Having numerous terms presented in the CBD industry, there needs to be clarification regarding the differences between Broad-Spectrum CBD, Full-Spectrum CBD, and Isolate CBD.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a compound found in the cannabis plant. There are many cannabinoids found in the Cannabis sativa plants. The two most prevalent components found in these plants are: CBD, non-psychoactive component and THC, psychoactive component. CBD, known as cannabidiol, has been noted to possess many potential health benefits.

CBD products can be manufactured in various ways. It can possess cannabinoids and terpenes but no THC (Broad-Spectrum CBD) to achieve a minimal entourage effect; possessing more chemicals including cannabinoids and terpenes and up to the limit of 0.3% THC (Full-Spectrum CBD) achieving a maximum entourage effect and CBD (Isolate CBD) with no THC, cannabinoids, or terpenes.

Broad-Spectrum CBD

Broad-Spectrum CBD infuses the various substances apart from THC including CBD, cannabinoids, terpenes and other chemicals derived from the plant. Meeting the federal requirement as it has all the THC removed, it allows for the entourage effect to occur to a lesser extent.

Full-Spectrum CBD

Full-Spectrum CBD retains all the chemicals that come from the plant. Authentic federally legal CBD is derived from industrial hemp and contains less than 0.3% THC. All CBD products are required by law to meet this condition as well. Full-Spectrum CBD allows for the entourage effect to occur similar to Broad-Spectrum CBD but to a greater extent.

Isolate CBD

Isolate CBD products are labeled as being the purest CBD product depending on how they are processed. These products have been isolated down to just the CBD molecule. They possess no other active ingredients to provide high doses of CBD that are separate from the other cannabinoids and terpenes. This type of product is generally processed as a white powder or as a mix with a carrier oil.

What Else Can Impact the Oil?

Many factors delivering a consistent product can be problematic. Various growing seasons can cause the individual mix of components to vary. One growing season might have yields containing higher CBD levels than others. This also holds true from one growing region to another in the same time period. For example, the same strain might contain different levels of chemicals depending on the various states’ environments such as Montana, Colorado, Kentucky, and California.

Another difference that may impact the product is the extraction process. Ethanol or supercritical fluid CO2, both have advantages and disadvantages, but do not produce identical products as the extraction itself impacts the chemicals resulting from this process.

The carrier oil that is selected also impacts the variety of products. CBD oil is not easy to work with in a highly concentrated state. In order to achieve a viable dose strength, each manufacturer must select a method to dilute it to its standard strength. This choice is impacted by what products are offered. For instance, vape products utilize different diluting oils than ones that are intended for sublingual use. Still others might be chosen for products intended for cooking or manufactured into capsules. The options are typically healthy oils including olive oil, hemp seed oil, MCT (a healthy form of coconut oil) and others.

Final Thoughts

Choosing which CBD product to meet your health needs is a personal choice.

If you want to assure that no THC is present in your product, then Isolate CBD or Broad-Spectrum CBD are probably the best options.

If you require the entourage effect, then Full-Spectrum CBD or Broad-Spectrum CBD are the choices for you.

As always, check with your health-care provider before taking any CBD product.