Best Full-Spectrum CBD Vape Juice: What to Look For & How to Use It

What Is a Full-Spectrum CBD Vape Juice?

Vaping CBD provides you with nearly immediate relief and can be a great way for both new users and veterans to enjoy CBD.

Of the different types of CBD products, experts would usually recommend full-spectrum CBD vape juice. Full-spectrum vape juice contains more than just CBD. It includes a variety of other cannabinoids and terpenes, each with its own therapeutic value.

This is different from CBD isolate vape juice.

Some products contain nothing more than CBD and a carrier liquid (such as VG or PG). While these vape juices can still be very useful, many users report significantly more benefits from using full-spectrum oils.

So what are all these important compounds? Terpenes? Cannabinoids?

1. Terpenes

Terpenes are volatile aromatic compounds found in plants all over the world. Terpenes give hemp and marijuana their trademark aroma.

Many terpenes function as antioxidants, and others can assist with specific issues like maintaining respiratory health or balancing blood pressure.

Full-spectrum extracts and vape juices include the terpenes that are found in the hemp plants from which the CBD was extracted.

2. Cannabinoids

Many people don’t know that there are dozens of cannabinoids besides CBD and delta 9 THC. While these two cannabinoids are very important and the most abundant in cannabis, they’re certainly not the only ones. 

Some products provide users with an isolated extract of one cannabinoid, such as CBD. Unfortunately, those who use only an isolated product will not get to enjoy the benefits of the other cannabinoids.

Like terpenes, each individual cannabinoid has its own unique form and function. They work by interacting with the body through a system called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is involved, in one way or another, in pretty much everything that we do.

A) THC (Delta 9 Tetrahydrocannabinol)

Delta 9 THC works directly on the receptors in the ECS. Because it binds directly with these receptors, its effects are profound and quite obvious. This is one of the reasons that THC causes a significant high.

Nonetheless, THC has a huge number of medicinal benefits. Much like CBD, these effects emerge when the cannabinoid starts to work with the ECS. It can help to balance hormones, fight pain, and reduce inflammation, among other things.

THC is, unfortunately, federally illegal in the United States. Many states allow users to partake in medical THC therapy, but most states forbid it from being purchased recreationally.

Because of the legalization of the hemp plant, THC has fallen into something of a gray area in certain states. Hemp is defined as a cannabis plant containing less than 0.3% THC. Because of this, some full-spectrum CBD products containing THC can be purchased without issue.

There are other forms of THC as well, such as delta 7 THC, delta 8 THC, and delta 10 THC.

B) CBD (Cannabidiol)

CBD, on the other hand, works indirectly with the ECS. CBD can thus provide a wide range of benefits without causing such an intense and intoxicating experience. This is preferable for many and probably the main reason that CBD has become so wildly popular.

In the United States, hemp and all products derived from it can be used and sold. This means that CBD can be used even by people in states that have still not moved to legalize marijuana!

Despite the differences in legality, CBD produces most of the same health benefits as THC. So, if you’re someone who appreciates the medicinal benefits of THC but isn’t fond of the high, you might want to look into using CBD.

C) CBG (Cannabigerol)

CBG is less common but has attracted more research in recent years. It’s being studied for its ability to fight glaucoma and tumors.

Some companies are starting to sell CBG extracts or CBG-rich vape juice as a nootropic or focus-enhancing cannabinoid extract.

D) CBC (Cannabichromene)

CBC is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid with a lot of healing potential. It can help improve neuroplasticity (repair brain cells) and encourage good cognitive health.

There are also CBC isolate vape oils available, but they can be fairly hard to find and expensive.

E) CBN (Cannabinol)

CBN is mildly psychoactive. It is often touted as a sleep aid and a tool for fighting arthritis.

3. Other Ingredients

The most potent, pure, and most likely expensive ones will also have the fewest ingredients. They will have nothing more than the active phytochemicals: cannabinoids and terpenes.

The majority of vape juices will be sold in a solution containing these compounds as well as something like propylene glycol (PG) or vegetable glycerin (VG). These products are the base of most vape juices.

However, more and more companies are catching on to the new ‘trend’ of being healthy. This means excluding things that are non-organic or otherwise not completely necessary for the vape juice.

Since CBD and other cannabinoids and terpenes can be vaped on their own, some companies prefer to sell them that way.

Full-Spectrum Vape Juice vs. Broad-Spectrum Vape Juice

Alright, so now that you know what’s in these products, what’s the difference between a full-spectrum and a broad-spectrum?

For the most part, this distinction is made for those who live in areas where THC is still criminalized. Because full-spectrum extracts contain THC, they’re not always a good idea to bring into countries or states where THC is illegal.

