultimate Guide to Vaping Oils [CBD, THC & Other]

an image of a vapable oil that goes into a oil vaporizer
[This post is a succinct but detailed guide to vaping oils – both cannabis and essentials. In it, you’ll find out everything there is to know about THC & CBD vape liquids and vape gear such as vaporizers and THC vape pens and other portable devices. You’ll also get the information you need about correct temperatures, the difference between essentials, hemp oils, and CBD/THC e-liquids, with links to detailed posts where appropriate].

With more than half of the US states legalizing recreational use of marijuana – and researchers and health officials confirming its benefit for numerous conditions – it’s no wonder that the cannabis market is exploding.

In addition to cannabis flower and wax, however, one of the fastest growing aspects of the market – in terms of popularity and interest – is oil.

THC and CBD, to be exact.

If you’re looking to give those a try [or if you want to know more about a less loopy option, essential oil vape pens], you’re in the right place.

Here’s what we’ll be covering in this ultimate guide to vaping oils:

  • what are vapable oils [and what are they not]
  • which ones are good for vaping
  • is it a good idea to vape essentials
  • THC, CBD, and hemp oils for vaping
  • type of devices used for this
  • handy tips and tricks for a better experience
  • why vaping on oils (and flower) always beats smoking

So buckle up and get ready for a ride!

And if – by the end of this article – you’re sold on the benefits of vaporization, you can always try our flagship product, Jiggy, by clicking on the link below.

Want to Try Out the Best THC/CBD Vaporizer In Its Class?

Then Covert is exactly what you’ve been looking for!

The Covert is a 2-in-1 vape pen that works with oils and e-liquids.

Get Yours Today & Enjoy In The Pure Flavor of Your Favorite Oil (Click Here)

Let’s dig into it!

IMPORTANT – Cannabis Oils ARE NOT the Same as Cannabis E-juice

The first thing that we need to clear up here is the unfortunate habit of naming conventions.

You see, we do not vape oil per se. Actually, they – whether they are cannabis, hemp, or essential – should NEVER be vaped.

They are designed to be taken sublingually and not vaporized, so there’s no such thing as CBD vape oil, for example.

What we vaporize is vape juice, which has a distinct [thinner] carrier oil that’s safe to turn into vapor and inhale.

Vapable carriers include vegetable glycerin (called VG also), propylene glycol (PG), and in some cases coconut oil [sufficiently dilluted]. Both VG and PG are safe to vape, and are not considered oils in the true sense of the word. They are simply carriers that suspend cannabis extracts such as THC, CBD, other cannabinoids, and terepenes. In the long-term, they’ve proved to be the easiest way to deliver THC/CBD vapor safely.

However, people have been talking about ‘vape oils’ for so long that the name stuck.

Just remember – vapable liquids are not the oils that can be used for sublingual or oral ingestion. And you can’t use those to vape. So keep that in mind.

Which Ones Are Good for Vaping?

Marijuana oil? CBD oil? Hemp oil?

There’s no dispute that marijuana-based products, in general, are the rage but it’s not fair to clump everyone together and just assume that anyone using a vaporizer is doing it for the buzz. A lot of new vapers vape various essential oils, which have calming and other therapeutic properties.

That said, a lot of these vaporizers are indeed made with THC and CBD oils in mind.

Why?

Because they are used as medicine and some countries (and states in the US) make it legal for patients to buy and use them as pain relief or therapy.

We can divide them into two broad categories:

  • Essentials (peppermint, rosemary, chamomile, lavender, and others)
  • Cannabis (CBD, THC, and hempseed)

Vaping marijuana oil (specifically the most famous cannabinoids) has numerous health benefits for patients suffering from a number of chronic or acute conditions. The plant itself is hailed as the most potent herbal medicine by many experts, including Dr. Ethan Russo, former chairman of the International Cannabinoid Research Society.

However, not all are created equal. Let’s take a closer look at what you’re vaping when you try different types.

[We’ll focus on cannabis and hemp oils from now on. To find out more about essential oils, take a look at our guide to vaping essential oils.]

THC, CBD, and Hempseed

Vaping essentials is pretty straightforward in terms of benefits – aromatherapy, calming and soothing effects, etc. Things get a bit more complicated with THC, CBD, and hemp.

Let’s get hempseed out of the way first.

Hempseed

Hemp does not have the medicinal benefits usually attributed to cannabinoids. That’s because it’s made from hemp (a pretty big hint, right?) and not from marijuana. It contains minimal traces of cannabinoids which makes marijuana oil vaping so popular and beneficial.

If you’re buying CBD products that boast shipping to all 50 states, beware. The seller is selling hempseed extract and only calling it CBD because labeling rules allow them to. True CBD vape juice can only be sold in states that have legalized cannabis products for medical and recreational use.

For more on hempseed, take a look at our post on the differences between CBD and hempseed oil.

THC

When people discuss marijuana oil, they usually tend to focus on those with a high concentration of THC, tetrahydrocannabinol. It is a psychoactive component that gives you that characteristic ‘buzz’ when you smoke weed. It’s also a reason why the FDA still considers it a controlled substance. God forbid people should find their medicine enjoyable, right?

