CBD Isolate vs. Full-Spectrum CBD Oil, Compare

You might see two main kinds of CBD extract sold in your dispensary. The first is a crystalline, purified isolate, which you might see sold as CBD isolate. You may also see full-spectrum CBD oil. It can be hard to know which one is right for you because there’s a lot of misinformation out there.

TL;DR: CBD isolate is 99%+ pure CBD with no THC — great for precise dosing and drug-test situations. Full-spectrum CBD oil contains a wide range of cannabinoids and terpenes that work together for stronger overall effects. The right choice depends on your goals, your body, and whether THC is a concern for you.

Each extract has the same potential advantages that CBD has, and the right choice for you is based on a range of factors. That includes what you want to achieve and why you’re using CBD. It’s important to know what you’re taking and putting into your body, so you can make an informed decision.

About CBD Isolate

CBD isolate nearly always comes from the agricultural hemp plant, and it goes through a supercritical extraction process using CO2. This results in a product that’s almost 100 percent CBD with nothing else added to it. When you’re making a CBD isolate purchase, look for a brand that’s transparent about what it’s selling. It should offer a certificate showing that a third party tested its products. That way, you can make sure you won’t be ingesting contaminants, such as mould, heavy metals, or pesticides.

Advantages of CBD Isolate

One reason that people like isolate is because of its versatility. It often comes as a powder, which means you can easily take it in the form that works best for you. You can place it on your tongue and add it to your edibles. If you choose a water-soluble isolate, you can mix it in water or a cup of coffee in the morning. You can also get it in premade edibles and capsules, which is a good choice for when you’re out and about.

Using CBD isolate is also very simple. There’s no guessing as to how much you’re getting. Some brands can even add some terpenes to the product, so you can get a bit of the flavour of the strain used to make it. But you can also find isolate that has only CBD in it. With this type of isolate, you can get the exact dose you’re looking for — no guessing what else you’re getting.

People who have to undergo routine drug testing often choose CBD isolate because there won’t be any THC in it. Many CBD oils do have small amounts of THC in them, but if you’re sensitive to its effects or need to do drug tests, isolate often fits best.

About Full-Spectrum CBD

Using full-spectrum CBD oil means you’ll be getting a wide variety of cannabinoids from the plant. You might get CBG, CBN, CBD, THC, CBDa, and even THCa. You can also get various phytonutrients and terpenes from the hemp plant in the oil. Various methods are used to extract the product, including supercritical CO2 extraction and ethanol extraction. Usually, the cannabinoid profile in full-spectrum CBD oil is identical to that of the hemp plant it came from.

Why Choose Full-spectrum CBD Oil?

One of the advantages of using a full-spectrum oil is that you get the entourage effect. There are many terpenes and cannabinoids in full-spectrum oil, which means they can work together to give you the full range of effects from the plant.

Many people enjoy the taste of CBD oil more than isolate. It might come from a strain of cannabis that has a high level of CBD. That means these kinds of oils will have more terpenes in them than the agricultural hemp plant. You can find terpenes in nearly every vegetable, plant, and fruit. Besides potential health advantages, they can also offer pleasant aromas and flavours. Many people enjoy the earthy, natural flavour of the hemp plant in full-spectrum oil.

Some people believe that pure CBD is less effective when taken in a very large or very small dosage — meaning you need a precise dose to get the effects you want. Many people believe that full-spectrum CBD, by contrast, delivers stronger results even at a smaller dosage.

So which one should you go with? Honestly, it depends on your situation — and it’s worth trying both to see what your body responds to.

Full-Spectrum Oil vs. CBD Isolate

There’s some debate over which CBD product is the best choice. The right one for you will depend on your goals and what you want CBD to do for you. With the full-spectrum oil, you may see some potential advantages, but many people like the fact that you can control the dose of CBD isolate more easily.

If you still want all the terpenes from the cannabis plant but are concerned about the THC levels, consider using broad-spectrum products. These have the fatty acids, terpenes, and cannabinoids, but there’s no THC.

Because everyone’s body is different, it’s impossible to say that one type is best for everyone. What works for one person might be completely wrong for the next. Your primary physician can help you decide on the right product based on your current health and any medications you’re taking.

Closing Thoughts

Although many people do well with taking CBD, it’s still a good idea to talk to your doctor about using it. It might interact with some medications, such as antibiotics and antidepressants. But once you know you can use it, you can try a few different delivery methods to find the right one.

Going with a full-spectrum CBD product or CBD isolate, it can feel a bit overwhelming at first to start using CBD. Do your research before deciding which products to purchase. Then, you can experiment with full-spectrum and isolate products to find the right ones for your needs.

Ready to buy? Read our CBD isolate buying guide.