Broad spectrum, full spectrum, bioavailability, high potency...
It probably feels like there’s a new CBD term popping up every day. But as a matter of fact, these terms and phrases have existed almost as long as CBD itself – they’re just getting thrown about in casual conversations more often now as the popularity of CBD rises.
With that being said, the uncertainty around these terms often creates a platform for misinformation about the differences between them as well as the benefits of full spectrum CBD. Which is why we’d like to answer some of your most commonly asked questions, such as:
- What does “high potency” actually mean?
- What is full spectrum CBD?
- Does full spectrum CBD have THC in it?
- Is high potency CBD more effective?
- What does high potency CBD have to do with bioavailability?
- Does high potency CBD cost more?
- Is high potency full spectrum CBD oil really all that different from other CBD oils?
- What if I prefer gummies or softgels – is there a high potency product for me?
Are All Full Spectrum CBD Products “High Potency”?
Nope.
By definition, all full spectrum products have some measure of Delta 9 THC in them, but not all full spectrum CBD is “high potency.” In this case, the phrase “high potency” doesn’t refer to something’s THC content – in fact, it doesn’t really apply to THC at all.
When we say that our new full spectrum CBD products are “high potency,” we’re saying they have two to four times the amount of CBD as most other products on the market.
With 50 mg of CBD per serving, you would need to take four servings of our broad spectrum CBD Oil Softgels to achieve the same potency as a single 200 mg capsule of Full Spectrum CBD Oil Softgels. Likewise, rather than taking four Melatonin Sleep-Aid Gummies (twice the suggested serving size) to help you reach a higher quality of sleep at night, you only need a single serving of Full Spectrum CBD Gummies for Sleep.
Broad Spectrum vs Full Spectrum CBD
Broad spectrum CBD has many of the same benefits of full spectrum CBD, just without the use of THC.* Although on its own broad spectrum CBD can help you relax and give you a sense of calm, you won’t see the same level of benefits that full spectrum CBD can give you.
So what is full spectrum CBD then?
While broad spectrum CBD contains most of the cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids found in the Cannabis sativa plant, full spectrum CBD incorporates all of them. With a complete plant profile, full spectrum CBD gives you a whole-body experience by including a small portion of Delta 9 THC. Full spectrum CBD benefits you in much the same way as broad spectrum CBD, but by including just a smidge of THC, you can maximize your entourage effect.
The entourage effect is the well-accepted theory that cannabinoids cooperate with each other to produce greater benefits. Although it goes into effect after either CBD formula, the entourage effect is stronger when produced from full spectrum CBD, thanks to its THC content.
Do “High Potency” Products Have More THC?
Actually, no.
As we mentioned above, just because a CBD product is labeled “high potency,” that doesn’t mean it contains a higher THC content than something made with regular strength full spectrum CBD. But even if it did, in the US it would still need to contain less than 0.3% of Delta 9 THC by dry weight.
For example, at cbdMD our Full Spectrum CBD Gummies weigh 3.5 grams a unit, or 7 grams a serving. But since THC is most often measured in milligrams, for comparison, 7 grams is equal to 7,000 milligrams. Which would mean that a single serving (2 gummies) of our full spectrum gummies could legally contain a whopping 21 milligrams.
Instead, all of our full spectrum high potency CBD gummies, tinctures, softgels, and tablets contain either 2 or 4 mg of THC per serving – far, far below the federally legal limit. This means that our full spectrum CBD gummies contain around 0.05% of THC, or about 6 times less THC than the legal limit.
High Potency CBD Means Using Less and Getting More
Everyone loves getting more for less, right?
High potency CBD is more effective than traditional CBD because it allows you to feel the effects of CBD faster, receive greater benefits, and simplify your self care routine.
Enjoying a single serving of high potency full spectrum CBD gummies, for example, is much more convenient than combining multiple CBD products throughout the day in order to receive the same benefits.
