What Kind of CBD is That? Understanding Full Spectrum, Broad Spectrum, and Isolate

CBD products are now enjoyed by people from all walks of life, across all demographics, and to address a wide range of personal interests. But what CBD products are best for YOU?. With multiple choices including full spectrum, broad spectrum, and isolate, there are some facts you should know to make an educated decision. Let us take a look at what CBD is and what kind of CBD products might best fulfill your needs.

Are CBD oil and Hemp oil the same thing?

The short answer is "no".  Confusingly, the term ‘hemp oil’ is used both to refer to hemp-derived CBD oil and to hemp SEED oil.

Hemp seed oil is commonly used in cooking or as an additive to foods, just as other cooking oils such as olive oil or avocado oil might be used. Hemp seed oil does not contain CBD. 

Hemp EXTRACT is a more common and accurate description of the raw oil used in high quality CBD products. Some manufacturers purposefully blur this line to profit from unknowing consumers, while others use ambiguous language to avoid confrontation with the FDA. It is important to know the difference because they are two very different products. 

Hemp vs Marijuana 

One of the biggest hesitations for consumers is the confusion between hemp and marijuana-derived CBD oil. It is true that CBD can be extracted from both cannabis plants, but regulations for the two are very different. A hemp plant is a cannabis plant but cannot, by legal definition, contain more than 0.3% THC.  Marijuana is a cannabis plant with more than .3% THC. In some states, such as Colorado, violating this regulation could be grounds for having to destroy an entire crop of cannabis intended for CBD products.

Most CBD oil is harvested from hemp and will not have any of the stereotypical side-effects associated with marijuana if taken in normal servings. Unless you are purchasing from a dispensary, all of the CBD purchased online or in other stores should be hemp-derived and less than .3% THC. 

Three Different Types of CBD

All CBD oil begins as extract from hemp plants. This extract is then processed to varying degrees to create the desired end products.

Full-Spectrum

“Full-spectrum” is the concept of utilizing all of the cannabinoid compounds in the whole plant. CBD is the abbreviation for the cannabinoid called Cannabidiol and is one of over 100 known cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. And there are more than 400 other beneficial plant compounds including minerals, terpenes, flavonoids, chlorophyll, fatty acids, and others that are still being discovered. The synergistic interaction of all of the cannabinoids  is called the “entourage effect.” and contributes to the overall benefits of CBD.

Broad-Spectrum

The difference between full-spectrum and broad-spectrum products is that full-spectrum CBD  includes trace amounts of the cannabinoid THC and broad-spectrum has 0% THC. Removing the THC is typically done for the purpose of providing a product for people who want the benefits of CBD but may be tested for THC in the workplace. 

Isolate 

CBD isolate products contain only the CBD molecule with no additional cannabinoids or plant compounds. The entourage effect does not apply to isolate products, which many people feel changes the effectiveness of CBD.

What is the Best CBD for me?

It may seem like there are a lot of options, but really there are only three. Choosing hemp seed oil really isn't going to provide any of the benefits of CBD that you are looking for. Full spectrum is your best bet for optimal efficacy, followed by broad spectrum for those who can't have THC in their system. Isolate still has some benefits but lacks the entourage effect that comes from being combined with the other cannabinoids and natural compounds found in the cannabis plant.

If you still have questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to Receptra's customer service team at 833-223-5435. We are happy to help!