By Noah Chen
Fourteen out of every 100 U.S. adults aged 18 or older smoked cigarettes as of 2019. This totals out to about 34 million people in America. If you’re already smoking cigarettes, it may be an easy transition to hemp-derived products.
Especially now, with CBD being legal, trying alternative smokables may appeal to many. It’s an added bonus that it also lacks the psychotropic effects of cannabis.
However, questions may arise for tobacco smokers when it comes to adding another compound into the mix. The biggest being if it’s safe to mix nicotine and CBD, and what effects might occur when they’re used by the same person.
Is it safe to mix CBD and nicotine?
There hasn’t been any evidence or tests to suggest that taking CBD while also using nicotine is more harmful. Of course, smoking tobacco is always dangerous. It carries with it serious health risks.
On the other hand, CBD may potentially have many health benefits. Current users claim to experience positive effects like lower anxiety and a greater sense of calm. In fact, with all the current testing done to date, no evidence has yet to present itself of any serious side effects related to consuming CBD.
While inhaling smoke is never risk free, the potential for issues doesn’t increase when you consume both.
When you want alternatives to smoking
Another thing to consider, if you’re thinking of picking either CBD or nicotine, is how they’re available. Nicotine mostly comes as cigarettes, which you have to smoke. Fewer and fewer establishments let you do this indoors. Cigarettes also leave you smelly. They dye your fingers yellow over time, and can interrupt your daily life. They’re also unhealthy.
Nicotine alternatives include vape pens, patches, and gum, but each of these options can present their own issues as well. Not everyone likes to chew gum. You can’t vape just anywhere. And, patches sometimes put too much nicotine into your system.
CBD is different because the options for ingesting it are almost infinite. It’s readily available in tinctures, edibles, capsules, and other forms that don’t require you to smoke. This means you can easily and discreetly consume CBD without worrying about damaging your lungs or disrupting your schedule to sneak outside for a smoke break.
Can CBD help you quit smoking?
It’s not uncommon to hear stories of cigarette smokers who started smoking or vaping CBD to quit nicotine altogether. While CBD isn’t a miracle cure for smoking cigarettes, there’s a possibility it may help curb nicotine desires.
In a study published in Addictive Behaviors, researchers determined that cigarette smokers with a CBD inhaler smoked 40 percent fewer cigarettes than a control group given an inhaler filled with a placebo.
Other research found benefits with using CBD to control urges for opioid addicts. The research points to the fact that CBD has anxiolytic properties, meaning it reduces anxiety and uncomfortability. It’s theorized that this helps curb drug-taking tendencies.
While it’s important to remember that more research is already underway on this topic, existing data suggests the possibility of CBD proving beneficial for nicotine smokers looking to consume fewer cigarettes.
Dive into the natural world of CBD
Did you know that cigarettes can have up to 599 additives in them? To contrast, CBD tinctures often come from all natural cannabinoids and terpenes, creating a holistic, organic, and relaxing experience. This is only if you do your research and know where to look for quality CBD products.
At Arbor Vita8, we don’t sell anything we wouldn’t use ourselves. Our online store is full of high-quality, competitively-priced CBD products. Made from the best ingredients, including hemp grown in the U.S., we offer everything from tinctures to balms to provide you with superior CBD. Visit our online store today to learn more.