Your guide to CBD flowers

CBD products have now become a real little star in the world of hemp.

In our guide series, we look at the features and the effect of CBD as well as different types of products, such as. CBD oil This article is about CBD flowers, or hemp flowers: why they are so popular, when their use is legal, and what quality criteria you should look out for.

WHAT ARE CBD FLOWERS?

CBD flowers are exactly what their name suggests – cannabis flowers, i.e. the flowers of the hemp plant, which are rich in CBD.

The compound from which it takes its name, cannabidiol (CBD), is a natural phytocannabinoid similar to the cannabinoids found in the human body. As it does not induce a state of intoxication and is not addictive, it is not, in itself, illegal.

Cannabis, on the other hand, is prohibited by law. Only that which is used for CBD flowers-Industrial hemp varieties from the EU used for extraction, as well as cannabis containing < 0.2 per cent THC, are exempt from this. This limit is intended to ensure that there is no intoxicating effect, but at the same time it creates new grey areas. (More on the legality below.)

The CBD-rich varieties of the Cannabis sativa contains, either naturally or as a result of breeding, less of the psychoactive compound THC. And most of the CBD is found in the upper parts of the plant and in its flowers.

ARE CBD FLOWERS LEGAL?

Cannabis flowers with a THC content of < 1 % are regarded in Switzerland as a tobacco substitute and are therefore, from a purely legal perspective, initially deemed to be equivalent to conventional smoking tobacco. In theory, this should therefore mean that CBD flowers may be smoked – wherever it is permitted to smoke ordinary cigarettes and the like.

In practice, various factors make consumption difficult. For one thing, a joint – even a legal one – is not equally welcome everywhere. For another, no one can tell from the smoke whether you are smoking a CBD flower or cannabis containing the banned THC.

CBD flowers look, smell and taste just like THC flowers. This can also make any checks difficult because the THC content stated by some manufacturers may turn out to be higher when tested by the police.

It is therefore advisable to check the quality when purchasing, to keep your CBD buds in their original packaging and, if necessary, to keep the receipt.

And finally, there is the fact that our neighbouring countries also regulate the consumption of CBD flowers in different ways. For example, CBD flowers are only legal in Austria if the THC content is below 0.3 %.

Here you’ll find a detailed article about the Legal status and legality of CBD.

HOW DO YOU CONSUME CBD FLOWERS?

You can chop up your legal CBD flowers and smoke them in rolled cigarettes (joints) or in a pipe. However, many people also swear by enjoying them in a so-called Vaporizer or by means of E-cigarette. Every method has its supporters, as well as its pros and cons.

CBD – SMOKING FLOWERS AS CIGARETTES

Grind, roll, smoke. It’s as simple as that. Especially if you already smoke hand-rolled tobacco cigarettes, you won’t have to make much of an adjustment.

CBD – FLOWERS FOR THE PIPE

The term ‘pipe’ here refers both to a water pipe and to a traditional tobacco pipe. Just as with cigarettes, there are people who consume their CBD buds on their own or mixed with conventional tobacco.

CBD – FLOWERS IN VAPORISER

With a Vaporizer or a vaporiser, you don’t burn the CBD flowers; instead, you vaporise them at a lower temperature.

BUYING CBD FLOWERS: WHAT YOU NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR

If you want to buy CBD flowers, there are a few quality characteristics you really should look out for.

Here is an overview to start with, which we will discuss in more detail below:

• THC content
• Origin, cultivation, laboratory testing
• Workmanship and quality
• Taste, smell, appearance

High-quality processing, from cultivation right through to pruning and drying the flowers.
Ongoing laboratory analyses to ensure that the above points are met.

THC-CONTENT

It’s all quite simple: legal CBD flowers contain less than 1 % THC in Switzerland and less than 0.3 % in Austria.

ORIGIN, CULTIVATION AND LABORATORY TESTS OF THE CBD FLOWERS

You should always ensure that the hemp plants used are free from pesticides, herbicides and heavy metals. The manufacturer should therefore provide information about the origin and cultivation of the plants. Of course, you can also look out for EU-certified hemp or reputable organic labels. Alternatively, a manufacturer may be able to demonstrate that their products undergo regular testing by independent laboratories.

PROCESSING AND QUALITY: ASSESS THE QUALITY BEFORE SMOKING

If you bear a few factors in mind, you can assess the quality even before taking your first puff.

If you have a good microscope, you can examine the tiny but important resin glands (trichomes) on the CBD flowers. If most of them are milky white, this is a good sign. This means that the cannabis was harvested at the right stage of maturity – neither too early nor too late.

Next, you can see how neatly and carefully the flowers have been trimmed. The flowers are trimmed to remove all parts of the plant that are low in CBD and unnecessary for consumption. Trimming can be done by hand or by machine. The most labour-intensive and gentle method is what’s known as dry trimming by hand. For this, the flowers are dried and then trimmed by hand. This preserves more resin glands, making the flowers look more attractive and giving them a more well-rounded flavour. With wet trimming, the flowers are trimmed at the time of harvest and then dried; however, the rapid drying process can result in some loss of flavour.

Generally speaking, the appearance of the CBD flower also tells you a lot about the drying process itself. The delicate resin glands are best preserved when the drying process is gentle and evenly controlled (no mould must be allowed to form).

By subsequently processing the almost-dry flowers (drying, curing or fermentation), the producer can ultimately take a further step towards achieving a superb flavour. This process, which lasts from a few weeks to several months, continues until the flowers are completely dry. This is the finishing touch to the flavour.

FLAVOUR: ASSESSING THE QUALITY OF THE CBD FLOWERS WHILESMOKING

Well, as we all know, there’s no accounting for taste. However, there is also a very wide range of varieties available, and there are now even flavoured CBD flowers on the market.

Ultimately, the CBD buds should suit your taste. Generally speaking, CBD buds should provide a smooth, well-rounded smoking experience and produce light-coloured ash. Both are indicators of good quality and „clean“ plants.