What Is CBD Flower?
Whether you’re an experienced CBD user or considering trying out CBD for the first time, you may have heard about various ways to reap the benefits of cannabis. CBD oils, CBD topicals, and edibles are all reliable ways to take CBD. However, using CBD flower directly can raise the cannabinoid’s bioavailability, thereby increasing its effect on the endocannabinoid system. When used in a tobacco-free dip or shisha form a reputable source like Flora CBD, CBD flower can be one of the most effective, satisfactory, and delicious ways to take CBD.
CBD Flowers and Hemp Buds
CBD flower, CBD bud, or CBD hemp flower are all names for the raw plant form of CBD. CBD, or cannabidiol, is an active ingredient cultivated in and extracted from hemp plants. It is one of over 540 chemical substances and over 100 cannabinoids naturally occurring in cannabis plants.
CBD flowers are the topmost leaves and flowering stems of the hemp plant, which contain the most CBD compound (as opposed to the lower foliage and the root system).
How to Tell CBD Flower From Weed
CBD plants are grown in direct sunlight, in cool or breezy climates, and moist, well-irrigated soil. Hemp thrives in rich soil and often cannot grow to maturity or be harvested for use as CBD in sandy or particularly dry climates.
Cannabis plants, whether cultivated for their CBD or THC content, have a distinctive musky odor and may often seem interchangeable. While the main difference between CBD hemp plants and psychoactive marijuana is their internal chemical makeup, there is a slight difference in their appearance as well. Often, hemp plants are thinner and taller than bushy marijuana plants, with higher concentrations of leaves growing towards the very top.
CBD Cannabis vs. CBD Marijuana
According to the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp plants with less than 0.3% THC content are legally classified as “industrial hemp” and can be grown and lawfully distributed throughout the United States.
However, when it comes to telling “CBD cannabis” from “CBD marijuana,” there isn’t an actual taxonomical difference between the plants themselves. CBD and THC are simply two different elements found within hemp, or cannabis, plants. The nomenclature varies only due to human cultivation, not natural differences.
Hemp plants with higher THC content have psychoactive properties. These plants are what is commonly known as “weed” or “marijuana.” Their THC content leads to the sense of euphoria, heightened sensory perception, anxiety, and paranoia that is associated with a “high.” However, these plants can still contain CBD. Likewise, CBD is extracted from hemp plants that may contain up to 0.3% THC content - not enough to cause a high, but enough to preserve the benefits of the entire plant.
The Endocannabinoid System and CBD Flower
One of the many systems influencing and governing the human body is the endocannabinoid system, discovered in the early 1990s. Research found the existence of cannabinoid receptors, so-called as they are naturally responsive to the ingredients in cannabis. They are the most abundant neurotransmitter receptors in the mammalian brain.
The endocannabinoid system helps modulate pain and inflammation throughout the body. It also plays a role in other bodily functions and perceptions, such as sleep, mood, appetite, memory, and fertility.
CBD influences CB1 and CB2 receptors in the brain without the psychoactive effects of THC. It triggers serotonin production, encouraging the brain to produce more cortisol and regulate mood. It can also interrupt the transmission of pain signals.
While CBD can be distilled into oils and topicals, smoking the CBD flower directly can significantly increase the plant’s bioavailability. Bioavailability is defined as the rate at which substances are absorbed into the bloodstream and affect the body overall. The oral bioavailability of CBD can be relatively low, but the rate increases to 31% when smoking CBD flower, according to a Frontiers in Pharmacology study.
CBD Flower Effects
There are many positive effects associated with using CBD, especially in its most potent flower form. Certain CBD flower benefits are still being studied as CBD becomes more widely available; however, many have been identified already.
Some known benefits of CBD include a sense of relaxation and ease, along with a heightened sense of calm, focus, and wellness. CBD has been suggested for its role as an anti-anxiety compound and to treat insomnia. It has also been shown to have an antidepressant-like effect in several studies. CBD is also being considered for its role in relieving pain and reducing inflammation. It may even offer neuroprotective qualities, and it is shown to have minimal side effects and no addictive elements.
CBD Bud, CBD Nugs, and More
Smoking CBD flower is not the only way to use hemp buds. CBD bud can also be taken in CBD dip or shisha, which is a smooth-tasting hookah smoke.
Flora CBD offers a variety of CBD dip flavors, ranging from classic Wintergreen to Southern Peach. Each dip is made from non-GMO, long-cut CBD buds and is free from additives, pesticides, chemicals, metals, nicotine, and tobacco. This healthier dip alternative offers the benefits of fast-acting CBD absorption while stimulating the senses.
For those who prefer the highest bioavailability and ritual of smoking CBD, Flora CBD also offers a top-selling CBD shisha bundle. These 100% high-quality hemp extracts are free from harmful tobacco and nicotine and are third-party tested to ensure consistency across the board.
Takeaway
CBD flowers, hemp flowers, or CBD buds, as they are known, are the simplest and often most effective way to reap the full benefits of cannabidiol. CBD flowers offer increased bioavailability and high potency and are an all-natural method to discover the relaxing, soothing properties of CBD.
Most hemp plants have a natural musky scent and odor, and even CBD plants retain some trace elements of THC (less than 0.3%). However, choosing a flavored dip or shisha like those from Flora CBD can enliven the senses while using familiar delivery methods to absorb CBD.