Spectrum of cannabinoids
The CBD market has grown tremendously over the past years, and so has the wealth of knowledge surrounding the manufacture process behind CBD products. However, in speaking with CBD users, it never ceases to surprise us at Kalapa Clinic how many people think that one product labelled ‘CBD’ is just the same as the next. Nonetheless, this is clearly not the truth.
In order to distinguish the differences between products, this article focuses and aims to clarify what a spectrum of cannabinoids is, and its importance when choosing the right CBD product for medical purposes. We are going to walk you through full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and CBD isolate. Armed with the knowledge of that these spectrums are and how they differ, you will be able to find high quality, effective products that may offer the maximum therapeutic potential for your needs.
Understanding the spectrum of cannabinoids – The entourage effect
In order to understand the difference, we want first to go over a bit about what health-benefiting compounds are found in cannabis.
Most recently, the dominant ideology was that “pure CBD”, or CBD isolate, was much powerful, as it was believed that the purest form of this compound would be able to provide the highest therapeutic benefits from the plant, together with the psychotropic cannabinoid THC.
However, while it is true that CBD and THC are usually the main players everyone knows about when it comes to the chemicals found in Cannabis plants, scientists have identified other compounds which can also offer therapeutic benefits. They include a variety of other cannabinoids, such as CBG, CBN, CBC, and the acid and varinic forms of THC and CBD, respectively known as THCV, CBDV, THCA, and CBDA, as well as terpenes and other compounds such as flavonoids, proteins, phenols, sterols, and esters.
Indeed, in 2015, researchers out of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Lautenberg Centre for General and Tumour Immunology discovered the “entourage effect.” The “entourage effect” is explained as the interplay of several compounds in order to produce an increased potency and efficiency, when compared to an isolated cannabinoid administered in the same amounts. Further studies on the topic have shown that CBD was much more effective when used along with other compounds of the cannabis plant, than used alone. This can be obtained using full-spectrum composition, also called whole plant, because they try to replicate the full profile of compounds of the cannabis plant.
On the other hand, isolated CBD products have shown to need higher, more precise dosing than whole plant alternatives. This means that choosing a full or broad-spectrum product is the best choice for treating a majority of medical conditions.
Unfortunately, there is little regulation to determine what constitutes a full-spectrum composition, and some products are labeled as such even when they do not meet the general definition. The only real way to tell is to examine the lab test results and to understand the extraction methods used to extrapolate all or some of the chemicals from the plant material.
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Manufacturing process: Extraction methods
Before discussing the methods of extracting cannabinoids from cannabis plants, readers should be aware that cannabis extraction is actual chemistry, not cooking. Many of the techniques require safety equipment and, just as important, the extraction process must be performed correctly, in order to ensure the production of a safe product for human use, and the results should then be confirmed independently with proper analytical testing.
Solvent extraction
Several common forms of cannabis extraction rely on an alcoholic solvent. In brief, the cannabis soaks in alcohol, the plant material is then removed, the liquid filtered, and the alcohol is removed with some form of evaporation.
The most common solvents used in this extraction process are ethanol, butane, and propane, each of them may present some pros and cons.
Butane extraction
Using butane as the solvent creates what is known as butane hash oil or BHO. The process starts with cannabis and liquid butane in a pressurised and heated system. By using evaporation under a vacuum, butane turns from liquid to a vapour, making it easy to be removed.
This method includes some potential risks, as butane burns easily in its gas phase, so there is a serious risk of the gas exploding.
Propane extraction
Instead of butane hash oil, some manufacturers opt to use propane as solvent. In this method, liquid propane is used in the place of butane or ethanol. Here, high pressure keeps the propane liquefied and extraction occurs at a lower temperature, because propane’s boiling point is less than butane’s.
Like the butane process, though, special care must be taken with propane extraction to remove as much of the chemical as possible and prove it, throughout lab analysis.
Ethanol extraction
The extraction using ethanol is generally safe, efficient, and effective. The ethanol used during this process is of a pharmaceutical grade, considered “generally safe” by the FDA, which is one of the most used food preservatives.
This method has quickly gained popularity thanks to the fact it can yield higher amounts of cannabinoids and other compounds of cannabis plant, like terpenes and flavonoids, ensuring the most natural copy of cannabis profiles within the final product.
On the biggest challenges is the inherent polarity of this solvent, which has a propensity to mix with water and dissolve molecules like chlorophyll. The chlorophyll is the responsible of the bitter flavour in the final product if it is not previously removed.
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CO2 extraction
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a supercritical fluid, which means that it converts into a liquid form when pressurized. At the same time, it is a pure chemical substance that occurs naturally and leaves behind no residues.
One study found that different compounds get concentrated at different rates in the same process, meaning that by changing the temperature, pressure, or runtime the final result can be different. For this reason, it is possible to distinguish three sub-categories under this method: supercritical, subcritical, and midcritical. The supercritical method works at high temperatures and typically produces greater CBD yield than the other two sub-methods.
However, at high temperatures, other important substances, such as terpenes, could be destroyed. The subcritical and mid-critical methods (cold extractions) produce lower yields of CBD, but preserve the presence of other desired extracts.
In addition, because of its longer and more aggressive nature, this process could cause some damage to the cannabinoids and terpenoids in the extract.
