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CBD Isolate vs. Broad Spectrum and Full Spectrum CBD Oil: What’s the Difference and What are the Benefits?

Melissa Cox May 11, 2020 0 comments

Full Spectrum CBD Oil in Maryland – CBD Oil in Baltimore – CBD Oil in Towson – CBD Oil in Lutherville/Timonium

Charm City Hemp Broad Spectrum CBD Tincture Mint
Charm City Hemp Broad Spectrum CBD Tincture Mint

While both have an array of potential benefits, full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD have a slightly different composition. As a result, you may have a particular experience with one product that you might not necessarily repeat with another.

Let’s explain the differences between full-spectrum and broad-spectrum oil, as well as CBD isolate.

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What’s the Difference Between Full-Spectrum and Broad-Spectrum CBD Oil?

The two most common types of CBD you’ll find on the market today are CBD isolate and full-spectrum CBD.

CBD isolate is 99.9% pure CBD. During the CBD extraction process, everything else in the plant is removed, including any traces of THC, terpenes, waxes, oils, chlorophyll, and more. What you’re left with is pure CBD… and nothing else.

Full-spectrum CBD products contain everything the plant contains, all the terpenes, cannabinoids, flavonoids, and fatty acids found in hemp, all of which have a therapeutic value of their own and help create what’s known as the entourage effect.

Understanding the difference between full-spectrum and broad-spectrum extracts is quite simple. Broad-spectrum CBD is devoid of THC only. It offers all the benefits associated with full-spectrum CBD, without any chances of THC being ingested into the body and making you high.

As their names imply, full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD oils contain a wide range of cannabinoids. However, they aren’t identical. To fully understand the difference, it’s best to understand them individually.

What Is Full-Spectrum CBD?

Full-spectrum CBD has all the cannabinoids, including the psychoactive compounds. The reason for this goes back to the entourage effect that takes place when multiple cannabinoids, CBD and THC included, work together. That’s why it may be better to use products made from the whole cannabis plant rather than a purified extract. 

If you see “full-spectrum” on the label, be sure to check out the company’s lab reports. Although the industry has not regulated the terms, a full-spectrum CBD product will most likely have THC in the formula.

What is Broad-Spectrum CBD?

The refining process is critical for crafting broad-spectrum oil. During this step, we remove unwanted cannabinoids, like THC, from the formula. 

Some CBD companies opt to remove THC from their products to eliminate the psychoactive properties but keep the other cannabinoids and their benefits. That’s how we get the broad-spectrum CBD product.

With broad-spectrum CBD oil, you are still getting the synergy of the other cannabinoids. The only one missing from the party is THC. 

What Is CBD Isolate?

While we’re on the topic of the refining process, some CBD companies take an extra step to create 99+% pure CBD. This type of hemp-based product is known as CBD isolate.

Typically, those who choose CBD isolate are sensitive to other cannabinoids, and CBD by itself still has benefits. However, the results may not be as promising as those who opt for full-spectrum vs broad-spectrum CBD oil.

When you are purchasing an isolate, make sure it is 99+% pure. Otherwise, there will be traces of other cannabinoids in the formula. Although these numbers are most likely negligible, it does defeat the purpose of seeking out a pure CBD product. 

Difference Between Broad, Full-Spectrum, and CBD Isolate

CBD isolate can be referred to as the direct opposite of full-spectrum CBD. It features only CBD and nothing else, and for this reason, is often overlooked by CBD users who want to get the most out of their every dose.

Even though it does not contain any other cannabinoids or essential healthy fatty acids which naturally occur in the cannabis plant and are present in a full-spectrum oil, taking isolate can still be beneficial and deliver satisfactory results. On top of that, isolate is generally cheaper than full and broad-spectrum CBD products. Unlike full and broad-spectrum CBD, it also doesn’t contain any terpenes, which some people might be allergic to.

Why Choose Broad Spectrum Over Full Spectrum CBD Oil?

How are broad-spectrum vs full-spectrum CBD oils different? Well, at the end of the day, both types of CBD oil have their benefits. While THC may help boost the overall formula, removing it from the equation doesn’t hurt the product. Broad-spectrum CBD products can be just as effective at supporting wellness.

