Simply put, CBD oil, or the more commonly used term “tincture,” is the cannabinoid Cannabidiol suspended in a digestible oil. Sometimes CBD is the sole cannabinoid contained within the tincture, these are commonly referred to as isolate products. In other instances, the CBD may be combined with other cannabinoids such as CBN or CBG, flavor molecules called terpenes, trace amounts of THC or other, more exotic extracts such as Red Velvet Deer Antler.
In your search for the perfect tincture, you’ll more than likely come across the terms “Isolate” “Broad Spectrum,” and “Full Spectrum.” An isolate is simply the cannabinoid by itself – so in this case, purely CBD and the oil it’s suspended in. They feature no significant other cannabinoids, contain no terpenes and have 0% THC content. Sometimes all you need is a single cannabinoid, and isolates offer a great choice.
Increasingly, emphasis in the industry is being placed on the “Entourage Effect,” which is a theory that posits that cannabinoids actually work more effectively when they’re consumed in conjunction with each other. By combining cannabinoids together, they can produce a synergistic effect. Broad-spectrum tinctures therefore often contain traces of more than one cannabinoid, as well as terpenes (or flavored oil molecules), and minerals but 0% THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) the psychoactive compound that is found in larger, psychoactive, quantities in marijuana.
Full-spectrum tinctures will often contain traces of more than one cannabinoid, in addition to other beneficial plant compounds such as terpenes which can provide flavor profiles. But all full-spectrum tinctures should always contain trace amounts of THC in them (though it’s important to note that the THC content still falls within the legal federal limit and is not psychoactive). THC is used in full-spectrum tinctures as initial scientific research seems to indicate that it can also magnify the effects of the CBD and other cannabinoids similar to the entourage effect mentioned above.