CBD isolate is a solid or powder consisting solely of CBD. It differs from full-spectrum CBD products, which are legally permitted to include up to 0.3% THC from a Reliable Source. This quantity may be detected on a drug test but will not produce a high.

To make CBD isolate, manufacturers extract all chemicals and other elements from the cannabis plant, including THC, using various techniques. The resulting product is pure CBD in crystal form.

The crystals may then be ground into a powder by the manufacturer to make the product easier to consume. CBD isolate has neither a distinguishing odor nor flavor.

Benefits

According to the entourage effect theory, combining CBD and THC with terpenes may be more helpful than taking either cannabinoid alone. Consequently, some individuals choose to utilize full-spectrum CBD.

According to a 2011 review published in the British Journal of Pharmacology, ingesting a mixture of terpenes and cannabinoids may assist with:

• Anxiety
• Pain
• Inflammation
• Seizures
• Cancer
• Fungal infections

The same review also concludes that CBD may help lessen unwanted THC effects, like hunger, anxiety, and sedation.

Some cannabis terpenes and flavonoids may lower inflammation and offer neuroprotective properties, according to 2018 research.

As with many other elements of CBD, however, research on the entourage effect is ongoing, and not all of it is consistent.

CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors, which are part of the endocannabinoid system, did not change when terpenes were added to THC, according to a 2019 study published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. The conclusion of the study was that the terpenes likely acted on receptors other than CB1 and CB2.

CBD isolate vs. Full-spectrum

Full-spectrum CBD products contain additional cannabinoids and terpenes present in cannabis plants. If full-spectrum goods are derived from hemp – cannabis strains with less than 0.3% THC — their THC level is likely to be modest. Full-spectrum CBD products generated from cannabis with a greater THC concentration may include more CBD. (Be sure to note the fundamental differences between CBD and hemp oil.)

Federal law prohibits the cultivation of cannabis plants with a high THC content, aka marijuana. However, an increasing number of jurisdictions are authorizing the growth and manufacture of cannabis with a greater THC content for medical and recreational use.

Full-spectrum CBD products with THC eliminated are broad-spectrum CBD products. Nevertheless, identical concerns apply, as you may still be exposed to trace levels of THC.