If you do opt for full-spectrum vs board spectrum CBD oil, be sure to read the label to find out the plant source. Full-spectrum CBD oil can be derived from hemp or marijuana. Under the 2018 Farm Bill, any hemp-based product must have 0.3% THC or less.  Some people prefer the inclusion of small amounts of THC in their CBD oil products.

However, where recreational cannabis is legal, producers can also make full-spectrum CBD oil from marijuana. If you purchase your full-spectrum CBD oil from a state where they’ve legalized recreational cannabis, bringing your oil over state lines may become an issue. Even if you use a hemp-derived full-spectrum product, there is still a small percentage of THC you have to think about.

Broad-spectrum CBD products don’t come with this excess baggage. These CBD products are derived from hemp and have had THC removed from the final formula, meaning potential psychoactive side effects are unlikely.

What Else Should You Know Before Making a Purchase?

You might’ve heard about some legal issues regarding both full and broad-spectrum CBD. To determine whether the CBD oil you want to purchase is legal, you first need to learn about its source of origin and how much THC it contains.

Here’s how the current situation looks:

  • Hemp-derived CBD products that contain 0.3% THC or less are legal federally.
  • Marijuana-derived CBD products that contain 0.3% THC or less are not legal federally.
  • All CBD products with more than 0.3% THC are not legal federally.

Additionally, it’s always worth checking local legislation before purchasing any CBD product, because some state laws prohibit the use of all CBD products while others allow it. Also, keep in mind that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved nonprescription CBD products, which may be inaccurately labeled.

Safety

Before taking any CBD products, your first step should be consulting a medical professional. Trying CBD products might be tempting, but talking to a doctor beforehand is your best bet, especially if you have a serious medical condition or use prescription medications. Additionally, your healthcare provider should advise you on the optimal dose of CBD based on the variables mentioned above.

Overall, CBD does not have mind-altering properties and is generally considered safe. It is most often used by adults in doses of 200 mg or less per day. A daily dose of up to 300 mg CBD is safe for up to six months. Doses higher than this are safe for a shorter amount of time.

Full and Broad-Spectrum CBD Products

Besides different types of CBD, its enthusiast can also try various CBD products. Here are some of the most popular CBD options you can try:

Edibles

Edibles, such as full or broad-spectrum CBD gummies, are an excellent way to start an adventure with CBD. They are tasty and allow to precisely control the dosage. Other popular types of CBD edibles include CBD tea, coffee, regular and hot cocoa, honey, caramels, hard candies, latte blends, and even sparkling regular or flavored water.

Topicals

CBD topicals can come in the form of balms, creams, lotions, etc. They are mainly used for dealing with pain in a certain part of the body. For example, if someone is dealing with knee pain, they can apply CBD balm to the sore spot. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, CBD can make the pain go away or, at the very least, help reduce it.

Sublingual Drops and Sprays

Sublingual administration is one of the fastest methods of absorbing CBD. Products such as CBD oils and tinctures tend to produce effects much faster than other methods of consumption. All you have to do is place a few drops of CBD extract under the tongue and wait for at least 60 seconds before swallowing. This allows it to bypass digestion and become rapidly absorbed directly into the bloodstream.

Is Charm City Hemp Brand Full-Spectrum or Broad-Spectrum? 

All of Charm City Hemp’s products are crafted using phytocannabinoid-rich hemp; our extraction process is careful to preserve many of the beneficial compounds present. During the refining process, we remove all traces of THC from the final product. Due to this, we consider our THC-free private label line to be broad spectrum. These products include:

As a consumer, you have every right to know what you are ingesting. That is why every batch we formulate is tested for purity. By checking the lot number on the bottom of your bottle, you can see the lab results for yourself. We are transparent with our results so you can be sure that you are getting the best broad-spectrum oil available anywhere!

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Sources:

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7324885/
  2. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324450
  3. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/broad-spectrum-cbd
  4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK425767/
  5. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/public-health-focus/fda-regulation-cannabis-and-cannabis-derived-products-including-cannabidiol-cbd
  6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4851925/
  7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6222489/