In the cannabis world, you’ll often find products labeled as “full-spectrum” or “broad-spectrum” or “isolate.” These are terms used to describe the type of product and what kind of cannabinoids, and other cannabis compounds, you can expect to be getting.
Simply put, full-spectrum products are products that contain a, well, full-spectrum of the compounds found in the cannabis plant. This can include trace amounts of delta-9 THC — up to 0.3% by dry weight — in addition to trace amounts of other minor cannabinoids. It is thought that full spectrum products are more effective at lower doses than a comparable isolate, as consumers may benefit from the ‘entourage effect.’
Those who are seeking the entourage effect but also don’t wish to consume THC may find benefit from broad-spectrum products. Broad-spectrum means that a product still contains trace amounts of other minor cannabinoids but is free of THC.
Finally, there are isolates. Isolate products are products that only contain a single cannabinoid. They are chosen for a variety of reasons, including avoiding THC and personal preference.
It’s important to note that, due to the nature of the cannabis plant, flower products are always going to be full-spectrum. In order to remove or isolate specific cannabinoids, the compounds from the cannabis plant must be extracted and refined.