The Difference Between CBD Isolate and Full Spectrum Hemp Products
With the recent passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, cannabidiol (CBD), has been gaining a lot of attention. The 2018 Farm Bill legalized the cultivation and sale of hemp at the federal level and called for states and recognized tribes to develop their own regulations for the hemp industry. If you are one of the millions of people who are ready to give this form of alternative treatment a try, there a few things you need to know when picking out the right CBD product for your lifestyle and needs.
There are a ton of CBD products on the market but one major factor to consider when choosing is whether to go with a full spectrum hemp product or a CBD isolate product. Both products have been known to provide relief of medical ailments however, each has their own advantages and disadvantages. Through this blog, you will learn the difference between full spectrum and CBD isolate products so you can choose which product is right for you.
Full Spectrum
Full spectrum hemp and CBD isolate products both come from the hemp plant and contain the cannabinoid CBD but the similarities end there. Full spectrum hemp extract is oil that is extracted from the hemp plant and contains all of the cannabinoids and compounds found in the original hemp plant. This oil is comprised of an array of cannabinoids such as CBD, CBDA, CBN, CBG, and trace amounts of THC and THCA. The full spectrum hemp oil also contains a variety of terpenes, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and proteins. When the cannabinoids and terpenes found in the hemp are consumed together along with all the other naturally occurring compounds from the hemp plant, they work in synergy and create the famous entourage effect.
The term entourage effect in relation to cannabis was first coined by a group of scientists that included “the father of cannabis research,” biochemist Dr. Raphael Mechoulam back in 1998. However, the term did not start gaining popularity until 2011 when Dr. Ethan Russo published the study Taming THC: Potential Cannabis Synergy and Phytocannabinoid-terpenoid Entourage Effects. In this study, Dr. Russo investigated the interactions between cannabinoids and terpenes in relation to pain, inflammation, depression, anxiety, addiction, epilepsy, cancer, and bacterial infections.
The entourage effect that can be produced by full spectrum hemp products is what makes this type of product the number one choice for most people, however, this does not mean it is the right product for everyone. As mentioned before, full spectrum hemp products contain a range of cannabinoids including THC. Despite THC’s classification as a schedule 1 drug under federal law, THC is allowed in hemp plants and products as long as they contain 0.3% or less THC. Although 0.3% THC is not much, such small amounts can still impact a drug test and cause a false positive for marijuana. Drug screens that test for marijuana actually test for the cannabinoid THC. Even though you would only be consuming trace amounts of THC if you decided to go with full spectrum hemp products, such small amounts of THC can build up in your system over time and may be detected in marijuana drug screens.
CBD Isolate
If marijuana drug screens are something you have to keep in mind, do not worry; CBD isolate based hemp products contain zero THC and will not trigger a false positive for marijuana. CBD isolate is pretty much what is sounds like and is the cannabinoid CBD that is isolated from the rest of the plant matter. CBD isolate contains literally only CBD and trace amounts of residual solvents needed to isolate the cannabinoid and produce the purest form of CBD. Most CBD isolate tests from 85-99% pure but as a result of the expensive equipment needed to test such high levels of purity, CBD isolate can test lower than its actual purity of around 99%.
Since CBD isolate is the purest non synthetic form of CBD available, it makes CBD isolate products an ideal choice for people looking for high potency CBD products. For example, if you buy a 1000mg bottle of full spectrum CBD hemp oil, you are usually not getting 1000mg of CBD but instead 1000mg of the collective cannabinoids found in that particular oil. However, a 1000mg bottle of hemp oil derived from CBD isolate should have 1000mg of CBD. High potency CBD has been shown to help reduce seizures and anxiety in addition to many other benefits.
Both, full spectrum hemp and CBD isolate come from the same plant and can provide health benefits. Full spectrum products are a great option for those that do not have to worry about drug test while pure CBD products are ideal for those looking for high potency CBD products without the stress of failing a drug test.
*If you are currently taking any prescription medication please consult with a health care professional before using any hemp products.