About CBD
The Science
Hemp and marijuana are two different varieties of the cannabis plant. While the hemp plant is rich in CBD with very low levels of THC, the marijuana plant is rich in THC which is the compound responsible for producing psychoactive effects. Not only will CBD not get you high, but it also does not have any harmful side effects either.
CBD or cannabidiol, is 1 of more than 400+ compounds and 100+ cannabinoids that are found in cannabis plants. Cannabinoids are naturally occurring chemical compounds that are found in hemp and marijuana plants, with the most popular being CBD and THC. When they release into the body they interact with the body’s cannabinoid receptors of our endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is a complex network of cannabinoid receptors located in the brain, central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, and immune system. The ECS’ main purpose is to provide balance, and controls a wide range of biological functions such as cognitive performance, mood regulation, stress management, pain perception, and immune response.
Not all CBD is the same and it’s important to know the differences. If you’ve been researching or shopping for CBD products, you’ve most likely come across the terms isolate, broad spectrum and full spectrum. Here’s what these terms mean:
CBD ISOLATE:
CBD isolate is the purest form of this compound, made by extracting only CBD from the hemp plant and removing it from all other compounds. CBD isolate is usually 99% pure CBD, does not contain any other cannabinoids, and therefore does not produce the “entourage effect.” (see below)
BROAD SPECTRUM CBD:
Includes most of the other cannabinoids that are naturally found in hemp. The goal of broad spectrum CBD is to safely remove THC from the hemp plant while keeping most of the other cannabinoids intact. This entails maximizing the medicinal benefits of its compounds so broad spectrum CBD still produces the “entourage effect”. The entourage effect is a mechanism where each compound of the plant is more effective together as opposed to alone, as they work together synergistically. Broad spectrum CBD will contain minimal amounts of THC, ranging from approximately 0.1%-0.3% (the legal limit).
FULL SPECTRUM CBD:
Includes all of the other cannabinoids that are naturally found in hemp, producing the entourage effect. It’s important to note that full spectrum CBD will contain small amounts of THC (0.3% THC is the legal limit). Though there’s not enough THC in full spectrum CBD to produce psychoactive effects, full-spectrum CBD may give you a false positive during a drug test, especially if you consume high doses of CBD oil daily.
What's Your Ideal CBD Dosage?
Learn how to find the perfect dose using our CBD dosage calculator.