What is full-spectrum CBD? We talk about this subject often on the show. CBD is everywhere in the news. But not all CBD products are the same. If you’re in the market for CBD, chances are that you might feel overwhelmed with options. CBD products come in different spectrums. These differences could be key to finding the product that will work best for you. To better understand what a full spectrum CBD product is, it’s also important to know about broad spectrum as well as a CBD isolate. In this article, we’ll break down what that all means and leave you with a better understanding.
Full Spectrum CBD, or whole plant CBD, includes of all of the cannabinoids found in the hemp plant. At The CBD-ED Show, we believe that keeping the plant in its original form is the best way to receive all of the benefits that the hemp plant has to offer.
• CBD (Cannabidiol) is the leading ingredient that is most abundant in hemp plants is CBD.
• CBN (Cannabinol) works with the body’s CB2 receptor within the endocannabinoid system thought to help boost the immune system.
• CBC (Cannabichromene) is very scarce in the hemp plant, so a proprietary blend of these ingredients is used to maximize effectiveness.
• CBG (Cannabigerol) has been growing in popularity as CBD gains more traction.
• THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) has been shown to increase appetite and fight free radicals with antioxidant properties. This cannabinoid can be found in full-spectrum CBD oil products in very small amounts. THC from hemp will always be below the limit of 0.3% because the hemp plant does not produce high levels of THC, thus causing no psychoactive side effects.
Does Full-spectrum CBD show up on Drug Tests?
One thing to keep in mind is that even though full-spectrum CBD only has a trace amount of THC, there is a slight possibility of a false positive drug test if you’re consuming high doses on a regular basis. Many retailers offer sample sizes so you can find your ideal product. These sampler boxes let you try products to see which might be the right fit for your needs.
Full-spectrum CBD provides stronger effects at higher doses. Because it uses compounds from the whole hemp plant, including additional cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids instead of only CBD, this can be the optimum choice. The active compounds are extracted so they can work together and enhance the benefits provided by each cannabinoid. When these cannabinoids and compounds work with each other in this way, they create what is called the entourage effect. The phrase now commonly refers to the compounds present in hemp plants working in concert to create the sum of all parts that leads to the magic of cannabis.
Isolated CBD
Now that we’ve explained what full-spectrum means, you may be curious as to what CBD isolate is. A CBD isolate is actually exactly what it sounds like – just the CBD without the other cannabinoids, flavonoids, or terpenes. The process involved in formulating an isolate actually requires more work to achieve that level of purity, usually resulting in around 90%. However, potency does not necessarily equal having more benefits. You may be wondering why someone would choose this method over full-spectrum; typically isolates are selected for cooking or adding to food and beverages. Isolates do not include all the natural plant terpenes so they are virtually devoid of the taste or smell of the hemp plant. Some people find the taste or smell of the hemp plant unappealing.
What is Broad-spectrum CBD?
Earlier, we also mentioned broad-spectrum CBD. Broad-spectrum products also include CBD cannabidiol with all of the other compounds found in hemp. But there is one big ingredient that’s missing, and that’s THC. However, the entourage is still possible because of its inclusion of flavonoids as well as terpenes. You can think of this one as a hybrid between isolate and full-spectrum because it’s right there in the middle. Broad-spectrum products contain the compounds from the whole hemp plant, just without the THC.
When picking your products, make sure that you are shopping from a reliable source. CBD is not monitored by the Food and Drug Administration. Watch out for products that could possibly be inaccurately labeled. Double-checking the product for third-party test results is recommended. All CBD products on the market should have clear and easily accessible test results posted on their website.
Look to The CBD Ed Show for all your information on CBD. You can also find great information in the Learning Center at CANNAFYL, one of our sponsors.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
