Did you know 1 in 3 Americans have tried CBD? Not only that, but the CBD industry is constantly expanding. If you take CBD, you’re probably ready to expand your knowledge and try new CBD products, especially if you're interested in using CBD concentrates.
That’s why you should look beyond CBD isolates and experience the full plant for yourself. This includes using a CBD product formulated with terpenes and other cannabinoids.
There are two categories of these CBD products: broad spectrum and full spectrum. But what do these terms mean? Here are the differences between broad spectrum and full spectrum CBD concentrates and which one you should choose.
What Is Broad Spectrum CBD?
Broad spectrum CBD concentrates are most commonly made using CBD isolate or distillate containing zero THC. These concentrates will generally contain only CBD, but they may also contain a few other cannabinoids such as CBG or CBC.
Rarely do these concentrates contain terpenes from the starting material which the isolate or distillate was extracted from. Instead, botanically derived or cannabis/hemp derived terpenes are mixed in. Many users prefer full spectrum products for this reason, as the natural terpene profile seems to have a synergetic effect when used alongside the natural full spectrum of cannabinoids.
Broad spectrum CBD products are great for those new to CBD or those who may be sensitive to THC. These products are also a good choice for those who may need to pass drug tests as the low levels of THC are usually not enough to trigger a positive test result. Users should be aware however that even though a product claims to have 0% THC, trace amounts of THC may still be present which lab testing failed to detect.
What Is Full Spectrum CBD?
The best way to differentiate full spectrum from broad spectrum CBD is full spectrum contains a small amount of THC.
Under the 2018 Farm Bill, cannabis products derived from hemp can’t have more than 0.3% THC. For those with a tolerance to THC, this is such a small amount that you probably won’t feel any psychoactive effects. For those with no tolerance to THC, a slight to moderate psychoactive effect may be experienced depending on the individual. It is important to note this small trace of THC may still show up on a drug test.
In addition to the THC, full spectrum CBD products contain all other compounds of the plant. This includes terpenes, flavonoids, and other cannabinoids.
Because of this, producing full spectrum CBD is slightly different from broad spectrum. In full spectrum CBD, the whole plant goes through the extraction process — no compounds are removed.
How Do These Differ From CBD Isolates?
CBD isolates contain nothing but the cannabinoid CBD. This means there are no extra cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, or other plant compounds. During the extraction process, the CBD is filtered out and goes through a process called winterization, removing all other compounds from the product.
Why Are Cannabinoids and Terpenes Important?
The hemp plant contains many properties that contribute to its unique characteristics. There are over 120 cannabinoids and the hemp plant contains many terpenes that are found in other plants (such as caryophyllene and myrcene).
All of these properties interact with our endocannabinoid system, which is our complex network of cannabinoid receptors. This makes consuming full spectrum and broad spectrum CBD a very natural experience.
Terpenes
Terpenes are compounds that are responsible for the aroma of different plants. You can find terpenes in a variety of fruit, spices, and vegetables. Every hemp strain has a unique terpene profile that may include:
- Borneol
- Bisabolol
- Caryophyllene
- Camphene
- Eucalyptol
- Delta 3 Carene
- Humulene
- Geraniol
- Linalool
- Limonene
- Pinene
- Myrcene
- Terpinolene
- Phytol
- Valencene
- Trans-nerolidol
This is why some hemp and cannabis strains contain specific aromas, contributing to the overall experience of using the product.
Cannabinoids
The hemp plant contains numerous cannabinoids that work in synergy. Some other notable cannabinoids, other than CBD and THC, include:
- Cannabichromene (CBC)
- Cannabinol (CBN)
- Cannabidiol acid (CBDA)
- Cannabigerol (CBG)
- Cannabidivarin (CBDV)
Full spectrum products contain all of the cannabinoids present in the material they were extracted from, while broad spectrum products usually only contain a few. But which option is right for you?
Which Type Should You Choose?
With all of these different types of CBD, it can be difficult to know the type that’s right for you. Here are some recommendations we have.
You Want the Whole Plant Experience
If you want to experience all the properties of the hemp plant, we suggest choosing full spectrum.
Whether or not you opt for full spectrum CBD depends on if you’re comfortable consuming THC. You may not experience any psychoactive effects, especially if you have a tolerance to THC. But some users will experience a psychoactive effect if they are sensitive to THC or have no tolerance. Broad spectrum CBD may be better for those new to CBD and for people who have never experienced THC before.
If you want to experience the entourage effect to its fullest extent, we recommend choosing full spectrum CBD.
Full spectrum CBD is also ideal for experienced users who tend to take higher doses of CBD. In this case, we will also recommend CBD concentrates, which we will cover in a later section.
You Take Regular Drug Tests
Do you need to take regular drug tests, for work or another reason?
If you can’t risk even a small amount of THC in your body, it may be best to stick to isolates. Though broad spectrum CBD also doesn’t have THC, almost half of all CBD products are mislabeled and many of them contain small traces of THC when they shouldn’t.
As an alternative, you can only support companies that are completely transparent with their labeling and receive third-party testing on all products. A trustworthy company should have this information available on their website or will send it over to you.
What Are CBD Concentrates?
Whether you prefer using CBD isolates or are interested in trying full spectrum CBD, the way you consume CBD will impact your experience.
Because of the convenience and potency, many people are using CBD concentrates. After the cannabinoids and other properties are extracted from the plant, the cannabinoids are refined and converted to different forms that may include:
- Crystals
- CBD Crumble
- CBD Distillate
- CBD Wax
- CBD Shatter
These products have higher cannabinoid concentrations compared to other CBD products. You can take a smaller dose of these products and use less over a period of time, which is ideal if you use lots of CBD.
Keep in mind, if you choose full spectrum CBD concentrates, you will still be consuming less than 0.3% of THC.
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Are you looking for CBD concentrates? We sell isolates, broad, and full spectrum concentrates. Shop with us today!
