When it comes to using products like CBD for our health, knowledge is power. While many people like to attribute CBD as a coverall blanket term for its associated products, there is much more to know. Specifically in the ways that different forms of CBD affect the human body. In addition, there are more types of CBD than is realized by the general population that range from broad to full spectrum.
While many people might not fully realize the different forms of cannabis available, understanding them can make all the difference. Broad-spectrum and full-spectrum CBD behave differently and fulfill different roles. With this article, we hope to provide some insight into the differences between broad and full-spectrum CBD and how they are meant to be used.
What is Full-Spectrum CBD?
While cannabidiol (CBD) comes from cannabis plants, the refinement process can result in several ways that produce unique qualities. For example, one of the variants of CBD refinement includes full-spectrum CBD.
Full-spectrum CBD, as the name might imply, covers every quality that a CBD variant could possibly possess. One thing that distinguishes full-spectrum CBD is the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration found within. Now, we know that THC is the psychoactive component of cannabis and might give you pause to consider full-spectrum CBD. However, the THC concentration of CBD is extremely low.
According to legal guidelines, CBD products can only contain a maximum of 0.3% THC, which makes intoxication virtually impossible. To put it in perspective, you would need to consume an entire store’s worth of product to get high. So, there is little to worry about insofar as the psychoactive properties of full-spectrum CBD are involved.
That is, unless a product is officially licensed and is a concentrate product. These products would have a greater concentration of THC that might produce a euphoric effect. However, these products would be clearly marked as such.
In addition to being the type of CBD to contain a modicum of THC, full-spectrum CBD also contains the terpenes from a cannabis plant. Terpenes are the compound responsible for the potent scent the plant is known for. So, full-spectrum CBD will have a slightly more pungent smell than other CBD products. Full-spectrum CBD, while a little more concentrated, comes with its own range of advantages and disadvantages.
Full-spectrum CBD has been used in many medicinal and health benefits that can be important to different people. For example, full-spectrum CBD is an anti-inflammatory that also offers anti-seizure and antianxiety effects. Full-spectrum CBD can even be used in pain management and, in some cases, is known to provide benefits for more serious mental health conditions. However, while full-spectrum CBD can offer several valuable benefits for our overall health, a few drawbacks are worth considering.
As we previously stated, overuse of full-spectrum CBD products can result in slight intoxication. However, this still requires the extreme consumption of CBD products, that would be unrealistic for most. Another major drawback of full-spectrum products is that they yield a positive result on drug tests. Several test brands specifically screen for THC without regard to the concentration or reason behind its presence in your system.
Full-spectrum CBD is an interesting form of cannabis product. However, it is far from the sole product available for your needs.
What is Broad-Spectrum CBD?
Broad-spectrum CBD products offer a more generalized range of effects for the people who take them. While full-spectrum CBD products focus solely on the CBD in its use, broad-spectrum CBD includes other cannabis compounds to yield their effects. These include cannabinol (CBN) and cannabichromene. Each compound found within cannabis offers its own range of effects that extend to how broad-spectrum CBD products benefit us.
It is important to note that while broad-spectrum CBD products will contain THC, it is a trace amount that offers next to nothing in terms of effect. As a result, broad-spectrum CBD does not flag drug tests as frequently as full-spectrum CBD does, but it still risks flagging them due to the trace amounts of THC.
The range of benefits that broad-spectrum offers are fairly similar to those available with full-spectrum CBD, especially regarding anti-seizure and anti-inflammatory effects. However, one thing that broad-spectrum CBD has to offer beyond what full-spectrum can is that it has properties similar to antibiotics.
The only significant drawback associated with broad-spectrum CBD is that the lack of THC might reduce the number of benefits broad-spectrum CBD has compared to full-spectrum. Additionally, there remains the potential that the trace amounts of THC in broad-spectrum CBD could net a positive result on a drug test.
However, the risk is comparatively minimal compared to full-spectrum CBD, which contains more THC. Compared to full-spectrum CBD, the only key differences lie in the concentration of THC being limited to the trace amounts rather than the limit of 0.3% and the additional cannabis compounds used.
How Are Cannabis Products Extracted?
While knowing the distinctions between broad and full-spectrum CBD is important to selecting your preferred product, knowing the ways CBD is extracted is worth noting. The extraction process can sometimes affect the spectrum of the CBD you purchased. There are currently four major CBD extraction methods.
The first is via carbon dioxide extraction, in which CO2 is used to separate the CBD oil from the cannabis plant. CO2 extraction is known for yielding CBD that has a high concentration. This makes it ideal for producing full-spectrum CBD products since there is a greater level of cannabis byproducts being extracted. One reason that CO2 extraction is such a popular option for CBD production is that any residue left behind by the carbon dioxide will dissipate on its own. At room temperature, CO2 is in a gaseous state that will cause the residue to evaporate and leave the product on its own.
