Cannabidiol (CBD) products are growing in popularity as more people realize their potential wellness benefits. Some CBD products contain trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to boost the soothing, non-psychoactive properties. Did you know there are also plenty of THC free CBD options?
If you’re not sure what these terms mean, don’t worry! They can be confusing, which is why we’re here to help. This guide will teach you everything you need to know about the various forms of cannabidiol so you can find the best THC free CBD!
THC is a cannabinoid, which means it comes from cannabis plants. THC induces psychoactive feelings of euphoria in large quantities, colloquially referred to as a “high.” Low amounts of THC typically do not result in this intoxication and even boost clear-headed relaxation when paired with CBD.
There are two types of cannabis plants: hemp and marijuana. These plants are defined by their THC content, with hemp containing 0.3 percent THC or less and marijuana carrying more than 0.3 percent THC. The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp, but marijuana is still federally illegal.
Some states have legalized the recreational use of high-THC marijuana. And even though marijuana is federally illegal, that doesn’t mean we can’t use THC. Trace amounts of THC are within CBD products to enhance their benefits, which we’ll cover in greater detail further in this article.
CBD is also a cannabinoid, though it is extracted from hemp rather than marijuana. Unlike THC, high amounts of CBD are not intoxicating. This means that you can enjoy as much CBD as you need without feeling groggy or “high.”
Hemp and marijuana contain both THC and CBD. Hemp has higher concentrations of cannabidiol, while marijuana contains greater amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol. CBD is made with hemp extract because, even though it contains low THC levels, its only effects are those of relaxation and focus.
CBD comes in many forms, with new products being invented all the time. This wide range of hemp-derived CBD products allows every lifestyle, daily schedule, and personality to find a form of cannabidiol that works for them. One of these forms is THC free CBD.
Related Post: THC Vs CBD [Identifying The Differences + Benefits And Effects]
THC free CBD is cannabidiol that contains no tetrahydrocannabinol. Hemp extract does not contain enough THC to induce intoxication, but it does have low levels of the cannabinoid. For those who want to avoid tetrahydrocannabinol altogether, broad spectrum and isolate CBD products contain no THC.
Products that have low amounts of THC (0.3 percent or less) are called full-spectrum. If you’re searching for CBD products with less THC or none at all, you don’t have to sacrifice the wide variety of available options for full spectrum cannabidiol.
There’s THC free CBD oil, vape cartridges, edibles, and topicals, to name a few. New products from candles to toilet paper are being infused with THC free hemp oil every day, but what draws people to them? Let’s take a look at why some prefer to leave THC out of their CBD products.
Many want to avoid THC for personal reasons, or perhaps they are hesitant due to tetrahydrocannabinol’s potential effects. While high-quality full spectrum CBD products won’t contain enough THC to cause a “high,” poorly made and managed products might contain more than the 0.3 percent legal limit. There is a small chance of this happening, but that chance is even smaller in products that don’t contain any THC.
Fortunately, CBD provides calming feelings known for, with or without THC. These effects heighten when low THC levels are in the mix, but cannabidiol shouldn’t require tetrahydrocannabinol to help us feel refreshed and centered.
CBD achieves its effects by boosting our endocannabinoid system (ECS). Nearly every mammal has an ECS, which is a cell-signaling system that plays a role in vital body functions like alertness, appetite, and heart rate. The ECS modulates critical areas of the body, even when we aren’t using cannabis. We can give our ECS a helping hand with cannabidiol. CBD interacts with cannabinoid receptors in our body called CB1 and CB2. CBD supports these receptors, which in turn boosts the ECS’s efficacy.
CBD boosts our ECS and promotes feelings of serenity and concentration regardless of whether THC is involved. However, we’ve mentioned that CBD’s effects are stronger when combined with trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol. This is the entourage effect.
The entourage effect refers to increased effectiveness when as many hemp-derived compounds are ingested simultaneously. This effect doesn’t only apply to CBD and THC, many compounds are extracted from hemp. This includes terpenes, which affect the plant’s taste and smell, and flavonoids that impact its color.
