Nicotine and CBD are two substances found in plants. Nicotine is extracted from tobacco and CBD from hemp. We review the main differences between CBD and nicotine and explain why CBD e-liquids may exceed ordinary e-liquids in the coming years.
What is nicotine?
Nicotine is a colourless or yellowish toxic oily liquid that is the main active ingredient in tobacco. It acts as a stimulant in small doses. Nicotine stimulates the release of dopamine, also known as the happiness molecule. It is a powerful neurotransmitter that plays with our brain's pleasure circuits. Thus, the brain of a "nicotine addict" always asks for nicotine to regain pleasant sensations. A cigarette contains more than 4,000 compounds, many of which are toxic and harmful to cells. Among these compounds are acetone, used to remove nail polish, arsenic, often found in insecticides, benzene, a carcinogen, ammonia, used in dry cleaning, and also cadmium, which causes liver and kidney cancer and brain damage.
Nicotine addiction
Nicotine is 5 to 10 times more potent than cocaine and morphine in producing the behavioral and psychological effects associated with addition. It may contribute to sleep problems and stimulates the nervous system. When taken in the evening, the user will be awake all night instead of falling into a deep sleep. This substance connects with an area of the brain called the adrenal cord, which increases the flow of adrenaline. This increases blood pressure, heart rate and breathing. These conditions exacerbate existing heart and blood pressure problems. Electronic cigarettes have been an alternative to smoking without the toxicity of tobacco smoke. Recently, more and more regular users of e-liquids are replacing nicotine with CBD-based e-liquids.
What is CBD?
In order to understand CBD, it is necessary to know that several molecules are found in the cannabis plant. These molecules are called cannabinoids. The best known of these is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC which is sought after for its psychoactive effect. However, CBD or cannabidiol is one of these molecules as well. It is non-toxic and has no significant side effects. Don't expect to get the "high" effect just because of this compound. CDB is not a psychotropic drug and has many different applications, for example in liquids, food, cosmetics, among others. Information from Google Trends has shown the growing interest in CDB or cannabidiol. And this trend is only just beginning. The best CBD e-liquids use terpene based flavours, which work in synergy with CBD.
Why not mix CBD and Nicotine?
When we talk about mixing Nicotine and CBD, we don't just talk in your clearomizer, but also in your daily life. If you smoke a cigarette or use nicotine patches for example, we do not recommend that you use CBD within a few hours because the effects will not be there. Nicotine is known to increase blood pressure and heart rate. It causes the release of adrenaline, thus increasing the metabolism. Nicotine can therefore be said to be a kind of stimulant for the human body. CBD has no psychoactive effect. Its action is to modulate endocannabinoids, and blocks an enzyme that regulates the concentration of anandamide, the neurotransmitter known to cause a euphoric effect. As a result, the amount of anandamide increases, promoting the body's innate endocannabinoid response and creating an amplified euphoric effect. CBD and Nicotine therefore simply have opposite effects. One soothes while the other excites, so they simply cancel each other out.
Some tips for nicotine and CBD in your daily life
Do not use CBD when you have a nicotine patch. Once removed, wait a few hours for the effects of the nicotine to wear off. Same advice if you smoke or vaporize nicotine. 3 or 4 hours between the CBD and nicotine seems to be a good base. If you use an electronic cigarette do not put your nicotine e-liquids and your CBD e-liquids in the same clearomizer. The residues of CBD and nicotine will alter the effects. 2 clearomizers or 2 electronic cigarettes are recommended, 1 per use. If you make DIY be careful to use clean containers of any nicotine substance before pouring your CBD boosters. If you are a nicotine user we advise you to taper CBD in the evening after your daily nicotine intake is finished and respecting the time interval between nicotine and cbd.
Legality of e-liquids
In Europe, nicotine e-liquids are regulated by the Tobacco Products Directive or TPD. Other liquids, such as CDB liquids, are not yet regulated, with the exception of Austria and Luxembourg where the same type of registration and testing is required for nicotine liquids. CDB is an uncontrolled substance and can be used in liquids because it does not contain THC. On the legality of e-liquids at the CBD, one must distinguish between flowers, fibers, seeds. The variety is not the only element to be taken into account. French law is very clear about the exploitable parts of hemp plants. Fibers and seeds are the only elements that can be exploited industrially and commercially. Consequently, selling and processing the flowers is impossible in France. European law is broader on this subject. Some sellers of infusions, flowers or leaves invoke it. In addition, the collector must obligatorily register his activity with the competent authorities. As a reminder, electronic cigarette products are prohibited for sale to minors. If you are under 18 years old, you must not use or consume CBD.
From a legal point of view, is it safe to possess CBD? If the legislation is still unclear on this subject, the CBD molecule is not considered to be a drug, since it has no psychoactive effect as is the case with THC. A few years ago, at a meeting of experts in pharmacodependence, the WHO ruled on the status of CBD by stating that CBD does not seem to present any danger and that it is therefore not necessary to classify it as a controlled substance. Each country has the authority to act on the legislation on CBD. In France, CBD is tolerated and cannabidiol eliquids are exempted as long as their THC level is below 0.2%. To speak of e-joint, light cannabis or electronic cannabis cigarette is erroneous, both legally and in terms of the functioning of CBD e-liquids vaporized with an electronic cigarette. Possession of CBD is tolerated in France as long as the product of which it is composed has a level of THC that is almost zero. CBD consumed in this form, without THC, does not get high, has no high effect that makes you high. No dependency has been observed with CBD.
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