The second option is steam distillation, in which steam is used for the same purpose CO2 is used. Steam can remove the oil from plant material with relative ease that has reached extreme popularity. Since the CBD is a steam-volatile compound, the steam transforms it into a liquid that can be processed through a condenser and then collected. However, steam distillation is not as effective for extraction as CO2 extraction.
The third avenue for CBD extraction is solvent extraction. Solvent extraction requires using a chemical to separate the CBD oil from the plant. However, the solvent extraction option is not quite as safe as other methods. In addition, solvent extraction could cause some of the solvent’s residue to be left behind in the CBD itself.
The final process is lipid extraction which is slowly gaining traction to be used as an alternative to CO2 extraction or the use of solvents. Lipid extraction involves making use of the fat molecules in hemp plants. It is a toxin-free method that runs a minimal risk. Lipid extraction is still a relatively new option for CBD vendors and manufacturers slowly claiming their stake in the CBD world.
The real trick to what makes CBD a full-spectrum or broad-spectrum is the type of cannabis plant used in the extraction. If the plant is hemp-based, there will always be a slightly higher concentration of THC in the CBD. Once the plant has been selected and subjected to an extraction process, the CBD is put through a cooling and purification process to isolate the CBD from other compounds. In some cases, CBD crystals are produced as well, depending on the nature of the product.
In terms of how extraction affects the type of CBD you purchase, hemp-based will tend to be full-spectrum rather than broad-spectrum. However, specific details can only be found through further research into the vendor.
How to Confirm the Contents of Your CBD
CBD is available in a number of mediums. Edibles, CBD oil, drops, and even fluid can be seamlessly used in a vape device. It can be easy to find one that suits your specific needs and preferences with all of these options. Though it might complicate making sure the product meets your standards of quality.
An important part of CBD purchases is verifying the exact composition of the CBD product you are considering. It can always be a risk purchasing CBD from a new vendor or provider who might have cut a corner or two in making their product. Fortunately, there is a reliable way to verify a vendor’s product before committing to a purchase. Some vendors attach certificates of analysis to their products to enable their customers to verify the exact concentrations of CBD, THC, and other compounds in an item.
COAs are provided following intensive laboratory analysis of the product before it is placed on the market and is available for customers to review with the click of a mouse. COAs are highly valuable resources for those who purchase either full or broad-spectrum CBD. It allows you to verify exactly what concentration of the psychoactive THC is present in the product. For full-spectrum, it enables you to confirm that the THC levels are at or below the legally mandated maximum of 0.3%.
For broad-spectrum, a COA will offer you the ability to double-check the THC concentration to establish whether or not the content is a trace amount or if it is present at all. This can be important if you have a medicinal need for CBD but know that you might need to complete a drug test for whatever reason since trace THC concentrations are less likely to flag a false positive. In addition, the COA allows broad-spectrum CBD users to confirm the concentration of other cannabis compounds in the product like CBN or the terpene levels.
In essence, the certificate of analysis serves as your guarantee that the product you are considering is legitimate and will not run the risk of causing complications. Therefore, it is vital to verify the COA results on a product and ensure that it was produced within a reasonable timeframe. If the COA is too old, there is a chance that it is out of date or even referring to a sample of a product that is different from what you are purchasing.
The best vendors will offer COAs on a batch-by-batch basis that covers every product yielded by a single batch of CBD. This way, you can reliably purchase a product with a longer period of certainty rather than hoping the COA on file is accurate to what is being sold.
X-perience CBD
Finding the right CBD product can be a significant challenge for those unfamiliar with the world of CBD and cannabis. When attempting to understand the distinction between full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD, the key lies in knowing the plant it comes from and verifying the information on the COA.
CBD can be one of the most valuable tools in your arsenal when it comes to improving your overall health, both physically and mentally. So, learning these details can help make sure it remains a boon rather than a detriment. Now that we have a deeper grasp of the differences between these CBD types, the real question becomes about finding a place where you can find CBD products for your needs.
We at Neuro XPF are here to help with that last detail. We offer a wide assortment of CBD products ideal for your needs and specific intake preferences. If you prefer edibles, try our CBD gummies. Prefer the inhalation method? We also sell CBD vape fluid for any of your refillable devices. The best part is that all of our products offer certificates of analysis for the entire batch the product lot comes from. So, you will always have up-to-date information about the exact composition of your CBD product. So, check out our website today and x-perience the best CBD in the game.
Do you have any questions about full spectrum or broad spectrum CBD? Have any concerns as to which one might be more fitting for your personal situation? If so, please feel free to drop us a line! We’d be more than happy to assist you in your CBD journey however we possibly can!