Full-Spectrum vs Broad-Spectrum CBD | How Do They Differ?

After reading about CBD’s benefits and how it can improve your quality of life, you may have decided to take the plunge and buy some CBD products. But now you face a dilemma and may be feeling overwhelmed by the number of available products and strange terminology used to describe those products.

Don’t worry—you’re not alone. Most people starting their CBD journey feel the same way and need time to adjust to the vast amount of new information thrown their way. Additionally, finding the right CBD product for your needs requires a bit of research, as well as trial and error, until the benefits and side effects of the CBD product are at an optimal balance for your body.

One of the most common dilemmas facing new consumers is the difference between full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD products. What are the benefits and downsides of these types of CBD products?

Cannabis or a hemp plant can produce CBD. While both can be a source of CBD products, CBD producers often use hemp because of its lower THC level. This is important when buying a CBD product since THC is a component connected with hallucinations or “highs.” To negate this effect, select CBD products containing minimal THC. Neither full-spectrum nor broad-spectrum CBD will make you “high.”

Full-spectrum CBD and broad-spectrum CBD contain differing THC levels. Full-spectrum CBD contains up to 0.3% THC. Alternatively, broad-spectrum CBD rarely contains any THC. Because of this, many consumers use broad-spectrum extract, as it goes undetected on a drug test. Do take note that most drug tests do not screen for CBD since it does not intoxicate users.

For this guide, we will focus on the full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD products, as they are the main source of confusion, and are often mistaken as being the same thing.

What Forms of CBD Are Available on the Market?

The market for CBD products is growing quickly, and new products are coming out every year. This makes it hard to track all the product categories, concentrations, and claimed health benefits. The most efficient way of classifying CBD products is by using their form as the main factor.

If you’ve read about CBD products, you’ve probably run into terms full-spectrum CBD, broad-spectrum CBD, and CBD isolate. These are the three forms of CBD available, named according to the level of processing and distilling required to reach the final form.

CBD-isolate products are less confusing. They are the purest and most processed form of CBD products available in the market. The manufacturing process is such that it removes all traces of other cannabinoids, minerals, and elements from the hemp plant so that it reaches a high level of CBD purity. Such products have many applications, and the approach to taking them is fundamentally different from broad-spectrum and full-spectrum CBD products.

What is Full-Spectrum CBD?

Looking at the name full-spectrum CBD, you can gather that it’s a product in which many ingredients work together. Full-spectrum CBD products are the closest to the raw, unprocessed, and undistilled extract from the hemp plant. During the extraction, the manufacturer tries to maintain all the ingredients of the hemp plant and transfer as many as possible to the extract.

Full-spectrum CBD products contain all or most of the cannabinoids that are a part of the hemp plant, which may even include low levels of THC. Additionally, terpenes, flavonoids, and essential fatty acids are also part of the hemp plant, so they will end up in the full-spectrum CBD products as well.

The potential presence of THC makes full-spectrum products a bit more difficult to produce and handle due to the legal requirements for keeping CBD products under the 0.3% THC concentration in the U.S., and even stricter requirements in other countries around the world.

Still, the unrefined nature of full-spectrum CBD products appeals to plenty of consumers. Full-spectrum CBD products are as close as possible to the natural state of the hemp plant, without added chemicals or refinement processes that may strip away some of the beneficial properties of the plant.

Pros and Cons of Full-Spectrum CBD Products

Full-spectrum CBD products have a bit of a controversial status in the CBD community, mostly due to the potential presence of THC and the implications that produces. Here are the most important pros and cons of full-spectrum CBD products:

Pros

• Full-spectrum CBD products contain all or most of the cannabinoids found in the hemp plant, as well as terpenes, flavonoids, and fatty acids. A mixture of all these ingredients can produce an “entourage effect,” meaning that the sum of all ingredients produces greater benefits compared to each ingredient separately.
• Full-spectrum CBD products have minimal or no added ingredients, compared to broad-spectrum and CBD-isolate products. The lack of refinement leaves these products with a more “natural” appeal to hemp purists.
• There’s a huge emphasis on the quality of the plant, growing process, and selection to produce high-quality full-spectrum CBD products. The quality of the full-spectrum CBD products has a direct correlation with the quality of the plant, growing process, and care.

Cons

• THC regulations make full-spectrum CBD products more difficult to produce. It is not easy getting the THC concentration under 0.3% all the time, even in a controlled plantation environment.
• THC has psychoactive properties that might cause problems to certain consumers, even in low concentrations. This could lead to potential consumer backlash if they, for example, receive a positive drug test at work.
• The legal issues of distributing full-spectrum CBD across the country and internationally are a hassle. There are no unified laws and regulations regarding THC content in full-spectrum CBD products. Such unstable legal landscapes make it quite difficult to ensure whether buying CBD is legal in your area.

What is Broad-Spectrum CBD?

If full-spectrum CBD products are as close as possible to the original ingredients of the hemp plant, and CBD-isolates are on the opposite end of the spectrum, you could say that broad-spectrum CBD products are in the middle. They try to deliver the best of both worlds.

Broad-spectrum CBD products focus on keeping the cannabinoid content high in the extract but exclude the psychoactive and legal hassle of potential THC content. After the extraction of the hemp plant, a refining process removes the THC from the extract, as well as any other ingredients deemed problematic for the intended use of the broad-spectrum CBD product.

This makes broad-spectrum CBD products entirely safe for use, without the fears of a positive drug test or any side effects that some people feel from consuming THC.

