When you vape CBD and try new e-liquids, do you think about what those vape juices might contain and if they include any harmful ingredients? Most vape juices are typically made up of three base ingredients – propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), and flavorings. PG is key to carrying the flavor and punch of vaping, so why is it more beneficial to use PG free CBD vape oils?
Don’t worry if you went and checked your vape juices and found that it contains PG! PG is a common ingredient found in many consumer food products we use today. However, it’s still important to know the effects that it can have on your body and, specifically, your lungs. Read on to find out why we highly recommend using vape products that don’t contain any PG or VG!
What is Propylene Glycol (PG)?
Propylene glycol is a synthetic additive frequently used as a preservative in many packaged foods and beauty products. This colorless, odorless substance has a slightly sweet taste and is a byproduct of petroleum. When heated, propylene glycol generates a thin vapor, making it a common base ingredient in vaping products.
You might see other names for PG, such as “propane-1, 2-diol” or “1,2-propanediol,” listed on your CBD vape juice labels. PG is typically used as a thinning agent for the oils in e-liquids to help them vaporize better and transmit more flavor in every puff.
Most people who vape describe high PG vape juices as having a stronger hit to the back of the throat, which can be preferable to some people. Most vape juices contain a PG/VG blend, but varying ratios are available depending on preference between more flavor or more smoke. While PG carries more of the flavor and throat hit, vegetable glycerin (VG) is thicker and creates more vapor when heated. More experienced vapers tend to prefer vape juices with a higher PG content for more substantial hits and flavor.
What Does PG Free Mean?
PG free vape products don’t use any propylene glycol as an ingredient. To compensate, some brands will use 100% VG as a substitute. Since the vape juice doesn’t contain any PG, it may have less flavor or provide weaker hits.
A vape juice that is 100% VG creates a much smoother, thicker smoke when vaping. Since a 100% VG e-liquid is thicker and more dense than usual, you’ll need different coils with less resistance to burn it properly. However, thicker vape juices can often burn out the vape pen coils faster, which can quickly degrade the quality of the product.
What Are the Benefits of a PG Free CBD Product?
Using PG free products means introducing fewer synthetic chemicals to your body and promoting more natural, healthier ingredients. Many cigarette smokers often turn to vaping to try and quit smoking. But what’s the point of moving away from the harmful chemicals in cigarettes just to use different chemicals in e-liquids?
We should always be cautious about what we are putting into our bodies. Using PG-free CBD vape products will make room for healthier ingredients such as natural terpenes or other alternatives. Some terpenes can act as thinning agents for the CBD vape juice, allowing it to vaporize easily without chemicals. By using terpenes, companies can avoid using PG in their products.
One study showed that continual inhalation of PG caused increased throat irritation, which can exacerbate asthma or allergy symptoms in users. Many people have even reported respiratory issues such as labored breathing or excessive coughing when using products with high PG content. Other potential side effects of PG can include:
- Dehydration
- Dry mouth
- Sore throat
For cigarette smokers trying to quit, vaping offers an easier transition to going clean. Vaping CBD can help ease the mind and calm any nervous behaviors that might come up. However, it’s essential to stay away from more harmful chemicals that can impact our health.
Why Do So Many CBD Products Contain PG?
Propylene glycol has two main benefits that make it highly used in many of the CBD products we see today – its efficiency as a solvent and effectiveness as a metabolism booster. Since all CBD products use a carrier oil base, some brands will use PG in the carrier base to help with absorption and metabolization.
CBD topicals such as lotions, creams, and CBD salves use PG as a solvent to increase the absorption rate of active ingredients. Increasing product efficiency can help people feel faster relief from salves or feel more moisturized with the lotions and creams.
PG can also help metabolize CBD, meaning it helps break down the cannabinoid to allow our body to feel its effects. CBD products like tinctures, edibles, or vape cartridges may contain PG to help you feel the effects faster.
PG is also commonly used as a preservative in packaged foods, soft drinks, fast foods, and dairy products. It has the natural property of retaining moisture, allowing products to stay fresh for more extended periods.
Here are some everyday products you might PG in:
- Toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Soap
- Ice cream
- Soda
- Popcorn
Are CBD Products with Propylene Glycol Dangerous?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies PG as “Generally Recognized As Safe” (GRAS), which means that there is still a possibility of health risks. Although plenty of consumer products use PG, its effects on the lungs are still highly debated.
As more research comes out about the use of chemicals in vaping, we begin to learn that heating PG, VG, and even other thinning agents like polyethylene glycol (PEG) or medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) can be harmful to our bodies.
One study found that when these chemical thinning agents were heated, they produced significant levels of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. Both formaldehyde and acetaldehyde are harmful, toxic carcinogens that can have long-term, devastating effects on our bodies. Vape pens have become the perfect tool to heat PG that produces these damaging toxins.
The same study suggests that vaping any of these chemicals, especially PEG, can have nearly the same harmful effects as smoking cigarettes. As we start to understand what goes into the products that we use, we should try to avoid any harmful chemicals that can be bad for our health.
Where Can I Buy PG Free CBD Vape Oil?
You can buy PG free CBD vape oils at Cheef Botanicals! In fact, all of our CBD vape products are free of all chemical thinning agents, which include PG, PEG, VG, and MCT oils.
We infuse our vape cartridges with all-natural terpenes to create great-tasting and popular flavors like:
- Mango
- Watermelon
- Lemonade
- Bubble Gum
- Cactus Cooler
- Caramel Macchiato
- Fruity Cereal
Our CBD vape oils are specially formulated with broad spectrum hemp extract. Broad spectrum CBD is great for those who do not want to take drug tests since it does not contain any CBD.
All of the CBD in our products at Cheef Botanicals are extracted using the CO2 extraction method. This method uses CO2 pressure to extract the CBD from hemp, which produces very little waste and creates a clean, concentrated CBD oil. Using the CO2 extraction method, we can guarantee that our products are made with the highest-quality CBD in the most environmentally-friendly manner!
We also offer a great CBD vape pen starter kit that includes a battery and charger so you can start vaping right away! This simple-to-use vape pen is great for those just starting out and not sure what to buy.
Related: How to Use a Vape Pen: The Ultimate Guide for Vaping
Final Thoughts – PG-Free CBD Vape Oil
It’s almost impossible to avoid propylene glycol completely given the number of products that use it as a preservative or absorption booster. However, we can avoid PG intake as much as possible when we vape and turn to healthier alternatives with PG-free CBD vape oils. Infused with all-natural terpenes, you won’t miss a beat with smooth-tasting CBD vapes at Cheef Botanicals!
