Key Takeaways
- Full-spectrum CBD products contain all the compounds naturally found in the cannabis plant – terpenes, essential oils, and other cannabinoids, including THC (no more than 0.3%) and CBD.
- One of the most significant advantages of using full-spectrum CBD is the opportunity of experiencing the entourage effect; however, there is a possibility of failing a drug test due to the THC content.
- Broad-spectrum CBD contains all the compounds that you would find in a full-spectrum CBD product, except for THC.
- Although the entourage effect is milder when it comes to using broad-spectrum CBD, the absence of THC means you won’t have a false positive on a drug test.
- CBD isolate is the purest form of CBD – it doesn’t contain any other plant extracts like flavonoids, terpenes, and THC, but only large amounts of CBD.
- CBD isolate is the most affordable and safest type of CBD product on the market, meaning that your drug test will show up clear but the substance won’t produce the entourage effect.
CBD is rapidly becoming one of the most popular substances due to its many benefits.
As a result, you can now find it in several items, from topical treatments such as those used in skincare to edibles like CBD gummies.
Although it’s great to have so many options to help you incorporate CBD into your daily routine, the different terms surrounding CBD and its types can become somewhat overwhelming, especially if you’re new to the CBD market.
This article has reviewed the three basic types of CBD products; full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate.
Understanding the difference between the three can help you purchase the kind of CBD you believe will work best for you.
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Video Guide
Importance of Knowing Your CBD
Broad-spectrum, full-spectrum, or isolate? These can be confusing and lead you to buy a CBD product you weren’t looking for.
Understanding the difference between the three types of CBD can make these labels easy to understand and help you decide which product appeals to you the most.
Knowing the distinction will help you purchase the product that best suits your needs!
CBD Spectrums Explained
Dig into this section for all the details on the three spectrums.
CBD Full Spectrum
Full-spectrum CBD products contain all those compounds naturally found in a cannabis plant.
These extracts include terpenes, essential oils, and various other cannabinoids, including THC and cannabidiol (CBD).
CBD full-spectrum products contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). However, these products are strictly regulated and, by law, can have no more than 0.3% THC.
This amount is far too low to produce any notable psychoactive effects.
As the name suggests, “Full-spectrum” refers to how CBD products are prepared; the user gets to experience the entire spectrum of chemicals. In other words, all the plant extracts of hemp are present in the product.
Are you worried about the side effects caused by THC?
Research has shown that CBD may protect you against the adverse psychological effects of THC. So you can try your full-spectrum CBD products without having to worry.
One of the significant benefits of using full-spectrum CBD products is that you may experience the most potent entourage effect from the three spectrums.
When you use several cannabinoids together, it results in the entourage effect.
Research suggests that taking several cannabinoids together may prove more beneficial than taking a single cannabinoid on its own—the greater the number of cannabinoids in a product, the stronger the entourage effect.
However, full-spectrum CBD products do come with a downside. Because of the THC content, you may get a false positive on a drug test.
CBD Broad Spectrum
Broad-spectrum CBD contains all the cannabinoids that you would find in a full-spectrum CBD product except for THC.
This attribute means that you can expect to find terpenes and all other cannabinoids, whereas THC is either completely absent or present in trace amounts.
Trace amounts mean that you can’t measure them, nor can they cause any psychoactive effects.
CBD broad spectrum is ideal for you if you’re interested in receiving the same level of effects that full-spectrum CBD has to offer (but without the THC).
If we compare CBD broad spectrum with CBD isolate and CBD full spectrum, it falls somewhere in the middle; it contains other plant extracts besides CBD but does not contain THC.
The main advantage of using broad-spectrum CBD is that you don’t have to worry about passing your drug test; THC remains undetected, and you don’t get a false positive.
Because of the numerous cannabinoids in broad-spectrum products, the entourage effect is present.
However, due to the absent THC, the effect is believed to be lower than in full-spectrum products.
CBD Isolate
As the name suggests, CBD isolate consists of isolated Cannabidiol (CBD).
This isolation means that your product is pure from other plant extracts like flavonoids, terpenes, and THC and only contains large amounts of CBD.
Although you’ll receive the most significant amount of CBD benefits from CBD isolate, the absent terpenes and flavonoids may be a disadvantage.
You won’t just miss out on the benefits these compounds offer, but you won’t experience the entourage effect either.
This effect is also why CBD isolate products are much cheaper than the full and broad-spectrum ones; fewer ingredients mean a low price. So it’s a great option if you’re on a budget.
CBD isolate is also great if you’re trying to look at the effects of CBD alone.
Because no other plant compounds are present, you can determine whether CBD is adequate for your condition before testing out other CBD products.
Furthermore, since there is no THC in CBD isolate products, your drug test will show up clear.
Which CBD Should You Choose?
Still not sure which CBD product is best for you? Let’s recap!
CBD full-spectrum is best for you if:
- You’re looking for the most substantial entourage effect out of the three types
- Looking to try out the benefits of THC without any adverse effects
- Interested in having all the compounds of a cannabis plant in your product
CBD broad-spectrum may be the type of CBD for you if you:
- Have to or usually appear for a drug test
- You are looking for the benefits of cannabinoids without the THC
- Interested in the entourage effect
CBD isolate is best for those who are:
- Trying to look for an alternative to broad-spectrum CBD and to avoid THC
- You are interested in determining if CBD alone is effective enough
- Looking for a more affordable option
- Appearing for a drug test
Conclusion
Broad-spectrum CBD contains cannabinoids with little to no THC, whereas full-spectrum CBD can have up to 0.3% THC, along with other cannabinoids.
On the other hand, CBD isolate only has one cannabinoid, CBD.
CBD products come in several different forms, such as gummies, oils, lotions, vapes, and others.
How you prefer to take your CDB depends on which method you find most comfortable.
Which CBD product you would like to purchase comes down to the benefits that best suit your needs.
However, it is essential to fully understand the difference between the three spectrums to know what to expect from your product.