However, we are moving forward. Medical marijuana is now legal in almost all the states, as well as in DC [recreational weed is legal in close to 30 states]. It’s also used to treat a wide variety of conditions:

  • Depression
  • Autism
  • Epilepsy
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Parkinson’s Disease
  • ALS
  • Stroke
  • PTSD
  • Anxiety Disorders

…and the list goes on and on.

National Institutes for Health (NiH) recently released a report from a study that concluded that chronic pain conditions and spasms in MS patients can be managed by cannabis.

If you’re not in it for the buzz, there’s no need to worry – you can simply opt for CBD oils. Vaping CBD oils means you’re not ingesting THC and there’s nothing in them that would alter your state of mind.

Vaping on THC vape juice can get trickly because your vape device needs to produce the right temperature. Higher temperatures ‘kill’ the THC inside a liquid. Most THC pods, oil cartridges, and vape juices do best at a relatively lower temperature of 157 degrees centigrade / 315 degrees Fahrenheit because this is the boiling point of THC. It evaporates, but its active ingredients are not destroyed at this high temperature.

For more on low/high temperature for vaping, check out his post on the right temperature for CBD oils and THC oils.

CBD

CBD stands for cannabidiol, which, surprisingly, is a substance that we easily find in the human body. It’s a part of our endocannabinoid system and it has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antispasmodic properties. The endocannabinoid system can be disrupted by a host of different diseases – arthritis, MS, severe migraines, heart disease and more. CBD medicinal uses are helpful in those cases. Vaping it mimics your own body’s CBD, stimulating its production and halting its rapid breakdown.

There are several different types of CBD vape juices:

  • isolate e-liquid – contains only CBD, with no trace amounts of other cannabinoids (safe if you’re getting a drug test for THC)
  • full spectrum e-liquid – has the addition of other cannabinoids, including a high dose of high-quality THC.
  • broad-spectrum – other cannabinoids and terpenes added to the mix, but without THC [or under 0.3%]

To get additional information on the difference between isolate, broad, and full-spectrum extracts, check out this detailed post here.

NOTE: There are many different types of CBD e-liquid on the market today. With so many new users and medical patients, the manufacturers have gone all out and you can now find it with the flavor of many different strains… infused with other cannabinoids and terpenes. It’s important to note that you should always know how much THC and CBD vape juices contain, even if they are hemp products [which contain little to no THC]. That’s because the extraction process for these cannabinoids has evolved, and many are added artificially, so original plant material doesn’t matter. Knowing what you’re taking – and if you’re vaping natural ingredients – will help you stay on this side of the law, and it will also help you when it comes to dosing your CBD e-liquid.

Types of CBD/THC Vaporizers

The anatomy of oil vaporizers is similar to the anatomy of every other cannabis vaporizer, be it for e-liquid, dry herb, or concentrates. Generally, a vaporizer will consist of three parts:

  • Battery
  • Tank
  • Mouthpiece

The battery provides the power for your vape, which can be anywhere from 650mAh to 1500mAh capacity – this lets you know how long you can vape before having to recharge it. Some also feature temperature control that allows you to fine-tune the temp they’re firing. This is pretty important because you want to vaporize your stuff but not burn it.

The tank is where you put in your vapable liquid. It contains a heating element, usually a coil made from various types of wire (stainless steel, titanium) that heats up and evaporates the contents of the tank.

The mouthpiece is used to draw the vapor from the tank and into your lungs. There are various types of vaporizer mouthpieces and your choice will depend on your preferences. If you prefer cooler vapor, choose a wider mouthpiece. For warmer vapor, a short narrow mouthpiece is better.

Most vaporizers have those essential parts, the exception being corded desktop vaporizers which have to be plugged in a socket to work. And while we’re on the subject, there are three different types of vaporizers:

  • Cigalike vaporizers
  • Vape pens (portable vaporizers)
  • Desktop vaporizers

Desktop Vaporizers

Desktop vaporizers are big and bulky and, although they work on the same principle as portable vaporizers, they are not as convenient. They can be corded or cordless and are mostly used for home sessions involving more than one person. There aren’t that many dedicated desktop vaporizers – manufacturers are more likely to create a dry herb vaporizer and include a heating chamber that can be used for vaporizing different kinds of liquids. Desktop vaporizers usually don’t have a mouthpiece. What they have is a balloon that you use to inhale the vapor or, alternatively, a hose (called a whip) that’s connected to the heating chamber.

different types of vaporizers

Cigalike Vapes

First-generation vaporizers, cigalikes (as the name suggests) look like cigarettes. They are handheld devices that have a small battery with a vape cartridge. Although practical, cigalikes are quickly falling from grace. This is because there’s no way to know exactly what’s in the cartridge – the cartridges might be easy to swap out but you can never be 100% sure about what you’re taking.

That said, there’s been a resurgence of disposable vape pens with CBD e-liquid in the cannabis community in recent years, namely because of the ease of use. Again, this is controversial because from a medical use standpoint you never really know what’s in these liquids. However, most recreational THC vapers like these because they are not complicated and give a good experience (but they will potentially produce a much lower temperature than you actually need, so keep that in mind).

