Do CBD dabs get you high?

Cannabidiol (CBD) products have become increasingly popular since the cannabinoid was legalized in the United States in 2018.

CBD’s popularity has, at least in part, been the result of its lack of intoxicating effects. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the cannabinoid credited for producing the euphoric effects attributed to the cannabis “high,” CBD won’t leave you feeling stoned per se.

Still, there may be some benefit to taking CBD dabs instead of, for example, smoking CBD flower or taking a CBD-infused edible. Current research shows that higher CBD doses, which can be quickly and easily consumed via dabs, seem to provide better results for those looking to embrace the cannabinoid’s wellness-oriented potential. 

In this post, we’ll explore what CBD dabs are and how they might make you feel, as well as how to buy and consume CBD dabs. 

What are CBD dabs?

In the context of cannabis “dabs” are highly concentrated oils derived from the cannabis plant. CBD dabs are made from a subcategory of cannabis plants called hemp, which are rich in CBD but contain less than 0.3% THC by dry weight. Thanks to that low THC level, CBD dabs are legal under federal law in the United States.

CBD dabs are highly potent and contain a high concentration of CBD. This makes them a popular choice for people seeking fast and strong effects of CBD. Dabbing allows for rapid absorption of CBD into the body and may provide quick help with common ailments like stress.

There are several types of dabs on the market, each with their own benefits and drawbacks. In general, we advise opting for concentrates made without the use of solvents, as these are likely to be the safest and, in some cases, the most potent products on the market.

Examples of solventless concentrate types include rosin, which is made using pressure and heat to extract CBD oils from hemp flower, and hashish, which is traditionally made by rolling cannabis flower buds between your palms to remove and isolate the sticky resin before gathering it into a ball or block.

Hemp kief, made from the powdery, oil-rich trichomes that fall off of whole hemp flowers during processing, presents a lower-potency option for users who aren’t interested in rosin, hashish, or other high-potency concentrates.

What are the effects of CBD dabs?

The effects of CBD dabs will be similar but more pronounced in comparison to other inhaled CBD products. In fact, if you’ve tried CBD before but found that it didn’t work as well as you thought it might, the issue might simply have been that your dose was too low.

Now, will CBD dabs get you high? The short answer is no, at least not in the traditional sense. While there isn’t any scientific literature specifically explaining why, one 2017 journal article critiquing an experimental study explains that CBD tends to produce distinctly different effects in comparison to THC and that, outside of specific clinical settings, there is little chance that your body will convert CBD to THC or a THC metabolite. 

While CBD dabs might not get you high, you may still feel some positive effects from a high dose of CBD — especially if you also experience certain conditions like chronic pain or social anxiety.

According to Dr. Peter Grinspoon, a noted cannabis researcher and instructor at Harvard Medical School, current research involving self-reports and animal studies suggests that CBD may be useful for relieving anxiety, falling and staying asleep, treating pain, and decreasing cravings for addictive substances like tobacco and alcohol.

What to consider when buying CBD dabs

In addition to opting for solventless concentrates, there are a few other things to keep in mind when purchasing CBD dabs. 

First, keep in mind the fact that the terpenes present in your CBD dabs will have an impact on your consumption experience — especially if you choose a full-spectrum or broad-spectrum product rich in terpenes. For example, dabs with a high presence of myrcene, linalool, and beta-caryophyllene may cause you to feel more calm or sleepy, while those rich in limonene, terpinolene, and humulene may make you feel more energetic.

It’s also important to make sure your CBD products are grown, processed, and sold by reputable organizations. Due to the lack of regulation governing how CBD dabs are made, a vendor with a good reputation is your best bet for purchasing safe products.

What risks might you take with a less reputable vendor? When it comes to CBD dabs, your main risk involves consuming a product containing residual solvents or contamination from pesticides, based on the findings of one 2015 study examining cannabis dabs in a sample from the California medical marijuana market. 

To minimize the risk of consuming a contaminated cannabis product, we recommend purchasing your CBD dabs through Jointly Matches, which utilizes your own cannabis-related wellness goals in conjunction with reports from other Jointly users to match you with goal-aligned products from vetted sellers.

How to take CBD dabs

You can take CBD dabs in the same manner you’d take any cannabis dab. While using a dab rig might seem intimidating at first — there are many moving, hot parts, after all — the process is surprisingly easy to master.

First, you’ll need to get yourself a dab rig. Dab rigs tend to be smaller than water pipes or bongs used for smoking flower. You’ll also need a ceramic, quartz, or titanium “banger” or “nail” and a butane torch.

Using the butane torch, heat your nail. Try to spread the heat as uniformly as possible. Your nail should be ready after about 30 seconds of heating. If you’re new to dabbing, you might want to consider using a quartz banger, which will turn bright orange when heated properly, or another type of dab nail with a color-changing function.

Note that you don’t want to overheat the nail for your CBD dabs. Doing so will produce harsh vapor and ruin the flavor of your dab. Generally speaking, lower temperatures will give you better flavor while higher temperatures (within reason) will give you more potency. The key is to strike a balance between these two elements. If you’re worried about overheating your nail, just give the nail a moment to cool down before taking your dab. 

Once your nail is ready to go, use a dabbing tool — usually just a metal stick that can hold your concentrate and safely withstand the heat involved in dabbing — to place a small amount of your concentrate on the nail. Inhale the vapor as it forms.

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If you're ready to discover new products and reach your goals, download the Jointly app today on the App Store or Google Play, or shop your matches on the Jointly website.   

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Whether you want to improve sleep, relieve daily stress, or just relax and refresh, Jointly can help you reach your goals with cannabis.  

With Jointly, you can shop your top-rated products, and save lists of your favorites to share and bring to your local dispensary to help guide your shopping experience.  

The Jointly app also helps you improve your cannabis experiences by uncovering what’s working and what’s not with reflections and personalized insights. In fact, the quality of your diet, how much you slept, who you’re with, and the time of day are just some of the factors that can impact your cannabis experience.  

So if you're ready to find your best products and enjoy your perfect cannabis experience, download the Jointly app today on the App Store or Google Play, or shop your matches on the Jointly website. Discovery awaits.