Full Spectrum vs Broad Spectrum vs CBD Isolate: What's the Difference?
Key takeaways
- Full spectrum CBD keeps hemp's other cannabinoids and terpenes, plus a small amount of THC.
- Broad spectrum CBD keeps other cannabinoids but removes THC to non-detectable levels.
- New York's hemp rules define isolate as 95% or more of a single cannabinoid.
- In a 2021 JAMA Psychiatry study, 7 of 14 people using full spectrum CBD daily tested positive for THC after 4 weeks.
- The entourage effect is still a hypothesis, not an established fact.
Full spectrum, broad spectrum and isolate describe what else is in a CBD product besides CBD. Full spectrum keeps the hemp plant's other cannabinoids and terpenes, including a small amount of THC. Broad spectrum keeps most of them but removes THC to non-detectable levels. Isolate is CBD on its own.
In this article
- What is full spectrum CBD?
- What is broad spectrum CBD?
- What is CBD isolate?
- Side by side
- Can CBD make you fail a drug test?
- What about the entourage effect?
- Which one should you choose?
- Frequently asked questions
What is full spectrum CBD?
Full spectrum CBD is hemp extract that keeps the plant's other cannabinoids, terpenes and natural compounds, including a small amount of THC. New York's hemp regulations define it as extract processed without intentionally removing any compound and without adding isolated cannabinoids.
The THC amount varies by product, so read the label and the lab report. Canna River Classic CBD Tincture in Full Spectrum lists 100mg of CBD and 2mg of delta-9 THC in each 1mL serving. The lab report for Lazarus Naturals Full Spectrum Classic CBD Oil Tincture, batch IC51, shows 51.4mg of CBD and 1.83mg of delta-9 THC in each 1mL serving. Charlotte's Web Daily Care Gummies also carry naturally occurring THC. Read how to read a COA to find these numbers yourself.
Full spectrum oils usually taste more of hemp, because the terpenes and plant compounds stay in.
What is broad spectrum CBD?
Broad spectrum CBD keeps multiple cannabinoids but has its THC removed to non-detectable levels. New York's rules set that limit at a lab method able to measure below 0.01% THC.
CBDistillery Broad Spectrum CBD Oil is one example. CBDistillery designates it 0% THC, with any trace below 0.01%, and it holds about 33mg of CBD per mL in the 1,000mg bottle. Canna River Classic CBD Tincture also comes in a Broad Spectrum version, with non-detectable THC.
"Non-detectable" depends on the test. In a 2022 JAMA Network Open study of 105 CBD topicals, 4 products labeled THC-free contained THC. Check the lab report for your batch, not just the label.
What is CBD isolate?
CBD isolate is cannabidiol on its own, with no THC, no other cannabinoids and no terpenes. New York's hemp rules define an isolate as 95% or more of a single cannabinoid.
Lazarus Naturals CBD Isolate Tincture holds 300mg of CBD per mL, 9,000mg in a 30mL bottle, in organic coconut MCT oil. Lazarus Naturals High Potency CBD Isolate Gummies carry 150mg of CBD each. Most pet CBD, like Medterra's pet tinctures, is isolate too.
Isolate has little taste of its own. That makes flavorless isolate oils easy to add to a drink or food.
Side by side
| Full spectrum | Broad spectrum | Isolate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBD | Yes | Yes | Yes, 95% or more |
| Other cannabinoids | Yes | Yes | No |
| Terpenes | Yes | Usually | No |
| THC | Small amount | Non-detectable | None |
| Taste | Strongest hemp taste | Milder | Almost none |
| Example we carry | Lazarus Naturals Full Spectrum Classic | CBDistillery Broad Spectrum | Lazarus Naturals CBD Isolate Tincture |
Can CBD make you fail a drug test?
Products that contain THC can. Pure CBD is unlikely to. Standard drug tests look for a THC metabolite called THC-COOH, not for CBD.
- Full spectrum. In a 2021 study in JAMA Psychiatry, 14 adults took a full spectrum, high-CBD oil three times a day for 4 weeks. That averaged about 35mg of CBD and 0.8mg of THC per day. Seven of the 14, or 50%, tested positive for THC-COOH.
- Pure CBD. In a 2020 study in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology, 100mg of oral pure CBD produced 1 screening positive out of 218 urine samples, and none confirmed. A 2022 follow-up found no sign that pure CBD turns into THC in the body.
