CBD flower is a new product that’s taking the supplement industry by storm. Although CBD oil and other conventional hemp plant products are readily available, smoking high CBD cannabis flower is a massive hit among dry herb lovers. So what is CBD flower, and what sets it apart from other CBD products in terms of health benefits and risks? And more importantly, are CBD hemp flowers right for you?
To best answer this question, we don’t just need to know what CBD flower is. In this handy guide to CBD flower, we’ll look at the many components and uses associated with hemp buds. CBD flower is any kind of high-CBD bud derived from cultivars of the cannabis Sativa L. plant species. “Hemp” is simply a legal term distinguishing cannabis with less than 0.3% THC from its federally illegal cousin, “marijuana,” which exceeds the 0.3% threshold. There are many strains of “marijuana” that almost exclusively contain CBD, but they still go above 0.3% THC by a small margin. So CBD flower and hemp flower are mutually inclusive, coming from the same plant.
What Does CBD Flower Feel Like?
The CBD flower experience depends on a few things that we’ll cover shortly. The bottom line is that there’s no way to say CBD flower has the same consistent effects.Some think the indica, sativa, or hybrid hemp plants accurately predict how CBD flower feels. But these are based on a 200-year-old myth. It’s the compounds, not the genetics, that determine the effects of CBD flower strains.
CBD also adapts to your body’s needs. Depending on several factors (including mood, body chemistry, and age – to name a few), CBD may feel:
- Uplifting
- Relaxing
- Appetite-inducing
- Sedating
These are just a few examples of the many ways someone can experience CBD hemp flower.
What are CBD Flower Terpenes?
CBD flower terpenes are oily compounds that exist in all plants, some of which make their way into the cannabis sativa plant – the scientific classification for “marijuana” and “hemp.”
Why Terpenes Matter
The cannabis plant is more than just a piece of vegetation. Inside the cannabis flower lies a complex, high concentration of compounds. We know quite a bit about cannabinoids in the cannabis sativa plant. CBD-rich flower, CBD cigarettes, and similar CBD products don’t produce psychoactive effects but still carry cerebral effects that impact the brain and human body.
So how is this all possible? To better understand this, we need a closer look at terpenes found in hemp plants and other cannabis flower.
Aroma: Do you enjoy essential oils or the smell of fresh flowers? If so, you’ve experienced the power of terpenes first-hand. These oily compounds vary in percentage and concentration – much like CBD flower products – from one species to another. However, they all serve the same purpose.
If you love the citrusy smell of fresh lemon, you can thank a terpene called “limonene.” Lilacs are also a wonderful way to add some pleasant scents to your garden, all thanks to the terpene known as “linalool.”
Taste: Just like aroma, terpenes give fruits and edible plants their flavors. Myrcene and caryophyllene, for instance, are responsible for the way mangoes and black pepper taste, respectively.These terpenes serve the same purpose in CBD oil, CBD flowers, and other full-spectrum or broad-spectrum CBD products.
What is CBD Flower Good For?
Like all CBD products, the benefits of CBD hemp flowers aren’t fully understood. It’s convenient that CBD-rich hemp strains naturally contain less than 0.3% THC. The lack of psychoactive effects makes hemp-derived supplements particularly appealing.Unfortunately, there are no clinical studies on CBD flower benefits. CBD oil has proven effective against specific forms of childhood epilepsy, but no such findings are attributed to CBD hemp flower.
Still, there’s some limited evidence that smokable hemp flower buds carry similar benefits to other CBD products. Because health professionals don’t recommend smoking, it’s no surprise that CBD hemp flower hasn’t received the same attention as oils or even vape products.
But since we’re focusing on inhaled hemp flower, we’ll stick to categories that contain some level of research.
Relaxation: CBD has a strong reputation for its relaxing properties. And while these are typically associated with products like CBD oil, edibles, and vapes, the same applies to smokable hemp flower.Many consumers use CBD hemp flower to help unwind. But there may be evidence supporting using CBD flower to mitigate anxiety.
Will Smoking CBD Flower Show on a Drug Test?
Yes, smoking CBD flower could show up on a drug test. Atlhough CBD hemp flower contains less than 0.3% THC by dry weight, this percentage could be enough to trigger a positive test result.If you smoke CBD flower, check the third-party test results on those hemp strains to ensure they adhere to the federal THC threshold. It’s also best to notify your employer if CBD flower is a consistent part of your lifestyle.