What is CBD?

CBD (Cannabidiol) is one of over 100 compounds - classified as cannabinoids - that are produced by the hemp (cannabis) plant. Cannabinoids have many beneficial effects on humans and animals. Unlike another popular cannabinoid - tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) - CBD is not intoxicating.

CBD first gained prominence as a treatment for child epilepsy, but is also recognized in the medical literature for its antixidative and anti-inflammatory properties. During the 70 year prohibition on hemp and cannabis in the U.S., research on cannabinoids was banned in this country, but recent studies indicate that CBD may have many other therapeutic benefits.

What’s the difference between a ‘full spectrum’ and ‘broad spectrum’ product?

CBD products are normally produced by extracting phytocannabinoids (cannabinoids that are naturally present in the plant) from hemp that is specifically bred to yield high concentrations of CBD and low concentrations of THC. The ratio of CBD-to-THC in high CBD hemp plants is typically 25-to-1 or greater.

A ‘full spectrum’ product typically contains the same profile of cannabinoids that exist in the hemp plant it was extracted from, so a 25 mg (milligram) dose of a full spectrum product may contain up to 1 mg of THC. The advantage of full spectrum products is that the other phytocannabinoids have medicinal value that, when combined with CBD, have a symbiotic effect on the body. This is known as the Entourage Effect. Full Spectrum products give you the benefits of all the phytocannabinoids present in the hemp plant.

‘Broad spectrum’ products typically have the full spectrum of phytocannabinoids present in the hemp plant, EXCEPT for THC, which is removed in an additional step following the initial extraction. Broad spectrum products usually have a negligible amount of THC, but retain most of the other phytocannabinoids present in the hemp plant from which is was extracted.

What is CBD isolate?

CBD isolate is a white powder created through a multi-step extract / purification process that removes all chemical components other than CBD. A good quality CBD isolate is more than 99% pure. CBD isolates contain no THC and no other cannabinoids. Products made from CBD isolate will not give you the '“Entourage Effect” described above, but are also not intoxicating since all the THC is removed.

Will CBD products get you high?

The answer to this question depends on a number of factors.

If you are taking a topical product applied only to your skin, the effects are localized to that area and will not get you high.

Full spectrum products, such as tinctures, gummies, and edibles - anything ingested into your bloodstream, can potentially give you a slight “buzz”. As discussed above, if you ingest a 25mg dose of CBD, you may get up to 1mg of THC in the dose. Most people will not be impaired by 1mg of THC, but if you are sensitive to THC or have no experience with it, experiment with a small dose for several days (for example, 5mg CBD daily), then incrementally increase the dose if you experience no intoxicating effect.

By definition, any products classified as ‘hemp’ cannot contain more that 0.3% THC by weight, and usually contain a lot less. Broad spectrum products contain minimal THC; CBD isolate products contain no THC. Treatment for some medical conditions require large doses of CBD - up to several hundred millgrams per day. For these types of treatments, broad spectrum and CBD isolate products enable users to take the required dose without getting high.