When choosing your CBD product, it is important you understand which compounds are present and how they work together. There are 2 main types of oils you will find in food supplements; we will discuss these below:

Full spectrum/ Raw Hemp Extract Oil:

This describes products that have all the cannabinoids present in the hemp plant.

Generally full spectrum extracts are raw, meaning as little refinements as possible and usually with CBDa present. The oils are generally darker in colour and can have a slightly bitter/peppery taste due to the natural terpenes (mostly Caryophyllene).

Importantly, full spectrum products will contain traces of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol). This is always only trace amounts, under 0.2% and still completely non-psychoactive. Still, there has been rare circumstances that this still may be enough to create a fail for THC on a urine test. This is an important point to note for those who are drug tested for their jobs. Further tests (blood tests) usually show the actual amount of THC in the system which is only traces.

Broad Spectrum/ Refined Hemp Extract Oil:

These extracts are described as broad spectrum simply because they have only a broad spectrum of cannabinoid after the refinements. These refinements are done to create a THC free extract. This is a very important aspect for those who are regularly drug tested as mentions above.

The refinements used are usually are a form of distillation and sometimes chromatography is used to remove the THC cannabinoid. These refinements removesome of the minor cannabinoids. The result is a golden oil, much more palatable than the raw full spectrum.

Although since there is many more refinements which remove compounds from the extract, this can also remove minor cannabinoids and terpenes which are beneficial meaning the extract is known to be a little less effective compared to full spectrum mg to mg.

Summary

To Summarize, here are the positives and negatives of both types of products: