The Case for Smoking Hemp vs. Tobacco 

The jury’s reached a verdict in the case of tobacco versus hemp— and it’s unanimous. Strike the gavel: hemp is a better plant to smoke than tobacco. And the best part is that it’s relatively healthy. So, if you like the taste but not the psychoactive effects of marijuana, a hemp roll-up might be just what the doctor ordered. Unlike smoking tobacco, the benefits of smoking hemp are many. 

If you’re a cigarette smoker or have ever been one, you likely understand why it’s so hard to quit. Obviously, there is the indisputable fact that nicotine is addictive. But aditionally, many people find that smoking a cigarette is a great stress-reliever. It’s simply a satisfying way to take time out for yourself. Likewise, it serves as an antidote to boredom, a way to get energized, an escape from a challenging situation, or an excuse to socialize. You name it—a cigarette can feel like a temporary solution to many of the challenges life may throw your way. Besides, it’s comforting to imagine that crisp, shiny pack in your bag waiting for you like a trusty friend when things get tough. But is it worth it? Certainly not.

Smoking cigarettes is enjoyable, yet immeasurably destructive 

Pensive silhouettes line the entryways of busy office buildings or hectic construction sites, smoke dwindling up above the throngs like the dreamy sinews of a genie about to grant three wishes. There’s something about the act of smoking that promotes epiphanies and serenity. It just feels good to push the pause button on your life and go outside and light the match. Indeed, who doesn’t want to take a break, feel the sunshine, breathe deeply, and reset? The problem is this: tobacco cigarettes kill in massive numbers. Any way you look at it, smoking cigarettes is a terrible idea, despite the joys of the ritual. We’ve all seen the before and after pictures of cigarette smokers’ lungs in jars of formaldehyde. But it’s just so hard to quit. Fortunately, smokable hemp offers hope and paints a whole different picture. 

Studies show that smoking hemp is much healthier than smoking tobacco 

Let’s be clear, though. Smoking anything can have adverse health effects, especially when it’s overdone. However, studies show that hemp-smoking has profoundly fewer damaging effects on the body than tobacco-smoking. For instance, a 2013 study determined that the occasional smoking of cannabis doesn’t cause negative effects on lung function. Investigators at the University of New South Wales compared the health outcomes of cannabis smokers vs. tobacco smokers in 350 subjects age 40 and older. The results of the study revealed that cannabis smokers had much better health outcomes than cigarette smokers. This result may be partly because hemp does not contain the addictive and harmful qualities of tobacco— like its nicotine and carcinogens. In contrast, the compounds of cannabis are health-giving. 

What’s more, cannabis offers a similar outlet to that found with smoking tobacco—the opportunity to get outdoors for a moment, bond with a friend or stranger, calm the mind, or focus on breathing. Additionally, smoking cannabis has the potential to not only fulfill a desired ritual but to address some of the unpleasant side effects associated with quitting cigarettes. For example, the cannabidiol (CBD) in the hemp flower eases the agitation experienced from nicotine withdrawal. Additionally, the CBD can bring an anxious mind and body back to a feeling of homeostasis; a welcome sensation when trapped in the throes of withdrawal. In this sense, smoking hemp offers an ideal method for quitting tobacco. 

Why smoking hemp is better than smoking cigarettes 

The CBD present in the hemp flower has: 

• Anti-inflammatory properties
• Mildly sedating effects
• Analgesic (pain-relieving) effects 

While nicotine may temporarily relieve stress, hemp promotes wellness on various levels. CBD can alleviate symptoms:

• Anxiety
• PTSD
• Chronic pain
• Depression
• Insomnia
• Withdrawal symptoms 

Navigating the world of smokable hemp 

Once you embrace a lifestyle of hemp-smoking, there is no shortage of bud varieties from which to choose. For instance, take a look at the CBD Flower page of Blue Ridge Hemp Company’s website. Here, you’ll see everything from Sour Space Candy to Hawaiian Haze to Kush Hemp Strain Indoor Connoisseur. Read more about each of the products and you’ll see that each strain of hemp features a medley of accompanying features. 

In other words, if you’re more of a mind/body/euphoria-seeking kind of person, Sour Space Candy might be the best pre-roll for you. On the other hand, if you’d rather be “mellow while staying productive,” the Special Sauce strain might be the right choice. Additionally, each strain has a unique flavor due to its terpenes. “Space Candy inherits a unique flavor profile of candied apples, sweet cherry, counterbalanced with earthy tones,” says the description. Sour Tsunami and Early Resin Bud are other options with their own specific qualities and flavors. 

How do you choose which strain of hemp flower to smoke? 

Blue Ridge Hemp Company’s customers have a lot to say about their smokable hemp. If your eyes skim the page of reviews, you’ll see a lot of words like amazing, uplifting, and awesome. Each product contains a certificate of analysis posted on the page which indicates the given cannabinoids as well as what percentage of them are present in each featured strain. 

Most of the reviews report profoundly satisfying and medicinal effects from the hemp. “Hits smooth and retains a fruity flavor,” says one customer for the Special Sauce strain, continuing, “it’s a heavy hitter too; I mean, you have no doubt you took your medicine!” Another happy customer says of the Elektra strain says, “It stopped a migraine in its tracks as well as kept me alert,” adding that it gave her the boost she needed to get her through the day. You’d be hard-pressed to find a tobacco cigarette that could do all that. 

The difference between hemp and tobacco is a no-brainer 

Once you dabble in the rich and imaginative world of smokable hemp, cigarette smoking is bound to seem not only passé, but downright dull in comparison. I mean, can tobacco give you the sensation of being transported to a peaceful island as the Hawaiian Haze hemp strain apparently can? Does it taste as good as “deep tones of citrus fruits and chocolate,” like the popular Elekra strain? And ultimately, can tobacco possibly hold a candle to the experience of “mind-body balance of euphoria and deep physical relaxation” like the Sour Space Candy strain? Probably not. I think it’s safe to say that you won’t get anything like that from a plain old Marlboro Red.