CBD for Beginners

As CBD is currently flying off the shelves, a flood of new brands has taken over the market, making it challenging to find the right CBD product for you. Here at Hemped Park City, we can assist you with finding the best CBD products that suit you by starting with the basics and providing an understanding of what CBD is, along with describing its many forms.

CBD is the second most common cannabinoid derived from the cannabis plant. It doesn’t contain any psychoactive components and is known to offer help (for some) with issues such as inflammation/pain, anxiety, and insomnia. Legal CBD is extracted from the dried and cured hemp flower (a cannabis plant that contains less than 0.3% THC). The compound is later processed into three different concentrate forms: full spectrum, broad spectrum distillate, or isolate.

Full-Spectrum

Full-spectrum CBD oil is essentially the “full package,” providing the entirety of cannabinoids and other compounds that are thought to work together synergistically to enhance their benefits in a theory called the entourage effect. For those looking to get the most out of CBD, or the entourage effect by promoting balance in the body while supporting a healthy diet for the body, full-spectrum CBD oil is the way to go.  Please note that full-spectrum CBD oil is not recommended for those who need to be THC-free.

Broad-Spectrum and Distillate

Broad-spectrum is basically full-spectrum without the THC!  Broad-spectrum still contains most of the other constituents in hemp, but THC is specifically removed via distillation. It is first extracted as full-spectrum oil, then undergoes additional refinement in order to become the broad-spectrum we know and love. It is also made by starting with Isolate and adding cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids back in. Both ways end up with a honey-like concentrated substance with at least 80% CBD content. 

The biggest benefit of broad-spectrum is that it allows consumers to completely avoid any THC, without having to eliminate the entourage effect. That being said, it may not contain the complete benefits that full-spectrum CBD offers to users.

Isolate

CBD isolate is pure CBD. The way it is made is by continuing the refinement process used for broad-spectrum until only the pure form of CBD in solid crystalline or powder form is left. One of the biggest advantages of isolate is that it does not contain any THC. It also offers the highest concentration of CBD possible (usually over 99% pure). This means that even one gram of isolate can carry around 990mg of CBD. But there is also no possibility of experiencing the entourage effect with isolate.

Many studies have shown that full- and broad-spectrum are still more effective overall than isolate, but as each body is unique, it's quite possible that CBD isolate could be the perfect fit for you.