What are they?
CBD crystals attempt to produce a pure version of CBD in a format that can then be consumed quickly. Crystals can be added to food (drinks or more solid edibles), vaped or placed under the tongue, we’ll talk more about this later.
The name “crystal” derives from the production process which removes lots of the other elements (ex. Terpenes, other cannabinoids) which are naturally found in hemp and are used to make CBD.
Once these other elements are removed, the extracted CBD has a light, shiny and granular look that resembles crystals.
How to use them?
There are several ways:
Easting/Ingesting
This is an easy way to consume them. You should weigh the amount you are going to take – please see our article on how to decide on the right dosage – and make sure you note this down so that you can monitor the effect you get from that amount of CBD.
Once you have decided on the right amount to take, you can either mix it into a drink or sprinkle it onto your food.
Sublingual (under the tongue)
This is an even easier way to take CBD. Again, once you have decided on your optimum amount of CBD, you place the crystals under your tongue where they should dissolve in a minute or so. This method introduces the CBD into your system very quickly with results following shortly thereafter.
Dabbing and Vaping
We are told that dabbing is widespread among people taking CBD. The approach is to heat the crystals using a dab tool and inhale the resulting vapor.
The CBD will get into your bloodstream via your lungs and produce an effect relatively quickly. Our issue with dabbing, and more broadly with vaping, is a reluctance to inhale anything heated to vaporization inside a vape pen or dab tool.
This is for several reasons. Firstly does the crystal or oil it is mixed with containing residual impurities or chemicals from the extraction process?
Secondly, can we be sure that there is not a chemical reaction between the material the dab tool or vape pen is made of and the CBD? Could this produce toxicity?
Our view at this time is that, on balance, we find the potential risks too significant to recommend this method of using crystals.
What does the research say?
Both of the reports listed below (Consumer reports, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US) present useful information on what is being observed in the US at present.
https://www.consumerreports.org/cbd/is-it-safe-to-vape-cbd/
https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe-lung-disease.html
The other side of the debate is the following research which finds that
“The vaporization of cannabinoids (heating plant matter or pure compounds to a temperature where active cannabinoid vapors form but below the point of combustion) is a safe method of intrapulmonary administration because it avoids risks associated with smoking and the formation of pyrolytic toxic compounds as a result of combustion”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4274767/
Please read and reflect on this information before making any decisions.
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