Even though the amount in these extracts is negligible and certainly not enough to get you high, it’s still enough to be a concern for those interested in upholding the law. This is especially true if you’re going to be traveling with your CBD products.

Broad-spectrum extracts contain all of the other phytochemicals except THC. So you’re still getting pretty much all of the medicine found in the plant without the risk of getting in trouble.

If you are doing this for legal reasons, then make sure you purchase from a company that shows their certificates of analysis. It’s easy to say that a broad-spectrum extract is free from THC. But the only way you’ll know for sure is by looking at a third-party lab test.

Full-Spectrum Vape Juice vs. Isolate Vape Juice

There’s a third type of vape juice that you’ll likely see on the market: CBD isolate vape juice.

This type of vape juice is made by infusing extracted CBD, known as CBD isolate, into a carrier oil. This means that the only products you’re inhaling are CBD and whatever carriers the manufacturers included (likely propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerin).

Many people find relief with CBD isolate vape juice. They feel that there’s no need to switch up to a full-spectrum extract since isolate works just fine.

CBD isolate vape juice is also easier to produce and thus cheaper than full-spectrum and broad-spectrum.

Benefits of Full-Spectrum Vape Juice

CBD is useful for all sorts of things. However, when you’re vaping CBD, its effects are a bit different.

Vaped CBD comes on quickly, within seconds. However, its effects also fade away quite quickly. This means that there are specific benefits that are much less useful when you choose to vape your CBD.

Here are some of the benefits of CBD and a note on how well they apply when the product is vaped.

1. Anxiety Relief

Probably the best use of CBD vape juice is for managing anxiety. CBD vapes are great for managing social anxiety, as you can use them throughout your social gathering.

Vaped CBD is probably the best method, hands down, for people with panic attacks. Using a CBD oil or tincture is still effective for this purpose, but it can take a while before they produce relief. CBD vapes can squash your anxiety and panic within a few moments.

You may also want to use a different form of CBD if you have general anxiety. General anxiety is persistent and doesn’t always have a specific trigger. For this type of anxiety, you’d probably want to use something that lasts a bit longer. Oils and tinctures, for example.

2. May Alleviate Pain

CBD is great for pain relief, but using it through a vape probably won’t help much.

Firstly, the dose of CBD that you get from hitting a vape is quite small. Some vapes only provide about a milligram of CBD per puff. Even after five or six puffs, you’re not likely to achieve a dosage that would be very effective for fighting pain.

Secondly, the short-acting nature of vaped CBD isn’t going to provide you with relief for any serious length of time. Oils, tinctures, and topical CBD are much more effective for this purpose.

3. Promotes Relaxation & Sleep

Vaped CBD can be useful for stress relief and relaxation, especially if you struggle with chronic stress, muscle tension, or restlessness. If you don’t mind hitting your vape throughout the day, it can be very useful.

Vaped CBD can also be very useful when you’re trying to get to sleep.

It’s best to combine your CBD use with other lifestyle changes if the goal is to get a better night of rest. Avoid screens at least an hour before bed, spend time winding down, meditate, avoid large meals before bed, and dim the lights if possible.

Related: Best CBD products for sleep.

4. May Help Quit Smoking

Vaped CBD can be great for someone who wants to stop smoking, whether that be marijuana or nicotine.

Using a vape can provide a similar ‘ritual’ as smoking. Many people find that the ritual of smoking is a large part of the addiction itself. Holding and puffing a vape can provide relief from this psychological addiction.

Vaped CBD can also be a great tool for anyone who wants to stop smoking marijuana. It contains CBD, which provides many of the same benefits as CBD. However, CBD vapes don’t cause you to get high.

This allows you to enjoy some of the many benefits of marijuana while you learn to adjust to life without being stoned.

How to Use Full-Spectrum Vape Juice

Using full-spectrum vape juice is simple.

The first thing that you’re going to want to do is find your vape juice. You can choose to purchase either a vape juice cartridge, vape kits, or a preloaded disposable vape pen.

Disposable vape pens are simpler and require less of an investment.

Before buying, you’ll want to settle on a potency that’s appropriate for you. Assess your own needs. What are you hoping to achieve with this CBD?

If you want to manage anxiety, then you may need a lower potency. If you’re hoping to manage pain, you’ll likely require a higher potency.

When you get your vape, start slowly. Take a puff, wait a few minutes, and see if you notice any changes. If you find relief, then you’ve settled on your ideal dosage. Otherwise, take another puff, wait a few minutes, and continue the process until you find relief.

There are two main tools that you’re going to be able to choose between for using your full-spectrum vape juice: disposable pens and reusable pens.

