CBD isolate vs. full spectrum CBD oil: What's the difference? by Bridget McQuillan

You've probably found CBD products labeled with “CBD isolate” or “full spectrum” that have left you somewhat confused. Simply put, CBD isolate is the purest form of CBD that's pulled from the plant and devoid of all other ingredients. Full spectrum CBD, on the other hand, contains all the natural chemicals found in the whole plant, which include various other cannabinoids, essential oils, and terpenes. So what does each extraction method offer, and how are they different from one another? What are the pros and cons of each product? Let's take a closer look at CBD isolate vs. full spectrum CBD to understand the differences between these two products. Getting to know cannabinoids and terpenes

Cannabinoids are plant compounds that can be found in the hemp plant. There are over 100 different cannabinoids in the world, two of which include CBD and THC. These cannabinoids interact with your body's endocannabinoid system by targeting specific receptor sites that accept cannabinoids. Once a cannabinoid has reached a receptor site, it can then work with your body to influence appetite, pain sensation, memory, mood, and more. CBD, or cannabidiol, is known for its calming and sedative effects. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, has psychoactive effects linked to the well-documented high. Other cannabinoids such as CBN (cannabinol), CBC (cannabichromene), and CBG (cannabigerol) exist that interact differently with your body’s endocannabinoid system. When cannabinoids are consumed together, a phenomenon known as the entourage effect will take place. The entourage effect proposes that combining cannabinoids such as CBG, CBN, THC, and CBD creates a stronger impact than any single cannabinoid can have on its own. The entourage effect can take place as a result of consuming any number of cannabinoids — not just CBD and THC. Other organic compounds called terpenes and terpenoids will also influence the entourage effect. These compounds are found in many kinds of plants and are primary components in essential oils. They are also responsible for the smell of cannabis plants. Like cannabinoids, each individual terpene is associated with a unique effect. Types of terpenes commonly found in the hemp plant include limonene, humulene, myrcene, and ocimene. Hemp extract and cannabis extract It's important that we make the distinction between hemp extracts and cannabis extracts (marijuana). Hemp extracts containing CBD are sourced from the hemp plant and may contain trace amounts of THC or are instead THC free. Cannabis extracts, meanwhile, will contain some level of THC content and therefore aren't THC free. According to the 2018 Farm Bill, any CBD product derived from hemp must contain less than 0.3% THC or it will instead be classified as a cannabis product under law. Different forms of CBD extracts Though we're primarily focusing on isolate CBD vs. full spectrum CBD, there’s a third option to consider: broad-spectrum form. We've broken down all three primary extraction methods below in greater detail. ​Full spectrum CBD Full spectrum products contain all the natural chemicals found in the hemp plant, including the many types of cannabinoids and terpenes. This can result in the entourage effect mentioned above to help your body better absorb and use CBD.

Ingredients contained within full spectrum CBD may include essential vitamins and minerals, plant-based protein fiber, beneficial fatty acids, chlorophyll, terpenes, and flavonoids. At times these ingredients may simply be labeled as “hemp oil extract,” but this term is somewhat ambiguous because you don’t know how much CBD you’re really getting. For this reason, it’s important that you ensure your full spectrum CBD oil is tested by a lab to help you understand what’s in it. While it's unlikely you'd fail a traditional drug test from using our products, the possibility cannot be ruled out. There are just too many types of drug tests out there, and with hemp products still relatively new on the market, it’s hard to assume that all tests will distinguish between THC and other types of cannabinoids. If you’re subject to a zero-tolerance drug policy at work or elsewhere, please know that some of the more sensitive drug tests can come back positive for cannabinoids. If you’re unsure about where your company stands, better ask your HR department before you buy. CBD isolate CBD isolate is made by pulling CBD from the plant and removing all other ingredients. By removing cannabinoids such as THC, passing a drug test may be easier, but there is more to consider when using CBD isolate than you might think. While isolated CBD is essentially 99% pure CBD, it doesn’t contain any of the beneficial terpenes or flavonoids that encourage the entourage effect. As the illustration demonstrates below, pure CBD isolate is missing THC, CBC, CBN, and more. This is why CBD isolates tend to cost less than full spectrum CBD products or broad-spectrum CBD products.