What Is Full Spectrum CBD and Why Does It Matter?
Buying CBD products shouldn’t be a struggle. You expect to walk into the store and pick up the first bottle you see, but it’s not that easy. You’ll soon find yourself presented with a number of options including full spectrum CBD, broad spectrum CBD, and isolate.
What does any of that even mean?
Let’s take a closer look.
What Is Full Spectrum CBD?
A lot of people assume that full spectrum CBD is the way to go thanks to the word “full,” and in a way they’re right. However, full spectrum may not be right for everyone.
Full spectrum CBD refers to any CBD product that contains natural cannabinoids and terpenes beyond CBD. This includes trace amounts of THC, however, the THC percentage usually has to fall under 0.3%. Cannabinoids that may be present in full spectrum CBD products include but aren’t limited to:
- CBG (purported anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor properties, glaucoma relief)
- CBN (purported sedative, anti-inflammatory, anti-seizure properties)
- CBC (purported anti-depressant, anti-cancer properties)
- CBDV (purported anti-nausea, anti-seizure, anti-inflammatory properties, pain relief, and mood booster)
These are just a select few of the hundreds of possible cannabinoids and terpenes that can be found in full spectrum CBD products. Each of these cannabinoids adds distinct benefits to the product overall, which stack on top of each other to make the CBD more effective. This is called the entourage effect, which we’ll explore in more detail below.
Why Use Full Spectrum CBD?
Many people consider full spectrum CBD to be the most natural way to take CBD.
Cannabinoids occur naturally within the cannabis plant. They offer a host of additional benefits to those of the CBD, including everything from inflammation reduction to cancer-inhibiting properties and pain relief benefits.
The way these cannabinoids mesh with the effects of the CBD is known as the entourage effect. The entourage effect describes how each unique cannabinoid profile enhances the effects of a given CBD product. In this way, full spectrum products aren’t just more natural than other products, they’re also more effective.
Will the THC Get Me High?
The presence of THC is the only detracting factor for many considering full spectrum CBD products.
THC is the psychoactive compound responsible for getting you high when you smoke marijuana. This obviously causes stress to those who want to take CBD without getting high. They worry that they’ll take some CBD and lose the ability to function properly throughout the rest of their day.
Fortunately, for something to be considered a CBD product rather than a marijuana product, it needs 0.3% CBD or under. This trace amount isn’t enough to get anyone high. In CBD products, THC works as more of a supplementary cannabinoid like the others present in full spectrum CBD oil.
THC has plenty of health benefits and is purported to help ease pain, conquer insomnia, and increase appetite among other things. This contributes to the overall entourage effect of a given CBD product. If you can get past the fear of getting high, these benefits add another reason to use full spectrum CBD tincture and products.
When Not to Use Full Spectrum CBD
The only real reason you should avoid using full spectrum CBD is if you’re in a situation where you can’t have THC in your system.
Many athletes, for example, undergo drug testing. While cannabis is legal in a lot of states now, it’s still not going to fly during drug testing a lot of the time. So, if you’re a drug-tested athlete, you may want to avoid full spectrum products.
This goes for anyone who regularly goes through drug tests, including those on certain types of parole, and those who work government jobs.
What About the Other Types of CBD Oil?
Beyond full spectrum CBD, there are two other common types of CBD products. To fully understand full spectrum CBD oil, it helps to know about the other two types, too. So, let’s go over each one.
Broad Spectrum CBD Oil
Broad spectrum CBD products contain all the same naturally occurring cannabinoids that full spectrum products do, minus the THC.
To do this, CBD producers will strip the THC from the oil during the production process. This ensures you’re still experiencing the entourage effect, just without one of its contributing factors. This is perfect for those who want an all-natural experience without the fear of THC entering their bodies.
You can learn more about full vs broad spectrum CBD here.
CBD Isolate
The other option you’re likely to see is CBD isolate.
CBD isolate is 100% CBD without any of the natural cannabinoids or terpenes. This takes the form of a white powder before being incorporated into an oil or tincture. You don’t get any of the entourage effect here — just pure CBD.
Some people prefer the effects of CBD isolate despite it being a less natural product. If you’re curious about it, there’s no harm in experimenting.
Finding the Best Full Spectrum CBD Products
Now that you know what full spectrum CBD is, it’s time to try it for yourself.
There’s no set “best” full spectrum CBD product. Like any other CBD product, the best way to find the one for you is through experimentation. Pick up a bottle of full spectrum CBD oil, read some reviews, and buy one that offers the benefits you’re looking for.
If you’re an isolate person, you may just love the difference that the entourage effect makes.
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