3 Classifications of CBD You Should Know

Talk About It Tuesday Blog Series:  3 Classifications of CBD You Should Know

At this point, you’ve probably seen CBD labeled in one of three ways:  CBD Isolate, Full Spectrum CBD or Broad Spectrum CBD. So, what does that mean?   This post is a brief snapshot of the three classifications and what makes them different.

First, we should talk about what cannabinoids are.  Cannabinoids are a classification of compounds found in the Cannabis plant.  There are over 100 different naturally occurring compounds found in the Cannabis plant.  Two of the most commonly known cannabinoids are THC and CBD. Cannabinoids interact with various receptors in the human body- these receptors are found in the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) and are referred to as CB1 & CB2 receptors.  Cannabinoids affect the body differently based on which receptors they ultimately attach to.

For example, while THC and CBD both interact with the CB1 receptor, THC directly attaches itself to the receptor delivering the psychoactive effects associated with THC.  CBD does not bond to the CB1 receptor which neutralizes any potential psychoactive effects. In fact, CBD will counteract the psychoactive effect of THC when used.

Now, the differences in CBD classifications.  There are different methods of extracting CBD from the Cannabis plant, and each method focuses on which cannabinoids to pull from the actual plant.  The effects that these varying cannabinoids deliver once ingested are organized by and referred to as the “cannabinoid spectrum”.

CBD Isolate is the purest form of CBD because it’s extracted in a singular process, isolating it from all of the other cannabinoids in the Cannabis plant.  Benefits Include:

• Purest Form of CBD
• Zero THC
• Tasteless/Odorless

However, the downside to CBD Isolate is that it doesn’t deliver the enhanced benefits associated with the other cannabinoids found in the Cannabis plant.

Full Spectrum CBD is an extract that contains all compounds found naturally occurring in the plant.  This extract includes cannabinoids, essential oils and terpenes and trace amounts of THC. These compounds work together to magnify the therapeutic benefits, producing a stronger impact than any of the individual components would alone.  This is known as the entourage effect.

Full spectrum can be effective for individuals with more severe conditions that other classifications weren’t effective in addressing.  This includes  individuals who live in Cannabis legal states that have been prescribed a strain with a THC to CBD ratio.

Broad Spectrum CBD is a slight combination of Full Spectrum CBD and CBD Isolate. Similarities include:

• Preserving all compounds from plant in the extract, producing the entourage effect.
• THC is completely removed
• Contains multiple cannabinoids, delivering enhanced benefits.

It would be fair to say, that there is no definitive answer to which type is better than the other.  There are a lot of factors that can influence how a cannabinoid will affect the body, as well as the issue the user is trying to address with CBD. Golden Legacy CBD offers a line of premium Broad Spectrum CBD products.  We believe that Broad Spectrum CBD delivers the full benefit of Cannabis plant compounds without the psychoactive effects of THC.

Below is a pie chart provided by www.cbdorigin.com that displays some of the prominent cannabinoid compounds and their benefits.