THC and CBD Vapes in the UK - The Different Options Explained 

You might have heard the term cannabis vapes. However, this is actually an umbrella term for a few different kinds of cannabis-based medicinal products and they can vary significantly in UK legal status and therapeutic effects. The two main categories are THC and CBD vapes. Both of these are cannabinoids that come from the cannabis plant, but they are separate and distinct compounds. Misunderstanding the differences between the two can have legal and medical consequences. 

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis. It has documented therapeutic properties, but it also responsible for the "high" associated with recreational cannabis. It is legal only on prescription from a licensed clinic with a diagnosed medical need. CBD is also found in cannabis. However it is non-euphoric and does not fall under UK government psychoactive substances law - so CBD vapes are legally available to those of age to vape other products. That's the lowdown, but there are more details to explore as you can have CBD vapes with up to 0.2% THC present here in the UK. 

Understanding the UK Law's Position 

Medical cannabis has been legal in the UK, with a prescription, since 2018. Most clinics do not sell vapes directly but the carts to attach to a battery, or they prescribe the medical cannabis flower to patients, who are responsible for sourcing their own dry herb vaporiser. Clinics will usually recommend a particular quality or style of vape, with some options licensed as medical devices in other countries. 

This does not mean that patients are free to smoke medical cannabis. This remains illegal under UK law, and could result in criminal charges if caught - even with a prescription. 

CBD - on the other - hand is totally legal. As long as it is isolated from the THC containing cannabis plant. Legal CBD products can contain up to 1mg or 0.2% of THC or other cannabinoids, allowing for slight impurities in the isolation process. 

CBD vapes (as long as they fit the new laws on not being single use) are available on the retail market in the UK. These contain legal CBD extracts and less than 1mg THC. 

Despite being legal as an isolated compound, patients can still be prescribed CBD or hybrid THC/CBD vapes through clinics. Whether prescribed solo or in tandem, a clinically formulated treatment course using pharmaceutical standard products for a diagnosed medical condition will likely be more effective than high street CBD vapes.

Seeing as there a lot of choices in today's market , patients looking for the best medical cannabis on prescription would be advised to try the services of a comparison site. These experts can help patients assess the options provided by different clinics before committing to a consultation. Including quality of strains and treatment methods available. 

Types of Vape Products Available 

The CBD can be combined with glycol and vegetable glycerine in the same way as nicotine e-liquids. While there is plenty of clinical evidence for CBD's efficacy in treating various conditions, vaping potentially low quality commercial CBD is a different ball game. Consequently, it cannot be marketed with medical claims. Alternatively there are extract based CBD vapes that don't contain PG/ VG and will mainly have distillate and terpenes for viscosity. 

THC devices, meanwhile, are only available on prescription. The kind of THC vape UK patients can access depends upon the clinic. A top clinic will have the full range of the latest options, from medical flower to cannabis distillate/ rosin vape pen cartridges, all produced to a pharmaceutical standard. Licensed clinicians will guide you through the process of choosing the right treatment for your situation. 

The options usually include:

• THC, CBD or hybrid lower for vaping in a patient obtained dry herb vaporiser
• Medical THC vape cartridges 

Approved medical grade vaporisers will be reccomended under best practice treatment guidelines. But it is is not illegal for patients to use any workable vaporiser - as long as it avoids combustion.

Although not widely available in the UK right now, European nations are increasingly looking at introducing preloaded cartridges of flower that can be loaded into dry herb vapes to standardize dosages and eliminate the need for patients to grind their own flower. 

What are They Good For? The Potential Benefits of Medical Cannabis Vaping 

CBD vapes available online and in local shops in the UK are not (by law) considered medical products. They are marketed similar to wellness supplements with no medical claims. Some people report calming effects and increased focus from CBD vapes, but the medical research is unclear and it could well be placebo in many cases. 

CBD-based medicines have been proven - and prescribed on the NHS - as treatment for severe childhood epilepsy. However, a CBD vape from a commercial source is not quite the same as a pharmaceutically derived medicine. 

On the THC side, research shows that a prescribed medical cannabis treatment from a licensed clinician is effective in improving patient-reported quality of life scores for a variety of conditions and symptoms. Commonly prescribed-for conditions at UK cannabis clinics today include:

• Chronic pain
• Neurological problems
• Insomnia and sleep problems
• Appetite issues and eating disorders
• ADHD 

The full list of conditions science shows THC (or a combination of THC and CBD) can at least potentially benefit is long. While vaping medical cannabis is not a cure all, it can certifiably offer holistic benefits to patients with otherwise difficult to manage or incurable health problems.