While CBD and CBD products’ popularity continues to grow exponentially, many users still may not know just what full-spectrum CBD is. While the underlying logic behind this term is relatively simple, the intricacies of it may surprise you.
One of the biggest questions surrounding full-spectrum CBD is whether it is better than other alternative CBD or cannabidiol products.
The world of CBD is big and complicated, but learning about full-spectrum CBD is one of the essential lessons out there.
So, without further delay, let’s get started.
What is Full-Spectrum CBD Oil?
Full-spectrum CBD oil is any product that contains all of the cannabinoids found naturally occurring within hemp plants.
Instead of solely isolating CBD compounds, as is done in many CBD oils, full-spectrum CBD oil contains trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other minor cannabinoids.
In other words, full-spectrum CBD oil contains a collection of cannabinoids, not just CBD. Inside these products, you’ll find THC, Cannabinol (CBN), and other minor cannabinoids. Each of the over 90 cannabinoids is produced by hemp plants, primarily in the flowers.
If you don’t know much about cannabinoids beyond THC and CBD, don’t worry. What matters is that these cannabinoids combine synergistically to improve the potential therapeutic benefits.
In other words, their whole is greater than the sum of their parts. This concept relates to the “Entourage Effect,” which we’ll look at more closely soon.
THC vs CBD
If you’re even somewhat familiar with cannabis, you likely have at least a basic understanding of THC by now, which is excellent. For those who may not know, THC is the primary psychoactive compound produced by cannabis plants.
This compound is the primary driver of the familiar psychoactive effects commonly associated with a weed high. Unlike THC, CBD is non-impairing and does not produce a high. By law, CBD oil products may contain no more than 0.3% THC by weight.
This tiny amount of THC may produce a minimal high in new consumers, but almost little to no effects are apparent. Instead of focusing on THC, full-spectrum CBD oil focuses on cannabidiol.
Still, it is essential when discussing full-spectrum CBD to note that, along with CBD, you will find trace amounts of these other cannabinoids.Contrastingly, if you’re looking for products that contain CBD strictly, we would recommend searching for CBD isolate or CBD distillate products.
These types of products contain only one cannabinoid, CBD. You can find these items in a variety of options, including powders, CBD vape juices, and edibles.
What’s the Difference Between Full-Spectrum CBD and CBD Isolate?
As we already mentioned, perhaps the most distinct difference between full-spectrum CBD and CBD isolate is that full-spectrum products contain the full range of cannabinoids and terpenes found in the plant.
Conversely, CBD isolate contains up to 99% pure CBD with no other cannabinoids or terpenes. So, the most crucial difference you need to know of is that CBD isolate does not contain even trace amounts of THC.
When making these different types of products, unique extraction processes are used. Particular solvents and extraction technologies are utilized to either isolate CBD or withdraw the full-spectrum CBD mixture.
The CBD isolate processes strip the product of the naturally occurring terpenes produced by the cannabis plant. Opposingly, these smell and flavour-producing compounds are left in when creating full-spectrum CBD oils.
There is also a third product type also worth mentioning – broad-spectrum CBD.
Unlike full-spectrum CBD oil, broad-spectrum products contain some but not all of the cannabinoids produced by the cannabis plant. So, a broad-spectrum CBD oil may contain under 0.3% THC along with one or a few other cannabinoids.
To summarize, full-spectrum CBD contains every naturally occurring compound in the hemp plant with 0.3% or more THC. On the other hand, broad-spectrum products contain some but not all cannabinoids while containing less than 0.3% THC. And CBD isolate is strictly CBD with no THC whatsoever.
Is Full-Spectrum CBD Better?
This is where we must learn the lessons learned by science. Researchers investigating the effects of CBD and cannabis products have discovered something pretty amazing.
They called this phenomenon the Entourage Effect. As we briefly touched on before, the Entourage Effect describes how various cannabinoids interact synergistically to produce greater results than the individual compounds alone.
The effects of numerous cannabinoids combined are more remarkable than simply the sum of their parts. In other words, combining CBD and THC produces an effect more significant than what would happen if you consumed each of them separately.
Throw in all the minor cannabinoids, and you create even more benefits that go beyond the effects of each compound.
More research is needed to determine the Entourage Effect’s depth, but sufficiently strong evidence supports this synergistic effect.
Will Full Spectrum CBD Produce a Failed Drug Test?
We now understand that full-spectrum CBD oils may contain trace amounts of THC. In this way, it is possible to fail a cannabis drug test due to consuming full-spectrum CBD oil.
This is because these tests are specifically designed to look for signs of THC. That said, the amount of THC found in these oils is tiny, and many drug tests do not have enough sensitivity to detect it.
If you expect to take a drug test, and the results will significantly impact your life or job, you may want to stick with CBD isolate.
To ensure you are consuming what you planned, only buy CBD products from reputable sources that present third-party laboratory test results. These results are needed to be certain that your CBD isolate does not contain trace amounts of THC.
What Does Full-Spectrum CBD do?
To further expand on the entourage effect, there are four primary suggested mechanisms of action.
First, the cannabinoids each have unique target sites within your body. As each of the cannabinoids exerts effects on each of these targets, the effects are multiplied.
Second, the other cannabinoids assist in enhancing the absorption of CBD. Since more cannabidiol is absorbed due to a bit of help from its friends, it has more effects on your health.
Thirdly, the combined forces of different cannabinoids work together to overcome bacterial resistance. Having more unique fighters landing on the beaches helps to get more soldiers through the castle door.
And lastly, the balanced effects from different cannabinoids reduce the odds of side effects. In other words, you avoid the potential adverse effects of having too much of any cannabinoid with less of each.
What is Full-Spectrum CBD Good For?
No matter which of the benefits of consuming CBD you seek, enhancing these effects is a plus. By promoting the Entourage Effect, full-spectrum CBD oil tends to do a better job overall.
As we mentioned earlier, this also means you can consume less, which is great for managing costs if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly product that allows you to get more bang for your buck.
Furthermore, full-spectrum CBD oil avoids the bad while emphasizing the good by reducing the odds of side effects.
Overall, full-spectrum CBD oils provide the mixture needed to maximize the effects of cannabidiol.
Final Thoughts
When looking for the right CBD product for you, it is essential to understand full-spectrum CBD oil and other CBD variants.
Learning what makes these products unique helps you get the most bang for your buck while also gaining more knowledge surrounding which might be the best option to suit your particular needs.
While THC has some downsides, having a little bit of it inside your CBD oil can lead to better overall results. Always seek out third-party laboratory test results when buying CBD products to ensure the product is what it says it is.
With all this knowledge now in your head, you can be sure that you’re buying the right product for you and your needs.
We hope our guide has made the process of selecting the appropriate CBD product for your needs a bit easier.
As always, stay safe and enjoy!
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