The entourage effect is strongest when every compound naturally found in hemp gets ingested at the same time. This means that THC free CBD oils and other products have a reduced entourage effect, but it does not mean that CBD is rendered ineffective. CBD without THC is still powerfully beneficial.
All CBD products may be split into three categories: full spectrum, broad spectrum, and isolate. These terms refer to how many of the compounds originally extracted from the hemp plant are still in the final product. As we’ve seen, full spectrum products contain THC, while broad spectrum CBD doesn’t.
How do you know if your THC free CBD oil really is a broad spectrum product? You can fact-check a product’s label by looking at their Certificate of Analysis (COA). Responsible and safe companies send their CBD products to a third-party lab for testing.
If the lab’s results show that the CBD contains what the manufacturer claims it does, they give the company a COA. These COAs must come from third-party labs so that their findings are unbiased. Avoid any business that cannot readily show you their COAs.
Full spectrum CBD products contain THC (0.3 percent or less). While they do not contain enough THC to cause any adverse side effects, full spectrum products offer the strongest entourage effect. They also carry all of the flavonoids and terpenes derived from hemp.
People often turn to full spectrum CBD oils and other items to maximize the effects of their cannabidiol. If you need maximum-strength relief and you’re comfortable with THC, these are the products for you.
Yes, broad spectrum CBD is THC free. The entourage effect in these products is not as strong as in full spectrum CBD, but it is still in effect. Many enjoy broad spectrum CBD oil, edibles, topicals, and other products if they would rather steer clear of THC.
How do hemp plants, which contain small amounts of THC, turn into broad spectrum products? Liquified, all-natural CO2 runs through ground-up hemp, and then gets evaporated. The hemp extract is then distilled until we are left with THC free CBD oils!
CBD isolate is also THC free! The difference between CBD isolate and broad spectrum products is that isolate does not contain any other compounds extracted from hemp. If you were to zoom in on the fine, white powder of a CBD isolate, you would find little else besides cannabidiol molecules.
CBD isolate is an odorless, flavorless powder that is mixable in your favorite food, drink or ingested as is. It is the purest form of cannabidiol available (over 99%), though it also features the weakest entourage effect. Remember, this doesn’t mean you won’t feel CBD’s effects at all, but you won’t feel them as strongly as you would in a broad spectrum product such as THC free CBD oil.
Similar products to CBD isolate include wax, capsules, and CBG powder. CBD wax is roughly 83% pure cannabidiol, and it contains THC. Wax is best when vaporized or smoked, making it a good option for those who would like a concentrated cannabidiol dose. CBD capsules offer a consistent THC free cannabidiol dose, and they are another excellent choice for potency. CBG isolate is similar in taste and appearance to CBD powder and it’s relaxing effects are similar to those of CBD.
The best cannabidiol products, with or without THC, come from Cheef Botanicals. We believe in creating healthy, responsibly made cannabidiol products for every preference and time of day. Our broad spectrum and isolate products include:
How can you find the best products? Besides COAs from a third-party lab, another practice to keep your eye out for in manufacturers of THC free CBD oils and other products is the use of American-grown hemp.
The FDA’s rules keep our hemp healthy, safe, and without THC levels exceeding 0.3%. Imported hemp is less regulated and growable with high THC levels or harmful additives. The best hemp comes from states like Oregon or Colorado.
High quality hemp-derived CBD products should be made with organic, natural ingredients. We believe that GMOs and synthetic pesticides don’t make CBD any better, so we avoid anything that might take away from natural cannabidiol. We also make our products vegan, because why not?
THC free CBD is an excellent way to enjoy cannabidiol if you’d rather avoid tetrahydrocannabinol. It’s also a great choice for those new to the world of cannabis. Products like CBD isolate allow you to start with a small entourage effect, working your way up to broad spectrum and eventually full!
Even if you stick with CBD isolate, you’ll still be getting the ECS-boosting benefits of cannabidiol. For the highest quality products and expert advice, you’re already in the right place with Cheef Botanicals. Experiment with different items, contact us anytime you like, and together we can find the perfect THC free CBD for you.