CBD 101: CBD Isolate vs Full Spectrum CBD

Each of these derivatives of the hemp plant contain different forms of cannabinoids and can interact with each person’s body differently. These interactions are most commonly on the positive side and which byproduct works best for you is completely up to personal preference. In this article, we will aid to separate the many states of CBD into their most basic forms in the hopes that you will better understand how this extract works and how it can improve your daily life.

What Is CBD Isolate?

Believe it or not, CBD is not the only cannabinoid that can be extracted from the hemp plant or its seeds. CBN and CBG are two popular alternatives to the over 120 different identified cannabinoid compounds that can be extracted from the cannabis and hemp plants. For clarity sake, we will focus on CBD in its purest form: CBD Isolate. CBD isolate is one of the most popular forms of CBD oil and that’s due to the fact that it contains zero tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is the psychoactive property of marijuana (Cannabis) and is the contributing factor behind why someone would become “high”. Removing this cannabinoid during the extraction process leaves manufacturers with CBD in a pure form that is free of any THC worry a person new to cannabinoids may have.

Due to the fact that it contains such a high dose of CBD while maintaining a boast of zero THC, this means that CBD Isolate is one of the most difficult extracts to produce. Once it is, however, you are left with a stick, glassy substance that can be consumed in many different ways. CBD isolate is virtually tasteless and odorless because it contains no other cannabinoids aside from CBD. Making this form of extract perfect for cooking or taking directly. There are some setbacks that accompany this form of cannabinoid, though. Seeing as it only contains a specific cannabinoid, CBD, this means that it will not interact with the other cannabinoids that create the “entourage effect”, which can benefit users with the broad spectrum of healing and wellness properties that can be enjoyed through CBD. We will discuss those further down in this article.

WHAT IS BROAD SPECTRUM CBD?

While CBD has been known of and researched since the 1940s there are still many misconceptions that surround this compound. The “reefer madness” of the 1960 made many Americans fear anything to do with the cannabis and hemp plants. Hemp was made illegal in 1937 and was only recently made legal for agricultural purposes in 2014. 77 years of misinformation and fear surrounding a substance is a long road to recover from, but the past 5 years of research has opened us up to the many different healing and mental benefits that can come from ingesting the byproducts of hemp derived CBD. The fact that we were told for decades that hemp and cannabis were bad for us had made it hard for most people to come around, however.

Which is why broad spectrum CBD is a perfect substitute for someone considering CBD. When CBD isolate is made, it removes all the other cannabinoids from the product. When cannabinoids interact with one another it creates something called “the entourage effect” which has been shown to increase the healing factors of CBD. An in depth study from 2015 at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the same place the endocannabinoid system was discovered in 1992, proves the effectiveness of the entourage effect and how it can benefit certain areas of the human body.

What is Full Spectrum CBD?

The entourage effect is a massive contributing factor to the overall effectiveness of a CBD product or extract. Full spectrum CBD oil is very similar to broad spectrum CBD oil in the way that both contain many different cannabinoids that work together to achieve the entourage effect. The main difference is that full spectrum CBD oil contains the legally permitted inclusion of 0.03% THC. The previous products we have discussed in this article – CBD isolate and broad spectrum CBD oil – contain zero THC.

While full spectrum CBD oil contains this trace amount, it is far too low of a dosage to cause any psychoactive effects. This variation provides a safe product for those who are not sure if they would like to or refuse to knowingly ingest THC when working towards their total body health. When the laws were passed to regulate CBD and legalize hemp for agricultural and CBD extract purposes, the lowest possible dose of THC that was allowed by the United States government was the nearly non-existent measurement of 0.03%. This is where the final decision on which type of CBD you would like to take for yourself – isolate, full or broad spectrum – is completely different from person to person.

Which Product Is Best For You?

You have done the research and now feel comfortable with the products and the legalities that you are considering taking a CBD product. But which product should you be taking? Unfortunately, this question can only be answered by you. All CBD products, whether they are an isolate or a full spectrum, are completely safe to take and will provide the user with zero psychoactive effects. But many can be taken in different forms. If you are more inclined to take a capsule, spray or oil then a broad spectrum or full spectrum CBD oil may be right for you. A CBD isolate, while still offering you the same healing effects as its counterparts, exists in a solid, “waxy-glass” form and may be off putting to those just getting into CBD who aren’t looking to smoke or vape their product.

If you are worried about the possibility of a drug test at your work, and aren’t sure if the 0.03% THC quantity will give you a false positive, then a broad spectrum or isolate will be your best choice. When choosing which type of CBD you should be taking, it’s best to answer these main questions:

• Do you care about THC content?
• Are you looking to get the most out of your CBD
• Are you just curious and want to try it?

If you are comfortable with the hemp plant and want the full healing effects then a full/broad spectrum CBD oil product would be most likely to be right for you. These two products are packed with many different cannabinoids and will offer you the entourage effect we mentioned earlier in this article. If you are new to CBD, unsure of its properties and are feeling a little trepidation about it, then a CBD isolate would likely be the right choice. However, like many things in life, it is completely dependent on the individual and no avenue is considered “right” or “wrong”.

The truth of the matter is that research is constantly being done on how this substance can benefit us and interact with not only humans, but animals as well. CBD is a wonderful resource that has eased the pain of millions of people across the world and dates back to before modern society discovered it in the early 19th century. It’s clear to see that CBD is not going anywhere and as our knowledge of this cannabinoid continues to grow, so will its benefits for our everyday lives.