Pros and Cons of Broad-Spectrum CBD Products

Broad-spectrum CBD products are the “safer” option, compared to full-spectrum, when it comes to the potential legal implications of consuming CBD products. They do come with a set of pros and cons, though, and you should carefully evaluate whether these products are right for you.

Pros

• Broad-spectrum CBD products are fully compliant with all laws and regulations worldwide. The products do not contain any traces of THC, which was removed during the refining process. The products are safe to consume, and the risk of getting a positive drug test or getting in trouble is non-existent.
• While broad-spectrum CBD products go through a refining process, and some ingredients are part of that removal process, they still boast a cannabinoid-heavy content. Depending on the quality of the broad-spectrum CBD product, up to 80-90% of original cannabinoid content is present after the refining process.
• Although not in the same class as full-spectrum products in terms of the “entourage effect,” broad-spectrum CBD products still should offer a wide array of benefits associated with different cannabinoids and other ingredients of the hemp plant.

Cons

• One of the most obvious cons of the broad-spectrum CBD products is their taste. Consumers have often complained that broad-spectrum CBD products tend to have a hemp-heavy flavor and a strong odor, making them a challenge to consume.
• The cost of producing broad-spectrum CBD products is also higher, compared to the full-spectrum CBD, due to the additional processes and refining of the hemp plant extract. Because of the higher quality of broad-spectrum CBD products, usually premium prices come with them.
• Consumers might lose some of the benefits that THC offers in treating some medical conditions.

Differences Between Full-Spectrum CBD and Broad-Spectrum CBD

Both full-spectrum CBD and broad-spectrum CBD products have their place in the market and target specific groups of consumers. While most people can consume both types of products without any major issues, there are still significant differences that might sway consumers one way or the other when choosing the right CBD product for them.

Refining Process

Full-spectrum CBD products are the closest form of CBD products to the original hemp plant extract, with minimal or no refinement. This makes them closer to the “natural” label compared to the broad-spectrum CBD products. CBD purists that focus on the natural properties of the hemp plant would probably lean the way of full-spectrum CBD products.

THC vs. THC-Free

THC presents a legal issue, as well as having psychoactive effects on humans, which influences consumers when they are purchasing CBD products. For people who have mandatory drug testing at their job, a full-spectrum CBD product might be too high of a risk to take.

Additionally, those trying to stay sober and avoid psychoactive substances should stay away from it as well. Broad-spectrum CBD products contain no THC and are a much better alternative for these consumers.

Types of CBD Products

Full-spectrum CBD products have a distinct advantage over broad-spectrum CBD products when it comes to applications and product type variety.

The most common type of CBD product is the CBD oil, but there are dozens of other types of products, like tinctures, pills, capsules, creams, candies, and sweets. Full-spectrum products typically offer greater flexibility in product selection. Would anyone fancy a full-spectrum CBD gummy?

The Taste

Broad-spectrum CBD products are notorious for their hemp-heavy aftertaste and quirky odor, which might be off-putting to some consumers. There are plenty of types of broad-spectrum CBD products that try to work around the taste, but the fact is that full-spectrum CBD products tend to be more consumer-friendly. However, keep in mind that all CBD oil, in particular, does have a distinctive taste that takes some getting used to. Luckily, you can choose from plenty of added flavors, such as mint, to mask that.

The Price

Full-spectrum CBD and broad-spectrum CBD products tend to target the same consumers, who put a strong emphasis on the “entourage effect” and the benefits of all cannabinoids and other ingredients in the hemp plant.

The main difference is that broad-spectrum CBD products remove the THC from the product, creating a risk-free product for those who might have side effects from consuming THC or have a fear of getting a positive drug test at work.

This increases the price of the broad-spectrum CBD products, as additional refinement and processing need to take place to remove THC from the hemp plant extract. On average, full-spectrum CBD and broad-spectrum CBD products of similar quality will differ in price, with the full-spectrum CBD being slightly more affordable.

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While both full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD products have their pros and cons, you should conduct more research to find the best hemp plant product for your specific needs.

Once you discover the best CBD extract to treat, cure, or prevent anxiety or depression, it can change your life. While CBD will help you, it is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition. Therefore, consult your doctor before using CBD.

SUPA Naturals is happy to discuss all options with you to find the best cannabis products for relieving stress, anxiety, depression, and more. Our cannabis experts have years of experience using our products and answering your questions about full-spectrum CBD vs broad-spectrum CBD.

We ship our products nationwide. To sample select our CBD products, call SUPA Naturals at (425) 401-8407. We are available 24/7 to take your call!

You can also email us at [email protected].

Full-Spectrum CBD vs. Broad Spectrum CBD in Summary

Both full-spectrum CBD and broad-spectrum CBD products offer plenty of benefits to consumers and have a strong reason to be present in the market.

We cannot emphasize enough the importance of understanding how CBD products affect your body and the benefits they offer. This will ultimately help you decide which types of CBD products are best for you.

Something to keep in mind when choosing a CBD product is to pay close attention so that it always comes from a reputable manufacturer, which can provide lab and scientific data to support their claims and prove the quality of their product. Always look for the best quality CBD products if you would like to receive the greatest benefits from consuming them.

At SUPA Naturals, we focus on producing fully-natural, organic, non-GMO full-spectrum CBD products, and work to ensure science and nature work in unison to produce innovative products that can improve the quality of life of our customers.

We go out of our way to provide special discounts to first responders and military veterans who are at high risk of developing conditions that CBD products can help with. We hope that every product that leaves our facility helps someone, somewhere.

Browse our collection today for high-quality, organic, non-GMO full-spectrum CBD products. We have everything from CBD for pets to high-potency CBD oil and everything in between.