Without any doubt, we live in the era of the green rush — more and more countries are deciding to legalize or decriminalize cannabis products for health and recreational uses. With Germany’s decision to legalize certain cannabis products on April 1, 2024, we can expect many more countries to follow suit. As the market for THC products grows, consumers often become overwhelmed by different terminologies. ElfBar Global Store is here to help you understand the difference between non-CDT vs. CDT carts.
Non-CDT vs. CDT Carts: What's the Difference?
Cannabis can be consumed in many ways: you can smoke it, consume edibles, or vape it.
Vaping cannabis is often seen as less harmful than smoking it because it avoids combustion, meaning you do not inhale the harmful byproducts created when burning weed.
There are two different methods of vaping cannabis:
- Dry Vaping involves vaporizing loose-leaf cannabis flowers.
- Vaping E-Juice THC uses a pre-filled cartridge containing concentrated THC oil.
Often, THC-containing e-liquids are supplemented with terpenes, which can come from:
- Cannabis plants
- Other plants
- Synthetic sources
This is where non-CDT vs. CDT carts come into the picture. Let’s see what the difference is,
CDT carts
CDT stands for cannabis derived terpenes, meaning that the THC distillate is supplemented with terpenes from the cannabis plant.
Non-CDT carts
Non-CDT carts contain THC distillate and terpenes from other plants or synthetic sources. If the terpenes are from other organic sources, they are often called botanically derived terpenes (BDTs). Hence, if you see a BDT cart, you can be sure that the terpenes are not sourced from cannabis.
Why are terpenes added to THC cartridges?
While THC is the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis products, cannabinoids and terpenes are thought to have mind-altering effects as well. According to the entourage effect, which has not been scientifically proven, terpenes affect the experience.
Terpenes in weed include the following:
- Limonene
- Myrcene
- Caryophyllene
- Pinene
- Linalool
- Humulene
- Terpinene
- Borneol
- Ocimene
- Valencene
- Carene
- Geraniol
- Nerolidol
- Camphene
- Farnesene
- Fenchol
- Citronellol
- p-Cymene
- Phellandrene
- Bisabolol
While there is no scientific evidence about the psychoactive effects of terpenes, they influence the vaping experience. Terpenes can influence the taste and smell of your e-juice. A CDT cart usually mimics the unique flavor and smell of smoking cannabis better than simply consuming pure THC concentration.
Is it legal to purchase a CDT cart in my country?
In some countries, buying a THC-containing cart can be illegal, so before purchasing a CDT cart, ensure you check local laws and regulations.
While regulations can change, as of the time of publication, cannabis is fully legal in the following states. Therefore, purchasing a CDT cart does not violate any laws:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Illinois
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
Tips before you buy a CDT cart
Are you planning to buy a CDT cart? The tips below can help you mitigate risk.
- Before you purchase your CDT cart, make sure to check if it is legal in your country.
- Choose legal, trusted vendors and avoid black market products.
- Select a brand that provides third-party lab results for its products.
- Consult with a medical professional before consuming any THC products.
FAQ
What is a CDT cartridge?
A CDT cartridge contains terpenes from a cannabis plant. It influences the taste and smell of the e-juice and, according to some anecdotal reports, may influence the high you experience as well.
What does CDT stand for?
CDT stands for cannabis derived terpenes.
What is a BDT cart?
A BDT cart contains terpenes from plants other than cannabis. BDT stands for botanically derived terpenes.
Are non-BDT carts dangerous to use?
Non-BDT carts are not necessarily dangerous to use. Be sure to check if the purchased product has third-party lab results and is from a trusted and legal source.
Do CDT carts smell like weed?
While CDT carts tend to have a milder smell, many of them have a distinct marijuana smell when you vape them.