CBD Crystals inside Your Vape Cartridge Explained

Has your CBD oil crystalized in your vape cartridge? Don’t panic. It’s perfectly normal for CBD oil to crystalize. Unfortunately, some people tend to assume that the crystals in their vape cartridges are faulty or deficient- which is very understandable. Others even claim that crystalized CBD oil is a sign of poor quality or contamination.

But that’s misleading and far from the truth. If your CBD cartridge has crystalized, we will help you understand why the crystalization has happened?  What does that say about your CBD cartridge? And finally, we will give you some expert tips that can help with the crystalization.

So, What is CBD Oil Crystallization?

CBD oil can assume a strange form with time. Essentially, when a heavily concentrated CBD oil is exposed to extreme temperatures (too hot/too cold), it can take a solidified form that resembles crystals. That’s what you see in your cartridge. That said, we need to make a few things clear:

  • These crystals are the purest form of CBD extract ever! They are neither toxic nor poisonous.
  • The crystals may sound very safe and perfect, but they aren’t. If you want to find out why you shouldn’t consider taking this purest form of CBD, you’re welcome to read on.

Why CBD Crystallization Happens?

CBD crystalizes naturally when exposed to extreme temperatures. Generally, extremely potent, pure, and high-quality CBD oil tends to crystalize more often. This is because, with such a heavy concentration, CBD can start to granulate or separate from its lipid carrier. This process is normal, natural, and a scientific phenomenon. Therefore, you can expect highly concentrated CBD vape cartridges to crystalize or harden with time.

When pure CBD is extracted, it is suspended in a lipid carrier to make an even consistent amount of CBD throughout the cartridge. Once the CBD extract is separated from the suspension, you can expect the crystals to be highly potent than your regular CBD oil. While the crystals will not damage nor affect your cartridge performance, it’s advisable not to consume CBD in such high concentrations as you can develop unwanted side effects.

What Does Crystallization Say About Your CBD Vape cartridge?

This is where we get to break the good news (if you haven’t figured that already). If your vape cartridge crystalizes, this means that your CBD oil is not only highly potent but of high quality too. On the other hand, a less potent CBD oil might never crystalize- well, unless you freeze it.

Please note that some producers add cutting agents or crystallization inhibitors to prevent any chances of  CBD crystalization.

Expert Tips On What To Do When Your CBD Vape Cartridge Crystallizes

Now that it’s clear that CBD vape cartridge crystallization is natural, normal, and perfectly safe, we can look into the possible solutions for this event. The crystals are safe and might not harm you. But it’s essential to bind them back to their lipid carrier for even distribution.

To fix your vape cartridge, you can heat the crystals to a reasonable temperature that will promote the crystals to bind back to their lipid carrier in the following way:

  • Boil some water and place your crystalized CBD cartridge in the water.
  • Use a pair of tongs to hold the oil in place. Consider shaking the oil lightly while heating to promote even melting.
  • Note: You must be careful while heating the cartridge not to burn yourself. Also, please don’t use the cartridge until it has cooled well enough.

Zoey Roy

I’m Zoey Roy, a Cannabis Compliance Specialist and Cannabis Activist. I am experienced in guiding individuals and businesses through complex cannabis regulations. With a Bachelor’s degree in Research from McGill University, I’ve worked at Neptune Wellness for 4 years as a senior researcher. Now I serve as a Cannabis Industry Analyst at Tilray Brands, Inc. I provide essential support in ensuring compliance, educating clients, and facilitating legal requirements. My expertise extends to marketing and laboratory skills, making me a well-rounded professional in the field.