The non-intoxicating cannabinoid CBD is available in all kinds of products these days – even in things as innocuous as moisturizing face cream. All the CBD-infused balms, oils, tinctures, topicals, and edibles out there have left many consumers seeking a more natural way to access the therapeutic benefits of cannabidiol. That’s where smokable hemp comes in!
Hemp vs Cannabis vs Marijuana - What's the Difference?
Cannabis is a genus of plants in the Cannabaceae family. Both marijuana and hemp are varieties of the cannabis plant; however, they have extremely different practical uses.
People have cultivated hemp for hundreds of years to utilize its fibrous stalks in the making of everything from textiles to sustainable building materials. Even founding father Thomas Jefferson grew hemp. Unlike marijuana, hemp contains minimal THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the cannabinoid responsible for producing the “high” we associate with smoking marijuana.
The variety of cannabis containing plenty of THC goes by many names: pot, weed, ganja, marijuana (though this term is falling out of favor due to its racist origin).
What is Smokable Hemp?
Smokable hemp is precisely what it sounds like – hemp flower cultivated for smoking purposes. While hemp buds don’t contain enough THC to produce any euphoric feelings or stony sensations, they can be chock full of other beneficial compounds, namely, CBD.
How to Smoke Hemp Flower
Smokable hemp can be found in many forms. You can buy hemp flower packaged similarly to the marijuana found in dispensaries. It’s used in the same way too, simply grind up the flower and smoke it the way you would any other type of cannabis flower. There’s also hemp flower pre rolls available, which are hemp flower joints that are sold already rolled for convenience.
Those interested in quitting cigarettes may find that hemp cigarettes are a non-addictive option that can aid in sating the smoking habit while in the quitting process. Their design, shape, and packaging all mimic traditional cigarettes to simulate the smoking ritual without any nicotine or additives.
Can Industrial Hemp be Smoked?
Regular industrial hemp, the kind grown for its fibers, can be smoked without any ill-effects. However, you likely won’t get much benefit. Cultivators of smokable hemp breed their plants to be rich in cannabinoids and terpenes, while industrial hemp is mostly grown in a way that maximizes quantity. Whenever possible, look for artisan hemp flower explicitly grown for smoking.
Is Smoking Hemp Legal?
Like most forms of cannabis in the United States, smokable hemp falls into a nebulous legal grey zone.
The 2018 Farm Bill made considerable strides towards ending cannabis prohibition by decriminalizing hemp on the federal level. The bill also defines hemp as any cannabis plant that contains less than .3% THC.
But even with federal decriminalization, it’s up to each individual state to set its own laws regarding hemp. However, states can no longer interfere with hemp transportation through their borders regardless of the laws on their books. Check out our guide to learn the states where hemp is legal.
Inhaling Hemp Without Smoking
Inhalation methods are some of the most effective ways to consume the hemp plant. CBD, the most sought after compound in hemp, has a surprisingly low bioavailability rate when taken orally. This means that when CBD is taken in the form of an edible or capsule, the majority of the CBD doesn’t end up absorbed into the bloodstream and winds up going to waste. Sublingual applications in the forms of tinctures you hold under your tongue aren’t much better at delivering the cannabinoid.
Smoking has far and away the highest rate of bioavailability of any consumption method, potentially doubling the amount of CBD absorbed compared to oral applications. However, smoking can be a turn off for people. It can irritate the throat and definitely isn’t the safest of all the options out there.
One way people can access the benefits of inhalation without actually having to smoke anything is through the use of vaporizers. Vaping is generally considered to be moderately healthier than smoking; however, hemp vape juice is often cut with potentially harmful additives.
Luckily, there’s a more natural way to inhale hemp without having to smoke it. E1011 Lab’s innovative CBD delivery device elon® uses disposable eco-friendly stelo™ that are filled with organic sun-grown hemp flower. The elon® device uses concentric heating technology to gently heat the flower without combusting it, making it an incredibly easy and efficient way to access the sublime health benefits of CBD-rich hemp flower!
