CBD Boiling/Vaporizing Point: A Guide to Safe Vaping

Tara DeVincenzo • February 15, 2019 • About CBD, FAQ

CBD is everywhere, from drinks to beauty products and, thanks to vapes, in the air. Vaping CBD is becoming a popular method of consumption given its quality of quick and potent delivery of CBD to the system.

Vaping CBD is one of the most effective ways of getting the most from your CBD oil. By burning it at high temperatures and inhaling the vapors, the CBD is able to go directly to the lungs and be absorbed quickly into the bloodstream.

There are several studies supporting the strength of this method and specific points at which it is viable. CBD’s boiling/vaporizing point is the temperature that needs to be reached for CBD to provide its intended effects. In this case, we’re going to talk about the vaporizing point.

Vapes vs. Edibles

Bioavailability refers to the amount of CBD that your body will receive as opposed to the total potency you consumed. This can change based on your preferred method of consumption. The body will process CBD differently in its varied forms, making the amount that survives dependent on the technique by which it’s taken.

Consuming CBD as an edible makes it vulnerable to the “first-pass” through the gut and liver, where the body breaks it down. This strips some of the beneficial properties of CBD away, leaving a lower concentration for your body to receive than what you consumed.

Taking CBD in edible form will, however, last for a long time. The body needs time to process it, so it may take up to an hour to feel the effects. Best case scenario, the effects will last 6-8 hours after consumption.

Vape Vs. Sublingual Uptake

Sublingual uptake, meaning under the tongue, offers a slightly more fast-acting effect than edibles. Oils sold as tinctures can be administered by simply using the dropper to dispense oil under the tongue. This is a popular option and people find the ease of adding it to their routines to work well.

Sublingual uptake exposes CBD directly to salivary glands which puts it on a fast track to the bloodstream. These active glands are permeable blood vessels and quickly direct the active ingredients throughout the body.

Bioavailability Through Vaping

Vaping is believed to be the quickest way to get CBD into your bloodstream. Your lungs are able to absorb CBD at a higher capacity very quickly and distribute it throughout the body. Given the lungs’ expansive space in your body, they’re also able to take in far more active chemicals than a small surface like under the tongue.

CBD Boiling/Vaporizing Point

It’s clear that vaping is the quickest way to feel the effects of CBD, but how does vaping work? What temperature does CBD need to hit in order to reach a vaporizing point? Is there such a thing as burning CBD?

CBD, like any oil, has its limits. Somewhere between 320-356 degrees Fahrenheit (160-180 Celcius), CBD will boil.

Of course, you don’t just want to get your CBD too hot to touch. The whole concept of understanding CBD’s boiling/vaporizing point is to understand the heat required to make vapor. It’s the vapor that you’ll be able to inhale and will be able to consume for therapeutic effects.

Something to keep in mind is that when you vape CBD, it’s very rarely CBD isolate. CBD oils are commonly combined with cannabinoids and terpenes to enhance the effect and taste. These chemical properties will have their own boiling points.

For instance, THC can be found in some full-spectrum CBD products. Preserving the integrity of even low levels of THC aids in the activation of the entourage effect. If THC isn’t activated, the effect won’t be experienced.

Luckily, THC’s boiling point is similar to that of CBD’s. The peak temperature is believed to fall around 315 degrees Fahrenheit (157 degrees Celsius), though there is some disagreement surrounding this.

Other cannabinoids and terpenes have their own range of activation. Some of them are as follows:

cannabigerol (CBG) – 125 degrees Fahrenheit
cannabinol (CBN) – 365 degrees Fahrenheit
cannabichromene (CBC) – 428 degrees Fahrenheit

Flavonoids and terpenes:

D-limonene – 350 degrees Fahrenheit
Quercetin – 482 degrees Fahrenheit
cannflavin A – 359 degrees Fahrenheit
Pinene – 312 degrees Fahrenheit
Myrcene – 330 degrees Fahrenheit

As you can see, some of the flavonoids and terpenes require a much higher temperature to reach vaporization.

Ranges of Vaporization

Activating CBD is pretty easy to do given its relatively low vaporizing point. If you want to experience the flavor or benefits of other cannabinoids and terpenes they’ll need the heat turned up. Take care when choosing a temperature; too low can elicit mild effects, too high can burn away the benefits.

Vape pens vary by brand, but they are usually equipped with at least three temperature settings. Often depicted as red (lowest), green (midrange), and blue (highest), clicking the button can allow you to change the heat at which your oil burns.

The low setting is more than likely just enough to get you there. This falls somewhere in the mid 300s and suits CBD and THC well. While CBD has a higher vaporizing point, low amounts of THC will be able to mingle and play their part in the entourage effect.

The median voltage will reach heats incrementally higher, while the highest voltage is pushing into the 400-degree range. At higher voltages, you’ll get a harder hit of CBD and THC, and experience more flavor profiles from terpenes.

The variable voltage vapes may also include a range of other temperatures, sometimes as many as 6 or 8. Each one will have specific capabilities, but it’s normally safe (and expected) to burn CBD even at the lowest setting.

CBD Boiling/Vaporizing Point: Final Thoughts

Getting the most out of CBD is a goal that everyone shares when they make the investment. It’s not just an investment in the product, but an investment in personal health and wellness.

For those who seek the fast-acting ability of vaping CBD oil, knowing the right boiling point will help activate all the beneficial properties.

Buying from safe, secure retailers will give you peace of mind knowing that they have the right tools to use to yield the right results, but an informed buyer always has the upper hand. Don’t be afraid of asking questions and certainly always do your research when buying new products.

You’re literally sending your purchase up in smoke. Watching it float away will be a lot easier when you can experience its benefits before it reunites with the clouds.