How to Dab CBD?

Updated on Apr 25, 2022

As cannabis legalization continues to spread to new countries, states, and cities all over the globe, research and product development have followed swiftly behind. Marijuana enthusiasts have quickly discovered that THC is not the only cannabinoid worth obsessing over. Over the past few years, CBD has emerged as marijuana's second rockstar compound, helping users quell physical pain, anxiety, and other recurring ailments. As CBD products grow in popularity, cannabis companies have developed new, more effective ways to consume the now-ubiquitous cannabinoid. One of those new consumption methods, paired with concentrates, gives the user a new and more refined way of taking in cannabinoids in higher concentrations. While there are multiple forms of concentrates to pick from, the most popular form of concentrate consumption is dabbing. But what exactly is dabbing? And how do you go about actually dabbing CBD? Thankfully, we here at Where's Weed have your back! 

In this article, we'll help you break down what a CBD dab is, the differences between CBD shatter, CBD isolate, and all of the other forms of CBD concentrates, go in-depth on what kind of rig you will need to consume them, and of course, how to dab CBD. Let's get right into it!

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a non-psychoactive chemical compound that is naturally occurring in the cannabis plant. Like THC, CBD helps users treat chronic pain, stress, and anxiety, and many people with epilepsy use it to quell seizures. Because CBD does not cause a high or intoxication feeling, cannabidiol was legalized at the federal level with the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, and has quickly gained mainstream approval as alternative medicine in American culture. Even though hemp-derived CBD products are legal in all 50 US states, federal officials have not yet regulated CBD product standards. So CBD is not a definitive answer to a specific underlying medical condition. Although CBD has been helpful for many, an individual should always seek advice from a medical professional for specific recommendations.

How is CBD Sold?

CBD sales have exploded in every corner of the country in the short time since the 2018 Farm Bill went into effect. The blitz of customer demand has led to various product types in the growing industry. These days, you can buy CBD in countless forms, including gummies and other edibles, tinctures, smokable hemp, patches, salves, capsules, and, of course, waxy dabs and other forms of highly refined concentrates. 

Like traditional cannabis products, all CBD is not created equal, however. Some companies use low-quality flower or extraction processes to make CBD oil. For some of the highest quality CBD on the market, check out our friends at CBD Infusionz! 

It primarily comes down to bioavailability regarding how effective each form of cannabidiol is. No matter how many milligrams of CBD you take, your body will only absorb what is bioavailable to it while flushing the rest. When you consume CBD in edible or capsule form, it is mixed with oil and must pass through the liver, where it is thoroughly processed and filtered before entering the bloodstream. On the other hand, when you vaporize CBD through cartridges or dabs, it instantly enters the bloodstream giving you more bioavailability. For users looking for the most immediate dose of CBD, a fat dab will do the trick better and faster than almost any other method.

What Is Dabbing CBD?

Now that we've thoroughly broken down what CDB is and how it works let's move on to dabbing. What is it? How does it work? And, most important, how you can use your CBD concentrates with one! 

In the simplest terms possible, dabbing is the act of vaporizing a cannabis concentrate. When it comes to a CBD dab rig, you will need the same equipment popularized by THC dabbers. In most cases, a traditional water pipe or bong is fitted with quartz, ceramic, or titanium nails to replace a standard bowl. To prepare a dab, use a blowtorch to heat the nail between 300-700 degrees Fahrenheit before dropping a tiny bit of your CBD concentrate in the dish of the nail. The heat of the nail will vaporize the CBD dab, allowing you to inhale the resulting vapor. Using a carb cap to cover the nail enables experienced dabbers to hold peak temperature for longer and experience a fuller, more intense dab.

What Are the Different Types of CBD Dabs?

Like the breadth of different CBD product forms on the market today, there is just as much variety when it comes to picking your CBD dabs. From CBD shatter to CBD isolate and everything in between, CBD is now available in just as many consistencies and concentrations as traditional THC dabs. These are the most common types of CBD dabs:

• CBD Shatter: Named for its glassy appearance, shatter is made by extracting CBD from hemp or cannabis with a hydrocarbon solvent, producing a golden slab of highly potent dabs.

• CBD Wax and Budder:  Made by the same process as shatter, sticky, gooey CBD waxes and budders are made by c
  

• CBD Isolate: By reducing the cannabinoid to its molecular form, isolate results in a clear or white powdery concentrate that can test as high as 99% CBD. It's the most concentrated extract and most intense dab.

How To Dab CBD

Now that we've got the basics of what CBD and CBD concentrates are in the bag, let's move on to how to go about dabbing them! When it comes time to consume your CBD dabs, there are a few preparations you want to make before firing up your blowtorch. 

If you're using an open flame to heat your nail, make sure you're in a safe and open place. Suppose you don't feel comfortable yielding a torch. In that case, there are several popular e-rigs and handheld vapes that use battery power to reach precise temperatures for an optimal and easily replicable perfect dab temp. In the early days of dabbing, users would vaporize their concentrates at red hot temperatures reaching 1000 degrees. Still, as consumption methods have been refined, expert dab consumers dialed in low temp dabs for perfect flavor, cannabinoid absorption, and long-term lung health.

For torch users, apply heat to the nail for about 60 to 90 seconds before allowing the quartz, ceramic, or titanium receptacle to cool down for about 30 seconds (or until it reaches optimal dab temp). Once you've got the perfect temperature, drop your CBD dab into the nail, top the nail with a carb cap, inhale, and enjoy. And no matter how you're dabbing, clean your nail after every hit for optimal flavor, cleanliness, and long-term upkeep. And that's it! It's a pretty simple process when you break it down to the bare bones like that, right? 

Suppose you're looking for a more detailed breakdown of how dabbing works or are maybe just a novice dabber looking to learn the rules and what to do and not do ahead of your next session. In that case, we highly recommend checking out our complete 101 guides to dabbing and our breakdown of proper dabbing etiquette. Those contain all of the info you'll need to be a dabbing pro in no time! 

Now that you know how to dab correctly, you'll be able to take your CBD consumption to the next level. Happy dabbing!