Does CBD Work Better Than THC?

This article is originally published on Sunday Scaries.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is just one of many compounds in the cannabis plant that makes it so valuable. It can help you relax after the world’s longest workweek or relieve unwanted negative thoughts.

One of the easiest ways to benefit is by holding a few drops of CBD oil under your tongue for at least a minute. It absorbs sublingually, which is the quickest route of dosing that doesn’t involve smoke or vapor. You can expect it to kick in within 5 to 15 minutes. But those effects may depend on precisely what’s in the bottle!

What do all those CBD oil labels—“spectrum,” “pure,” “isolate”—mean?

When you go shopping for CBD oil, you may find yourself with more choices than you planned on! But essentially, cannabis products can be full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or isolate. You may see CBD isolate products touted as being “pure.” And while CBD isolate does often come as oil, not all oils are isolates.

Don’t get too overwhelmed! It’s easy to navigate CBD types once you have the answers to your most burning questions, like:

Can CBD oils be isolates too?

Are isolates the best kind of CBD?

What’s the difference between full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD oil?

CBD oil is one of the most convenient ways to get your dose in!

CBD oil is one of the top ways to take this naturally-occurring chemical, and for good reason. Oils come in a small, discreet bottle that’s suitable for travel. The sublingual administration route takes under 15 minutes to work, so it’s the most reliable way to get quick relief, whether your oil is an isolate, broad-spectrum, or full-spectrum product.

What’s the difference between CBD oil and CBD isolate?

You’re browsing online and see two bottles that look the same, but they’re labeled differently. One of them says “CBD oil” while the other says “CBD isolate.” Are they different names for the same product?

Maybe; maybe not. Here’s the deal: CBD oil can be an isolate, but it isn’t always. Likewise, an isolate can be a CBD oil product, but not always.

CBD oil comes in three primary types:

Full-spectrum: A full-spectrum product contains all the elements of the cannabis plant, including cannabidiol, over 140 other cannabinoids, and terpenes. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the cannabinoid that causes the psychoactive effect of marijuana, and low amounts of it (less than 0.3%) are present in full-spectrum products.

Broad-spectrum: Broad-spectrum CBD oil contains most of the elements of cannabis, minus THC. That makes broad-spectrum oils a good choice for people who want to achieve maximum CBD benefits while avoiding getting too relaxed from their daily elixir!

Isolate: CBD isolate contains only CBD with no additional cannabinoids, terpenes, or other compounds. If you strictly want CBD without the different effects of the cannabis plant, isolate may be your first choice.

Is there a reason that you’d want to choose broad-spectrum over isolate? It’s easy to decide that full-spectrum isn’t for you if you’re hoping to avoid THC—but both broad-spectrum and isolate products are THC-free. So what makes one better than the other?

The real strength of cannabis lies in the entourage effect

Like other cannabinoids, CBD works differently when it’s in the presence of different parts of the cannabis plant. They include:

Minor cannabinoids: These compounds make up a smaller amount of the cannabis plant, but they can dramatically affect what the plant does. There are over 140 of them, but the most prevalent ones include CBG-A (which studies have found “greatly inhibit the enzyme aldose reductase, a major contributor of the oxidative stress”) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) (which one study found “can decrease signs of inflammation and inflammatory pain in mice”).

Terpenes: There are many, many terpenes across hundreds of strains of cannabis, but a few of the most common ones include pinene (which “may be useful for pain, inflammation and anxiety” according to Leafly), limonene (“believed to provide anxiety and stress relief”), and myrcene (“which may have calming effects”).

When you use cannabis products like CBD oil that contain a combination of terpenes and non-CBD cannabinoids, all of those compounds become more effective than if you were using them alone.

Do all CBD oils trigger the entourage effect?

Nope! Only full-spectrum and broad-spectrum oils can trigger the entourage effect. Those are the only types that contain additional cannabinoids and terpenes beyond just CBD.

That is why some people choose full- or broad-spectrum CBD oil instead of isolate. Because CBD isolate only contains CBD and nothing else, it can’t trigger this combined effect the way other products can.

If you’re sensitive to the effects of terpenes or minor cannabinoids, then that’s a valid reason to choose an isolate oil. But if you’re looking for the maximum benefit from CBD, it’s more likely that broad-spectrum oil is the right choice for you.

Full-spectrum oils are effective at triggering the entourage effect too, but again, you should know that they can contain up to 0.3% THC. Steer clear if you’re looking to avoid any 420 feels, or you’re worried about a drug test. Broad-spectrum oil won’t affect your ability to work or function the way THC does for some people.