Of course, that’s not the only benefit of high potency full spectrum CBD. Although they were originally designed to increase the effectiveness of CBD within your body, you can also cut the serving size in half, or even in quarters. This way you can stick with the same dosage of CBD that you’re used to, but your supply will last much, much longer.
And high potency full spectrum CBD products cost less per mg of CBD, too.
You Pay Less Per Milligram of CBD
Because the manufacturing process for producing broad spectrum CBD and full spectrum CBD is essentially the same, high potency full spectrum CBD products shouldn’t cost more.
In fact, when broken down into the price per milligram of CBD, high potency CBD actually costs less than regular strength CBD – almost eight times less than our broad spectrum CBD. Which doesn’t make a whole lot of sense until you take the manufacturing and logistics costs into mind.
Once extracted from the Cannabis sativa plant, CBD and the other cannabinoids and terpenes are essentially diluted by carrier oils. This is what allows for the production of various strengths of broad spectrum and full spectrum CBD oils.
It would only cost more if high potency CBD oil required a more complicated manufacturing process or higher packaging and storage costs. But because the processes and packaging materials are no different than those used for broad spectrum CBD, there’s no reason high potency full spectrum CBD oil should cost more than others.
Your Endocannabinoid System Works More Effectively
We all have an endocannabinoid system (ECS) that functions by working with the cannabinoid receptors spread throughout your body, impacting your central nervous system, motor activity, pain perception, and so much more.
These receptors are split into two main groups (CB1 and CB2) which interact with your own natural cannabinoids (endocannabinoids) as well as the various cannabinoids found in CBD oil (phytocannabinoids).
Now, remember when we mentioned the entourage effect above? Well, that’s not the only benefit you get when you switch from broad spectrum CBD to full spectrum CBD. By increasing the amount of CBD you ingest at once, you’re essentially increasing your rate of bioavailability as well.
Your bioavailability is what determines how much of the CBD you ingest actually makes it into your bloodstream, and therefore to your CB1 and CB2 receptors. This is because a portion of almost everything you ingest is lost during the process of digestion. So even though you might be using a CBD supplement containing 50 mg of CBD per serving, you’re not actually receiving the benefits from all 50 of those milligrams.
Everyone’s bioavailability is different, and although your bioavailability to a particular substance, such as CBD, typically increases the more you consistently ingest CBD, that process can take months. Which probably isn’t what you want to hear when you’re struggling to fall asleep at night or having trouble relaxing after a long day.
So what does all this have to do with high potency CBD?
As it so happens, when you ingest more CBD at one time, more makes it into your bloodstream – which means high potency CBD is more bioavailable than regular CBD. Even after you lose a portion to digestion, far, far more is able to interact with the cannabinoid receptors in your endocannabinoid system. And the more they interact, the greater benefits you’ll see.
You Have Plenty of CBD Options to Choose From
Oh, and did we mention the plethora of high potency full spectrum CBD products available to you? Gummies, tinctures, softgels, tablets…
All the CBD supplements you’ve come to know and love are now available at a higher potency than before – and with various focuses as well.
Still looking to increase the quality of your sleep? Whether you prefer CBD sleep gummies, CBD oil tinctures for sleep, or CBD PM softgels, we have a high potency solution for you.
Had a hard day at work? Look no further than our high potency Full Spectrum Calming CBD Gummies.
Struggling with pain from an old injury or sore muscles from a tough workout? We now offer high potency cbdMD MAX for Pain as well. Because who doesn’t love a balanced approach to using CBD for pain?
Or maybe you prefer to stick with a steady dose of calm and relaxation throughout the day – we have high potency CBD oil tinctures, CBD gummies, softgels, and capsules for that too!
If you’re interested in learning more about high potency CBD, or you want more information to decide if full spectrum CBD oil is right for you, keep an eye on our frequently updated blog. Looking to stay up to date on the latest supplement news and cbdMD’s upcoming special offers? Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, or chat with someone live today!