Cannabis Across the Spectrum

by Stuart Cantor, PhD aka Dr. Cannabis

There are some terms that every cannabis user should understand when they are trying to select food or tincture products.

These are cannabidiol (CBD)

isolate, broad-spectrum, and full spectrum. While CBD isolate is a powder, the

broad or full spectrum choices are liquid and are typically termed as hemp

extracts.

The cannabis plant contains hundreds of compounds such as the different

cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids and these all work synergistically to interact

with our endocannabinoid systems (ECS) to enable our body to function

optimally. This synergism is widely referred to as the “entourage effect” and

helps give consumers the unique and beneficial experiences that they desire

from cannabis.

CBD isolate is a pure, crystalline form of CBD with a purity exceeding 99.0%.

It is an odorless and tasteless powder. CBD isolate can be easily dissolved in any fat

matrix, i.e., oils; and the powder is also ideal for filling capsules. CBD isolate is

devoid of any of the other terpenes, minor cannabinoids, or flavonoids and is

free from any THC. Thus, the drawback of the isolate is that there is no

synergism from the other compounds that can work in conjunction with CBD in

the body. While hemp-derived CBD won’t get you high, it is important to note

that some of these products still contain some level of THC and can possibly

cause a positive drug screening result. According to the 2018 Farm Bill,

hemp-derived products are legally permitted to contain trace amounts of THC -

0.3% or less to be exact.

Now, let’s talk about the two different types of liquid spectrum extract products.

The most abundant of the cannabinoids present in the extracts is CBD. Broad-spectrum extracts feature numerous cannabinoids and have zero percent THC. The types and levels of terpenes can vary widely as well and manufacturers are not required to report the terpenes present. Only the potency of the

cannabinoids is required to be reported on the package, as a value per serving

and as a total amount contained in the entire single package. On the other

hand, legally compliant full spectrum extracts contain CBD, terpenes, flavonoids,

other phytochemicals, and also trace levels of THC (<0.3%).