For scale, one 1mL serving of Canna River Classic Full Spectrum lists 2mg of THC. If you are drug tested, choose isolate or broad spectrum, and check the THC line on the batch lab report.
What about the entourage effect?
The entourage effect is the idea that cannabinoids and terpenes work better together than alone. It is the main argument made for full spectrum products. The evidence for it is limited.
A 2020 review in Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology notes that the term was first coined as a "hypothetical afterthought" in 1998. A 2024 scoping review in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research found limited evidence that it is a stable, predictable effect.
That does not make full spectrum a bad choice. It means THC tolerance, taste and price are better reasons to pick a spectrum than the promise of a stronger effect.
Which one should you choose?
Start with THC. If you want none at all, choose isolate. If you want other cannabinoids without THC, choose broad spectrum. If trace THC is fine for you, full spectrum keeps the most of the plant.
- You are drug tested: isolate, or broad spectrum with a batch COA showing non-detectable THC. Browse THC-free CBD.
- You want other cannabinoids but no THC: broad spectrum CBD oil.
- You want the whole plant and trace THC is fine: full spectrum CBD oil.
- You want no taste, or you mix CBD into food: CBD isolate oil.
- It is for a pet: choose a pet product, usually isolate. See Can I give my cat CBD oil?
If you take any medication, talk to your doctor before adding CBD, whichever spectrum you choose.
Frequently asked questions
Is full spectrum stronger than isolate?
Not by definition. Strength is the milligrams of CBD per serving, not the spectrum. Lazarus Naturals CBD Isolate Tincture holds 300mg of CBD per mL, six times the 50mg per mL of its Full Spectrum Classic.
Does broad spectrum CBD contain THC?
It should contain no detectable THC. Detection depends on the lab method, so check the THC result on the batch Certificate of Analysis.
Is CBD isolate less effective?
There is no solid evidence either way. The entourage effect, the main argument for full spectrum, remains a hypothesis. Choose by THC tolerance, taste and price.
Which spectrum is used for pets?
Most pet CBD is isolate, with no THC. The Pet Poison Helpline warns that THC affects cats more severely than people, so pet owners usually avoid it.
Why does full spectrum CBD oil taste stronger?
It keeps the plant's terpenes and other compounds, which carry the earthy hemp taste. Isolate has almost no taste, and broad spectrum sits in between.
How do I know how much THC is in my product?
Read the Certificate of Analysis for your batch. It lists delta-9 THC and total THC. Our product pages link the lab report for each product.
Sources
- New York State Office of Cannabis Management. 9 NYCRR Part 114, Cannabinoid Hemp, section 114.1 (definitions). Adopted December 2023. cannabis.ny.gov
- Cather JC, Cather JC. "Cannabidiol primer for healthcare professionals." Proceedings (Baylor University Medical Center). 2020;33(3):376-379. PMC7340472
- Dahlgren MK, Sagar KA, Lambros AM, Smith RT, Gruber SA. "Urinary Tetrahydrocannabinol After 4 Weeks of a Full-Spectrum, High-Cannabidiol Treatment in an Open-label Clinical Trial." JAMA Psychiatry. 2021;78(3):335-337. PMC9429743
- Spindle TR, Cone EJ, Kuntz D, et al. "Urinary Pharmacokinetic Profile of Cannabinoids Following Administration of Vaporized and Oral Cannabidiol and Vaporized CBD-Dominant Cannabis." Journal of Analytical Toxicology. 2020;44(2):109-125. PMID 31682266
- Sholler DJ, Spindle TR, Cone EJ, et al. Journal of Analytical Toxicology. 2022;46(5):494-503. PMID 34089060
- Spindle TR, Sholler DJ, Cone EJ, et al. "Cannabinoid Content and Label Accuracy of Hemp-Derived Topical Products Available Online and at National Retail Stores." JAMA Network Open. 2022;5(7):e2223019. PMC9301515
- Cogan PS. "The 'entourage effect' or 'hodge-podge hashish': the questionable rebranding, marketing, and expectations of cannabis polypharmacy." Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology. 2020;13(8):835-845. PMID 32116073
- Simei JLQ, Souza JDR, Lisboa JR, et al. "Does the 'Entourage Effect' in Cannabinoids Exist? A Narrative Scoping Review." Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. 2024;9(5):1202-1216. doi:10.1089/can.2023.0052