Extraction of raw cannabinoids
When an extract is created from hemp using a low-temperature method, like mid- or sub-critical CO2 extraction or cold pressing, the resulting products contain non-activated acid forms of cannabinoids. A product containing just these cannabinoids is known as a raw spectrum product.
Though there is limited research available, there are some reports that point to these acid forms providing health benefits. Because of this, many producers mix both the acid and non-acid form of the cannabinoids in the final product.
Which manufacturing process is better when choosing the right CBD product?
Upon examining each method in terms of their efficiency, cost, and desired result, it is clear that the extraction process itself leads to the outcome of either an “isolate” or “full-spectrum” oil.
A general comparison of the extractions obtained using different methods
CBD Isolated
CBD isolate refers to the product being an “isolated” form of CBD, existing as a soluble white-ish powder that can be mixed with a solvent in order to create different concentrations of CBD. It can be used in a variety of products such as creams, oils, and capsules.
If analysed, a product containing CBD isolate will only show that it is made from CBD. Rather tan hemp extract oil, it often is called “crystalline CBD” on the list of ingredients.
Any of the terpenes present in the original plant are removed in the process of production. Occasionally, companies will add the terpenes back in order to make a terpsolate, regaining some of those benefits. This is not to be confused with “broad-spectrum”.
The pros of CBD isolate are as follows. Whilst being tasteless and odourless, it remains as the purest form of CBD. As it will not test positive for THC, there are no psychotropic effects, and it is generally considered safe.
However, as it is an isolated form of CBD, it does not carry the same benefits that a product with other ingredients would. This leads to the conclusion that it can be useful for people wanting a high dosage of CBD whilst avoiding THC or other cannabinoids the person might be sensitive to. It has a lack of the same flavour that might put people off from other products, whilst also allowing people to pass drug screening tests and avoiding state laws prohibiting THC. Overall, first time users that may be hesitant in trying CBD products might choose this version over others.
Broad-spectrum CBD
A broad-spectrum CBD product rather that just pure CBD, is a product that, except for THC, contains a full spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes. This means that it can offer the full benefits of the plant, making full use of the entourage effect, rather that how CBD isolate is limited to just one cannabinoid. Whilst allowing people to pass drug testing and avoiding psychotropic effects of THC, broad-spectrum CBD can offer a maximised therapeutic option.
Before the advent of broad-spectrum CBD, the only option without THC was CBD isolate. With new technology that allowed THC filtration using a special preparatory chromatography process, THC-free CBD now had an extra way to be accessed. However, due to this nature of being a recent development in CBD production, there is less research and availability. Also, containing all of the other terpenes and cannabinoids gives it a strong taste and odour that may put some people off.
When looking for an option that could help in cases where CBD isolate did not, broad-spectrum CBD might be the solution. Rather than distilling and re-adding the other cannabinoids and terpenes, broad-spectrum CBD contains those from the start. It avoids THC laws, helps people who are sensitive to THC or hesitant to use it, whilst giving the best effect.
Full Spectrum CBD
Full-spectrum CBD is similar to broad-spectrum CBD, however, dilutes the THC instead of removing it. Due to laws limiting the dry weight of THC to 0.3%, the manufacturer produces an extract with 2-3% THC before diluting it. At this level, THC has no ability to give the user a ‘high’ at a regular dosage.
As there has been no process to isolate the CBD, full-spectrum CBD offers the benefits of the entourage effect through containing both terpenes such as limonene, myrcene, and pinene, and other cannabinoids such as CBC, CBDV, and CBN. It has also undergone fewer processes in its production, bringing the product closer in line to the original plant.
Unfortunately, this leads to the result that there may be legal complications depending on the region (as not all places are as lenient as with a 0.3% THC limit), it may show up on drug tests and may produce psychotropic effects. There will also be a strong flavour, odour, and colour, the same as broad-spectrum CBD.
Conclusion
With the three different types of CBD products, it is important to decide whether the user requires the entourage effect or just purely CBD. Full-spectrum CBD offers full access to the benefits that CBD can offer, but poses some risks for people in industries where drugs tests are standard, or where laws are not clear as to what is and what is not legal. CBD isolate is on the other side of the spectrum, where it is the option that fully avoids drugs tests and most countries’ laws but is missing the benefits of the entourage effect. Broad-spectrum combines the positives of both whilst still avoiding laws surrounding THC.
Moreover, it is also important to be aware of the extraction method presented by the seller. In the case of the CO2 extraction method, damage to terpenes might introduce doubt on whether a product listed as full-spectrum is correctly labelled. In a test carried out by the Spanish Observatory for Medical Cannabis (Observatorio español de cannabis medicinal), only 5 of 15 branded CBD products when analysed were correctly labelled.
Bibliography
El Sohly M, Waseeem G. Constituents of Cannabis Sativa. In: Pertwee RG, editor. Handbook of Cannabis. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press; 2014. p. 3-22.
Ben-Shabat S, Fride E, Sheskin T, Tamiri T, y cols. An entourage effect: inactive endogenous fatty acid glycerol esters enhance 2- arachidonoyl-glycerol cannabinoid activity. Eur J Pharmacol. 1998;353(1):23-31.
McPartland JM, Russo EB. Non-Phytocannabinoid Constituents of Cannabis and Herbal Synergy. In: Pertwee RG, editor. Hand- book of Cannabis. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press; 2014. p. 280-95.
Mechoulam R. Cannabis – the Israeli perspective. J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol. 2016, 27(3):181-187
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