Considered the centerpiece of the entire hemp market, CBD has earned a reputation as the single most powerful cannabinoid. Of course, lots of studies attempt to debunk that theory. And while numerous cannabinoids have come out of the woodwork to demonstrate their importance, CBD continues to reign supreme.
The trouble however is understanding which products actually contain CBD. An extensive selection of oils and extracts makes it tough to truly understand which ones contain the coveted cannabinoid. So does full spectrum oil actually have CBD? Let’s get right to it.
Cannabidiol or CBD is one of over 200 different cannabinoids found in the Cannabis sativa L. plant. It owes its popularity to the fact that in terms of prominence, it comes in at first place versus any other cannabinoid in the hemp plant.
Just to put things into perspective, CBD makes up about 25% or one-fourth of hemp’s entire cannabinoid profile. That’s versus names like CBG or CBN that make up equal to or less than 1% of the cannabinoid expression.
According to research, CBD’s prominence in the hemp plant’s chemistry makes it one of the major contributors to the effects that the herb is coveted for. Thus it comes as no surprise that vendors and buyers alike have developed a sort of tunnel vision with CBD at the center.
Remember that there are over 200 cannabinoids in the hemp plant. On top of that, there are a variety of terpenes that elevate the effects of the cannabinoids and enhance the flavors, aromas, and colors of hemp.
So essentially, when you buy full spectrum CBD oil, you’re getting an extract that contains the entire plant chemistry with zero omissions. That means the product incorporates everything that would have existed in the plant material.
Full spectrum CBD oil gets a whole lot of attention and patronage because it provides what’s called the ‘Entourage Effect. Some studies have found that when hemp’s organic compounds are extracted altogether and used as one, they work more potently.
So when you take CBD together with the rest of its cannabinoid family and all of the wonderful terpenes that come with them, you experience its effects to a higher degree.
Obviously, they wouldn’t name something a ‘full spectrum’ oil if there weren’t other types of oil that didn’t incorporate the full spectrum. And thus we arrive at broad spectrum CBD oil and CBD isolate.
Much like full spectrum oil, broad spectrum blends incorporate more than just CBD. In fact, you might say that it includes all of the terpenes and cannabinoids with the sole exception of THC.
The reason why vendors remove tetrahydrocannabinol or THC from the mix is that it’s recognized as a psychoactive compound. For the record though, hemp doesn’t contain enough THC to cause any mind-altering effects.
But even then, users who want to be doubly careful with their hemp use opt for broad-spectrum products that do away with THC. In this way, they still retain most of the plant chemistry, thus allowing the Entourage Effect to still shine through.
CBD isolate oil contains nothing but CBD. That’s because contrary to the concept of the Entourage Effect, some studies suggest that CBD works well as a stand-alone substance. So in an effort to earn off of the idea, some labs have turned to isolating CBD and offering it as a pure CBD isolate oil.
Lots of research has gone into understanding CBD and its benefits. And many of these publications claim that extracting and isolating CBD to use exclusively doesn’t necessarily take away from its effects. The fact that CBD exists in copious amounts also makes it possible to produce large quantities of the substance.
What’s nice about CBD oil is that you can be sure you’re getting the right amount of CBD and that you’re not exposed to any TCH at all. But then again, you eliminate any benefits that could come from all of the other cannabinoids and terpenes.
People tend to question the legality of full-spectrum and broad-spectrum oil because of the presence of THC. But again, it’s important to remember that as long as these products are derived from hemp, you shouldn’t have to worry about legality.
The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp on a federal level because it doesn’t contain enough THC to cause mind-altering effects. That’s contrary to cannabis or marijuana, which comes from the same plant that hemp does, but touts a much more aggressive THC expression.
When full spectrum and broad spectrum oils are extracted from legitimate, lab-tested hemp, you can be sure that it won’t contain any more than 0.3% THC. In that way, any CBD oils you purchase from reputable sources shouldn’t get you in any trouble.
But then again, some states and cities have levied their own laws and regulations to control the use, sale, and possession of CBD oil. It pays to check your local laws to get a better picture of CBD oil legality in your area.
If anything, make sure to purchase your products from trusted vendors who offer lab tests with their oils. Carry these results with you whenever you bring your CBD oils, and make sure to keep the product in the original packaging just for good measure.
Yes, full spectrum oil contains CBD — but there’s so much more to it than just that. If you’re looking to get the full benefits of hemp without having to smoke it, then full spectrum CBD oil might just be for you.
Boasting the entire chemistry of the hemp plant contained in an easy, convenient oil blend, full spectrum CBD oil works just like the plant minus the tedious usage process.
I purchased broad spectrum from you last week. It makes me feel better but I think I need something more to help me sleep. Would isolate work? What would you recommend? Thank you!