CBD: Full-Spectrum, Broad-Spectrum, and Isolate; Know the Differences

CBD products are all the rage now, and for good reason. But, did you know that there are three different types of CBD? There is full-spectrum CBD, broad-spectrum CBD, and isolate CBD products on the market right now.

Read on to find out which would suit you best

Important Vocabulary to Know

Before we even start talking about CBD, the products, and all the different forms of CBD, full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate, you should understand all of the terms related to CBD and CBD products out there today.

Here are some important words and concepts that will help you to understand CBD and hemp.

Cannabis

Cannabis is the genus of flowering plants which can be described as either hemp or marijuana. Cannabis has long been cultivated for its hemp fibers, seeds, oils, leafs, and flower for a variety of purposes.

Hemp

Hemp is a cannabis plant that is under the federal legal limit of 0.3% THC content. Hemp has largely been used for industrial reasons, but it has more recently been looked at for medicinal purposes due to its containing of CBD.

Marijuana

This is the term you've probably heard about. Marijuana has a high THC content, which is responsible for getting people “high” or “stoned.”

Cannabinoid

Cannabinoids are chemical compounds found in cannabis. There are over 113 known cannabinoids from the cannabis plant, with CBD and THC being the two most well-known.

CBD

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a cannabinoid associated with the part of the cannabis plant that doesn’t get you high and has gained interest for other therapeutic uses.

THC

THC stands for tetrahydrocannabinol. This is the famous compound that people use to get high.

Common Misconceptions

There are many negative associations—especially regarding its legality—with the cannabis plant.

Here are some clarifications about the legality of this plant.

CBD vs THC

One of the most common misconceptions when it comes to CBD products is mistaking CBD for THC.

CBD and THC are both found in the cannabis plant. However, it would be a grave mistake to take one for the other. That is the equivalent of taking salt for pepper and vice versa.

CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) are 2, of at least 113 known, cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant.

THC is a psychoactive cannabinoid responsible for the euphoric high effect people get from consuming cannabis. CBD is a cannabinoid that research has shown, may have some medical benefits.

A product that contains CBD will not necessarily get you high unless there is a high THC content.

Hemp vs Marijuana

Hemp and marijuana come from the same plant: cannabis. The only difference between the two is the amount of THC content in each.

The 2018 Farm Bill passed by Congress, defines hemp as any part of the Cannabis sativa plant (including seeds, derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, and more) with no more than 0.3% THC. Any product containing THC content over the federal legal limit of 0.3% is considered cannabis and thus regulated on a different scale.

States have their own regulations surrounding cannabis, but on a federal level, cannabis is still illegal.

On the other hand, hemp plants with a THC content of less than 0.3% may continue to grow legally.

Hemp is distinguished by medical research hemp (grown with more CBD) and industrial hemp (grown with less CBD). Most CBD products on the market derive from the medical research hemp plants for their higher CBD content than the industrial counterpart with less.

Is CBD Legal?

With the background that CBD is a cannabinoid found in both hemp and marijuana, this begs the question: Is CBD legal?

Referring to the 2018 Farm Bill's definition of hemp and thus cannabis, CBD derived from legally grown hemp is legal. CBD derived from cannabis, or marijuana is illegal.

In the search for a CBD product that is right for you, make sure you purchase from a vendor that sells USDA-certified organic hemp products and can provide evidence of lab testing for their products.

CBD may result in a false positive on drug tests. Depending on your body fat content and how your body metabolizes cannabinoids, it may take up to a week and a half to clear the compound from your bloodstream.

Getting To Know CBD

There are three main types of CBD on the market currently: full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate. As the names suggest, these types of CBD are measured on a spectrum.

What Is The Spectrum?

The "spectrum" refers to the chemical compounds either found or not found in hemp and CBD products.

Hemp, derived from the Cannabis Sativa plant, contains numerous compounds that work synergistically to create what is known as the "Entourage Effect."

Some believe these compounds deliver a greater potency of the desired effect of CBD products when they work in tandem with each other, as opposed to working separately such as in the case of CBD isolates.

Full-Spectrum CBD

Full-spectrum CBD products retain all of the compounds found in hemp plants, which includes the THC cannabinoid, up to its legal amount of 0.3%.

Since it does contain THC, full-spectrum CBD products are better suited for people who:

• are not getting drug tested
• are not sensitive to THC

With all the compounds retained, a full-spectrum CBD product can deliver a well-rounded CBD experience that capitalizes on the synergistic effect of all the compounds.

Broad-Spectrum CBD

Broad-spectrum CBD products are a step down from full-spectrum CBD products. Any kind of distillation or removal of compounds found in the extract renders the product a "broad-spectrum" CBD product.

While broad-spectrum products still enjoy that "entourage effect," the lack of certain compounds in the product decreases the potency of hemp plant benefits.

Most CBD products on the market are broad-spectrum products that have removed as much THC content as possible.

Isolate CBD

On the other end of the spectrum, isolate CBD products are products that have isolated the CBD cannabinoid from other compounds found in hemp plants.

It is the most reduced form of CBD from hemp and thus not usually a problem for drug tests. Isolate CBD products are also tasteless and odorless since it has been so far removed from its hemp source, which makes them great options for beginners to CBD and hemp products.

Try It For Yourself

There are many ways to consume full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate CBD products. They come in the form of flowers, gummies, topicals, tinctures, and more.

Shop our products to try quality lab-tested USDA-certified organic hemp CBD products. Incorporate CBD products into your wellness routine, whichever form you decide to take it in.

Let us know what is your favorite way to take CBD!