Disposable e-cigs, pre-filled cartridges, and CBD vape pens are popular option for new users who are figuring things out and testing flavors. However, let those be more like product samples. While there is still limited evidence of this, don’t use them for a long time because of potential health risks.

Handheld Pens

By far the most popular type of vaporizer, an oil vaporizing pen is small, discreet, and can be pretty powerful… and a much better option than a disposable pen. These are usually powered by high-end built-in batteries and feature temperature control so you can easily tweak them for optimal performance. Smaller and more convenient than desktop vaporizers, oil pens also outperform cigalike vaporizers.

You don’t have to use any specific cartridge with them and you can load up the tank with the blend of your choice. Use them to medicate on the go or enjoy a refreshing puff of essentials wherever you are – there are even stealth options out there, like High Key, our keychain vape battery. There are several different styles these ones heat up your juice and produce vapor, but the details are not important – what’s important is that they get the job done.

To find out how to keep them in tip-top shape, check out this post on cleaning your e-juice and oil vaporizers.

How Do These Devices Work?

It all comes down to temperature.

Vaporizers heat up the vape juice to the point of evaporation, which is lower than the point of combustion.

This is important because it means you’re not ingesting smoke. Vapor, while definitely not healthy (nothing but the air is), poses a much lower health risk.

For THC/CBD, vapes generally go up to around 320℉ – that’s the temp point at which most cannabinoids evaporate. Much higher than that is an overkill and you don’t want that – it means that your cannabinoids and other compounds (like flavonoids) are burning up before you get a chance to inhale them.

So yeah – a vape can have a lot of bells and whistles, but the most important thing is that they all (in one way or another – metal coils, ceramic chambers, cotton wicks) heat up the material, which then releases vaporized compounds without burning up or producing an unpleasant odor.

And that’s it!

4 Tips & Tricks for Oil Carts

As with everything else, practice makes perfect, even when it comes to vaporization. However, this wouldn’t be a complete guide if we didn’t give you a push in the right direction. Here are our four tips that will make your experience more pleasurable.

  • Be conservative – regardless of whether you’re medicating or vaping essentials, be careful with the amount, especially when you start out. A more potent hit can provoke a coughing fit or give you more of a buzz than you were hoping for, especially if you’re kicking things off with a THC oil pen. Start small with every new blend you try out until you figure out just how potent it is – if it’s weak stuff, it’s always easy to add more.
  • Monitor the temperature – you don’t want your liquid to burn because that means you’re losing up to 30% of the good stuff to smoke and that you’re inhaling carbon monoxide. If you can, invest in a temp control device that will give you complete control over the temperature that’s being produced. The Kind Vape’s ‘Jiggy’ is a good example of a top-shelf vaporizer with temp control.
  • Shallow puffs – take small, controlled puffs for several reasons. First, you don’t want the liquid to end up in your mouth. Secondly, violent draws will cause the liquid to heat up more rapidly so you’re risking combustion as opposed to evaporation.
  • Get good vape liquid – this has to be your number one priority. It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about essentials or marijuana, they have to be tested in a certified lab. Nugg is a pretty cool website that connects you to close dispensaries that you can use to find vetted manufacturers and blends. However, make sure to do due diligence when it comes to manufacturers.

The Verdict

All we can really say is – go for it! If you’re in it for the calming effect of essential oil vaping, great! Even better if you’re in it for the buzz of vaping marijuana and CBD oils. On the other hand, if you’re medicating (which is unfortunate), vaping has more benefits than either smoking weed or using dry herb vaporizers:

  • More potent
  • Cleaner
  • More discreet
  • Quicker

If you have any questions about vaporizers or vaping in general, drop down to the comments section and give us a shout! We hope that, after reading this, you’re able to confidently choose your THC/CBD/essentials vape pen – check out the Kind Pen selection right here.

Want to Try Out the Best THC/CBD Vaporizer In Its Class?

Then Covert is exactly what you’ve been looking for!

The Covert is a 2-in-1 vape pen that works with oils and e-liquids.

Get Yours Today & Enjoy In The Pure Flavor of Your Favorite Oil (Click Here)

 

Check our bestsellers for oil!

4 thoughts on “The Ultimate Guide to Vaping Oils [CBD, THC & Other]

  1. MaryAnn says:

    Just received my Pen and I love it. It’s easy to use, easy to handle and just the right amount of vapor. The battery charged in 2 hrs and appears to have a long life. After 24 hrs of periodic use, battery still going strong.
    Will recommend this product to anyone. Great accessory list to replace parts without having to replace the whole Pen. Good job Kind Pen.

  2. El says:

    Missing CBD’S subscription, I’ve tried other companies product and I haven’t been able to get the quality of CBD’S that I used to get from your company ?

  3. Tony Always says:

    I heard the vaporizer industry really tries to seperate from the ecigarette industry. I thought when talking about vaping it’s only about ecigs.
    Anyways thanks for the guide! For Oil I really love to use the firefly 2

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