Disposable Pens

In an era where entire nations are demanding that humanity acknowledges its ecological footprint, companies are still producing more trash than ever. Disposable vape pens are a classic example. They’re convenient, cheap, and inevitably going to end up in the landfill.

Nonetheless, they remain a good choice for people who are new to CBD. Because they’re affordable, they allow you the chance to experiment with CBD without buying a full-fledged vape pen.

They’re also a lot more accessible: you’re more likely to find a disposable pen at your local gas station than you would a full-fledged vape system.

Disposable vape pens come preloaded with a set amount of vape juice. They vary quite significantly in potency, and to be completely honest, many of them are relatively mild.

Because it hits hard and fast, the dose of vaped CBD is significantly lower than what you’d need if you were taking it orally. Even still, some of these vape pens come preloaded with no more than 150 mg of CBD.

If you’re planning to use these pens for managing anxiety, then they might be enough. Pain management users almost certainly won’t find low-dose disposable pens to be enough.

There are high-potency disposable pens available, but at that point, it would be more manageable to just get a reusable pen.

Reusable Vape Pens

There are plenty of benefits to using reusable vape pens.

The first and most obvious benefit is that you’re creating less waste. Reusable vape pens can be kept for years. All you need to do is refill the cartridges as you empty them.

You can also take advantage of more variety. You’re not limited to one specific type of vape juice, as you would be with a disposable pen. Reusable pens let you use any cartridge that is sized to fit.

Just about the only drawback to reusable vape pens is the fact that they’re a bit more expensive. However, in the long run, you’re going to save more money than you would if you were buying a new disposable vape pen every couple of weeks instead of just a new cartridge.

Reusable pens are also more adjustable. You can alter the temperature settings and change settings so that you can create a vaping experience that’s tailored to your needs.

How to Figure Out CBD Vape Pen Dosage

On the low end, some people with mild symptoms report relief with as little as one milligram — which works out to just one puff of a standard full-spectrum vape pen.

However, it’s more common to use a dose between 3 and 20 mg (around 2–15 puffs).

Experienced users may need as much as 50 mg to feel the effects. The more tolerance develops, or the more severe the symptoms, the more you’ll need to take to feel the effects.

Low Dosage (1–10 mg)

The standard potency is around 0.5 – 1 mg per puff, so you’ll need somewhere between 2 and 20 puffs to reach this dose, depending on the potency of your pen.

Low doses of CBD are great for people who are new to the supplement. However, these low doses are often underwhelming. If you use a low dose and don’t find much relief, don’t think that this means CBD is ineffective. You might just need a higher dose.

Low doses are good for people who plan to use CBD throughout the day. People with general anxiety, stress, and muscle tension can benefit from small doses like these. These doses can also be useful for people who are interested in trying to stop smoking marijuana.

Low doses are also less likely to cause side effects like drowsiness. It’s a good idea to keep your dosage low during the daytime.

Medium Dosage (10–30 mg)

This dose can be reached by taking 1–60 puffs from your pen depending on the potency of the pen.

Medium dosages are for people who are trying to manage moderately intense conditions. If you have panic attacks or significant anxiety, then you might find that you need more than 10 mg to find relief.

These dosages are also closer to those that people would need for managing pain. However, vaped CBD is generally not the best method for people struggling with chronic pain.

Its short duration makes it ineffective unless you’re planning to go through your entire vape juice in a matter of hours or days.

High Dosages (30 mg+)

Only experienced users should aim for this dose. High doses of CBD are not psychoactive but can be drowsy for people who aren’t used to it.

Vaping is great for fast onset of effects but may not be the best option for those who need very high doses of CBD. You’ll need to take many puffs from the vape to get to these doses, which could cause other unwanted side effects.

Most people who need high doses of CBD use edible forms instead — such as CBD oil. They’re more efficient for large doses and tend to have a more rounded effect profile. People who use high-dose CBD vape pens often experience more sedative effects than anything else.

Taking high doses through a vape will also lead to you running through your vape juice quite quickly.

Final Thoughts on Full-Spectrum CBD Vape Juice

There are many types of CBD vape oil. Full-spectrum, broad-spectrum and isolate are the most common.

Full-spectrum CBD vape juice provides you with the full range of the hemp plant’s benefits. Not only can you take advantage of CBD, but you can enjoy the relief offered by the numerous other cannabinoids and terpenes.

CBD vape juice is most effective at managing mild-to-moderate conditions such as anxiety and stress. Vaped CBD takes effect quickly but is also very short-acting.

Companies like CBDfx and CBD Essence market a number of different products for vaping CBD, namely disposable pens and reusable pens.

Many of these products have information on the label that can help you calculate your dosage of CBD.