As many try to turn away from tobacco, effective alternatives are quickly sought after.

While e-cigarettes, nicotine gums, patches, and even prescriptions have become go-to solutions for many, CBD cigarettes have recently become popular as a nicotine-free alternative.

But just how safe are these hemp-based smokes? And why are so many people choosing to light up CBD instead of nicotine?

Let’s explore.

CBD cigarettes, also known as hemp cigarettes or CBD joints, put a tobacco-free spin on traditional smoking. They mimic the look and feel of regular cigarettes but ditch the nicotine buzz for a gentler experience.

They’re typically crafted from hemp flowers, which contain less than 0.3% of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) but are rich in cannabidiol (CBD). This makes them an attractive choice for those looking to avoid nicotine or THC’s high.

CBD cigarette users often report feeling a sense of calmness and reduced anxiety, allowing themselves to enjoy the ritual of smoking without the health risks linked to smoking tobacco.

While human studies are still collecting to understand how CBD might help reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms, there’s a growing pattern that cravings and symptoms like anxiety, irritability, and insomnia are reduced following its use.

When you smoke a cigarette, nicotine stimulates the release of dopamine in your brain, a neurotransmitter linked with motivation, pleasure and satisfaction. Over time, the brain starts to associate tobacco smoking with these positive feelings, creating a cycle that’s hard to break.

CBD may intervene by boosting anandamide, a natural endocannabinoid known as the ‘bliss’ molecule, which regulates mood, pain, and other withdrawal-related symptoms.

Many studies are backing up CBD’s potential – in 2013, smokers using a CBD inhaler reduced their cigarette intake by 40% in just one week. Further research in Addiction showed that a single 800mg dose of CBD not only curbed cravings but made the cigarettes less appealing to users.

Years later, researchers are still echoing these findings, recently revealing that an even lower dose of CBD, 320mg, alleviated withdrawal symptoms like anxiety in e-cigarette nicotine users.

So… are CBD cigarettes really bad for you?

Inhaling any combusted plant material, including hemp, introduces tar and other harmful compounds into the lungs, which can lead to respiratory issues over time. This means that, yes, even smoking CBD cigarettes isn’t the greatest for you.

Although CBD is viewed as a safer option because of its therapeutic properties and absence of addictive substances like nicotine, the act of smoking itself is a genuine health concern. But, for those simply wanting to quit nicotine while not exactly quitting smoking, CBD cigarettes could be a helpful alternative for harm reduction.

If you’re seeking the benefits of CBD without the risks of smoking, you can always consume it using other methods like oils, edibles, or even topicals.