What Is Full Spectrum CBD?
Full spectrum CBD means that it uses all of the phytochemicals found in Cannabis sativa; this includes cannabidiol along with terpenes, essential oils, and other cannabinoids, which means THC. However, the THC content included will usually be under 0.3 percent, as guided by law.
Because the THC content of the full spectrum CBD oil for sale is negligible, you may never feel intoxicated from the trace amounts of THC. But be aware that THC can build up in your system over time, which may be of concern if your employer requires you to not have any THC in your system.
Full spectrum CBD typically allows consumers to experience the “entourage effect.” This effect requires the combination of whole-plant cannabinoids and additional terpenes, and it is quite different from pure CBD that uses CBD isolates only.
So, if you don’t mind a bit of THC inside your CBD oil, you may choose to use full spectrum CBD for your needs. The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp-derived substances from the Controlled Substances Act, making these products more available to consumers as long as they are not marketed as medicines, among other requirements and restrictions.
This legislation loosened the language around the use of hemp derivatives, which makes it easier to provide a wide range of CBD, both broad spectrum CBD and full spectrum, as long as the product contains less than 0.3 percent THC to remain within the legal requirements.
Each state in the US handles CBD and hemp products a little differently, so it is important for you to check the legalities in your state as well as consider employment restrictions. Some businesses or services require no THC whatsoever to be in your system even if the amounts are small and come from full spectrum CBD usage.
If these are concerns to you, then you may want to choose CBD products that are labeled broad spectrum. Understand that though the THC is not selected for inclusion in broad spectrum formulations, trace amounts of THC may be present.
What Is the Entourage Effect?
The active compounds of hemp in full spectrum CBD work together to enhance the benefits expressed by the individual cannabinoids. When these compounds and cannabinoids work synergically like this, they produce what is called the entourage effect.
The entourage effect refers to cannabis components working together to boost or intensify the benefits of hemp. Other than CBD, full spectrum extracts will contain additional cannabinoids, including:
- Cannabinol (CBN) – a cannabinoid made from oxidized THC. The longer raw cannabis matures, the more CBN it will create from THC. It’s known for its relaxing qualities.
- Cannabigerol (CBG) – a non-intoxicating cannabinoid produced from cannabigerolic acid during decarboxylation.
- Cannabidivarin (CBDV) – a minor cannabinoid with a molecular structure similar to that of CBD.
- Cannabidiol acid (CBDA) – the 2-carboxylic acid form of CBD and an essential ingredient found in raw cannabis.
- Cannabichromene (CBC) – a cannabinoid that particularly comes from tropical-region cannabis; it is useful for a variety of beneficial reactions.
With full spectrum CBD, the added terpenes and cannabinoids can affect cannabinoid receptors in your endocannabinoid system – either blocking or allowing other cannabinoid molecules to bind or communicate with the connectors. Because of this, it is thought that full spectrum CBD provides a better response at higher amounts because it uses compounds from the entire hemp plant rather than CBD isolates alone.
What Is Broad Spectrum CBD?
Like full spectrum, CBD oil labeled broad spectrum also uses cannabidiol with all the other compounds found in hemp. However, there’s one active ingredient that gets removed after the extraction process – THC.
Broad spectrum CBD retains several of the different cannabinoids, such as CBN and CBG. And because the broad spectrum also uses additional terpenes and flavonoids, it can generate the entourage effect without THC.
Even though broad spectrum CBD shares similarities with the full spectrum, it still has that one primary difference that separates it from the other. And you may decide to use broad spectrum CBD if you’re looking for whole-plant benefits without any THC content or you live in an area in the U.S. with stricter cannabis laws.
From a straightforward perspective, you could think of broad spectrum CBD as a combination of CBD isolate and full spectrum CBD. It uses compounds from the whole hemp plant minus the THC.
Without THC content, broad spectrum CBD is particularly useful for people who want the benefits of full spectrum CBD with fewer worries about THC accumulating within their system from daily use.
Full Spectrum vs. Broad Spectrum – Which Is Better?
If you’re currently wondering which spectrum of CBD oil is better than the other one, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a competition between the two. Our bodies process CBD differently based on a variety of factors.
Your initial question regarding broad spectrum vs. full spectrum CBD oil should be which one will better suit your needs. Your physiology, lifestyle, and even health history can influence how your body reacts to cannabinoids.
Based on the factors covered in this article, here’s a quick recap of the differences and similarities between full spectrum CBD, broad spectrum CBD, and CBD isolate:
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Full Spectrum CBD
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Broad Spectrum CBD
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CBD Isolate
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Uses “whole plant” extract containing other cannabinoids, terpenes, and essential oils
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✔
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✔
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Contains THC
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✔
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Uses pure CBD extract with no other cannabinoids or additives
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✔
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For some CBD users, a broad spectrum is their best choice because it’s like receiving all of the good without worrying over THC if that’s your particular point of view. Others may be fine with the full spectrum because their lifestyle, living area, or work environment is more lenient towards THC.
Some users may be completely satisfied with CBD isolate because it works for them, while others don’t notice a difference between full spectrum and broad spectrum CBD or CBD isolate when they use them. Given the higher price point for CBD isolate, many users opt to go with full spectrum CBD or broad spectrum CBD.