CBD, hemp, and other cannabis products are becoming more popular. It should not be surprising to you then that CBD flower is becoming more popular. However, you might not have heard about them until today, and you’re most likely wondering how to use them. Today, we will look at what CBD flower is and what you can expect when you use it.
What is CBD Flower?
CBD buds are from the female hemp plant, which has high levels of CBD and low amounts of THC. The hemp plants are part of the cannabis family, but they are not considered marijuana. Weed has much higher levels of THC than hemp plants do. THC is what causes many people to experience a high after using the substance.
In the hemp flower, you can find more than 150 different types of phytocannabinoids. That includes CBD, but it also includes THC, CBDa, CBC, and CBGV. You can also find terpenes, such as limonene and myrcene, in them. You will also find the flavonoids, which are what give each of the strains a unique scent and taste. When the plant’s components work together well, they will create the entourage effect.
When you get a high-quality CBD product, it has been created by exacting the entire plant’s beneficial compounds. That includes the flower. The CBD products that are made this way are called full-spectrum, and they often give you the best results because they have so many components to them. You want everything to work in harmony because they may help you feel more relaxed.
How to Use CBD Flower
There are many ways that you can use your CBD flower. In fact, many of them are similar to the way that you would use a marijuana bud. Some of the things you can do with your flower include:
- Smoking it
- Eating it
- Making CBD capsules
- Creating CBD oil
- Baking and cooking, including making CBD cannabutter
You can see that there are many uses for the buds, and the options are only limited by your imagination. You want to remember that raw, dried flowers only have CBDa. This is a precursor to CBD. You will want to activate the buds, so you can get the full benefits from them. Like with marijuana buds, you need to heat your CBD flower to get the full range of compounds in them.
This is known as decarboxylation. When you decarb (heat) the flower, the cannabinoids will turn into CBD. If you smoke the bud, this already happens, and you don’t have to worry about putting it in your oven. But if you’re going to be cooking with your bud or adding it to a smoothie, you’ll need to heat your bud.
It’s a fairly simple process. You just need to heat it in your oven at around 210 degrees Fahrenheit. First, you should shred the bud using a grinder. You can use a food processor if you do not have a grinder. You want to have small pieces but not dust.
You can then spread the pieces on a cookie sheet in a layer only a quarter of an inch deep. Then you can put the sheet in your oven for about 35 to 45 minutes. When done, the pieces will feel dry and crumble easily when you pinch them a bit. Now, you can toss them in capsules, cookies, and other edibles.
Smoking CBD Flower
Maybe you don’t want to go to the hassle of putting your bud in the oven. If that’s the case, it is easy for you to use a vaporizer, pipe, or roll your own CBD smoke. If you want to vape, then you will need to find a dry vaporizer. You can use any type that you want.
Can You Make Tea?
It might seem simple to make your own CBD tea to get in your daily dosage, but it may not work as well as you think it would. You can find a wide range of hemp or CBD teas out there, but they are often not very beneficial.
The reason for this is that CBD is soluble in fat. That means that it needs lipids or other fats so you can absorb it better. Because CBD is hydrophobic and nonpolar, it repels water. That means that it only binds to other nonpolar molecules. If you put your CBD in water, then the molecule will be repelled away from the water. That will cause your mug to become covered in CBD. You will end up getting very little in your beverage.
If you still want to drink your CBD, then you would be better off putting it in something that has fat in it. For example, try adding it to non-skim milk and then putting that in a smoothie. You could also put your CBD bud in something else, such as CBD oil, a capsule, or food, and drink that with a cup of tea.
Making Cannabutter
Many people enjoy putting CBD in their edibles. One way you can do this while making sure you are getting the most out of your product is by using cannabutter. The butter is oily enough that the CBD will bind to its molecules. To make it, you just have to melt your butter and place the cannabis in it. Allow it to cook in a slow cooker for a few hours and then strain it.
Closing Thoughts
There are many ways that you might choose to take your CBD flower. For example, try adding it to food or oil. Of course, if you decide to smoke your hemp, you may want to avoid doing it in public. You might end up with unwanted attention. Instead, it can be a fun way to spend an afternoon at home with your friends.
You will want to be careful about getting your flower, though. To stay safe, you should consider getting some that have been third-party tested. That way, you can make sure that you are getting the real thing.