What Are You Really Getting in Full Spectrum Products?

Introduction

Hemp contains hundreds of compounds that help make the plant beneficial. Full spectrum products are often hailed as superior to broad spectrum and isolate products because they are supposed to contain more of these compounds. 

Most full spectrum CBD products claim to have a wide array of hemp compounds like cannabinoids and terpenes. This means it should have major cannabinoids (like CBD and THC) and minor cannabinoids (such as CBG, CBC, and CBN), as well as acidic cannabinoids (like CBDA and THCA). Additionally, it should include a diverse profile of terpenes which contribute to the entourage effect, enhancing the therapeutic benefits of the product.

However, there is no legal definition of a full spectrum product and the use of the term is not regulated.

When we took a look at the top full spectrum hemp brands’ lab testing, we found 2 shocking results:

1. The products do not contain a full spectrum of hemp compounds
2. The companies do not provide the proper testing to prove full spectrum

What a Real Full Spectrum Product Looks Like

Before we analyze the top brands, it’s important that we know what a true full spectrum product looks like. In addition to CBD, we’ll want to see that the product contains THC and a diverse array of minor cannabinoids, acidic cannabinoids, and terpenes.

Western MA Hemp

Product: 1500mg True-to-the-Plant Oil
Lab results: Click to view

• THC: Yes
• Minor Cannabinoids: Yes
• Acidic Cannabinoids: Yes
• Terpenes: Yes
• Total Number of Compounds: 31

Analysis: Our True-to-the-Plant Oil aims to preserve the natural chemistry of our Lifter hemp variety. It contains a full profile of major, minor, and acidic cannabinoids while also retaining a terpene profile that is unique to the strain. In total, over 30 plant compounds are extracted naturally with CO2 and that’s just out of the 40 or so compounds that can be tested for.

Keep this product and the number of compounds in mind as we analyze the top selling hemp brands.

Charlotte’s Web

Product: 50mg Original Formula Oil
Link to lab results: Click to view

• THC: Yes
• Minor Cannabinoids: Yes
• Acidic Cannabinoids: No
• Terpenes: Not tested
• Total Number of Compounds: 5

Analysis: Charlotte’s Web’s Original formula contains THC and some minor cannabinoids, but no acidic cannabinoids. Their blog says this product contains significantly more terpenes than their 60mg CO2 Oil but they fail to support this claim with terpene testing. What we do know is that this product is extracted with isopropyl alcohol which needs to be removed from the oil with heat. Since terpenes are incredibly temperature sensitive (most degrade over 100 degrees F), it is likely that many of these compounds are being destroyed. The lack of acidic cannabinoids is also due to the heating of the hemp and/or extract.

In total, the product can only claim to contain 5 hemp compounds which is very low for a full spectrum product that comes from a plant with hundreds.

Cornbread Hemp

Product: 1500mg Full Spectrum CBD Oil
Lab results: Click to view

• THC: Yes
• Minor Cannabinoids: Yes
• Acidic Cannabinoids: No
• Terpenes: Yes (just 2)
• Total number of compounds: 6

Analysis: Cornbread Hemp contains THC and some minor cannabinoids, but no acidic cannabinoids (they do offer a separate CBDa oil). Unlike many companies on this list, they actually tested for terpenes. Unfortunately, they don’t do a good job of preserving them as the oil only has a small amount of 2  terpenes out of the 22 it was tested for. This is very common amongst alcohol extracts as the solvent needs to be removed with heat which destroys terpenes and other beneficial compounds.

This may be a flower-only extract, which is a good start, but their overall process does not preserve a full spectrum of hemp compounds.

Medterra

Product: 1500mg True Full Spectrum CBD Oil
Lab results: Click to view

• THC: Yes
• Minor Cannabinoids: Yes (added in)
• Acidic Cannabinoids: No
• Terpenes: Yes (added in)
• Total number of compounds:  7

Analysis: Medterra’s oil claims to “contain all of the cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids found in the hemp plant”. According to their lab tests, however, the products don’t contain acidic cannabinoids or hemp terpenes, just the added menthol they use for their Mint Chocolate flavor. The 5:1 CBD to minor cannabinoid ratio also seems to be artificially achieved through isolates and distillates.

This is not a “true full spectrum” product and certainly does not contain all of the cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids in the plant.

Plus CBD Oil

Product: 2000mg Daily Balance Full Spectrum Oil
Lab results: Click to view

• THC: No
• Minor Cannabinoids: Yes (just CBDV)
• Acidic Cannabinoids: No
• Terpenes: Not tested
• Total compounds: 2

Analysis: Plus CBD Oil’s best-selling Daily Balance Oil is labeled as full spectrum but doesn’t even contain THC. In fact, the lab tests only show one other hemp compound present (CBDV).

This is closer to a CBD isolate product than a full spectrum one and shows just how deceptive a full spectrum label can be.

cbdMD

Product: 1500mg Full Spectrum CBD Oil
Lab results: Click to view

• THC: Yes
• Minor Cannabinoids: Yes
• Acidic Cannabinoids: No
• Terpenes: Not tested
• Total number of compounds: 8

Analysis: cbdMD initially specialized in THC free products enhanced with minor cannabinoid isolates. Their somewhat new full spectrum oil contains THC and a variety of minor cannabinoids. Terpenes are mentioned in the product description but are not supported by lab testing. The oil also does not contain acidic cannabinoids even though the description claims “a full suite of cannabinoids”. 

Without the proper testing, it is difficult for customers to know if this product is truly full spectrum.

Joy Organics

Product: 1350mg Full Spectrum CBD Oil
Lab results: Click to view

• THC: Yes
• Minor Cannabinoids: Yes
• Acidic Cannabinoids: No
• Terpenes: Not tested
• Total number of compounds: 5

Analysis: Joy Organics is another company that specialized in THC-free products but jumped on the d9 bandwagon. Their full spectrum products contain minors but lack acidic cannabinoids and terpene testing. Omitting terpene testing seems to be the standard for products that claim full spectrum but don’t have the chemistry to back it up.

Again, without proper testing, this product cannot be considered full spectrum.

CBDistillery

Product: 1000mg Full Spectrum CBD Oil
Lab results: Click to view

• THC: Yes
• Minor Cannabinoids: Yes
• Acidic Cannabinoids: Yes (CBDa)
• Terpenes: Not tested

Analysis: CBDistillery’s full spectrum oil includes THC, a variety of minor cannabinoids, and one acidic cannabinoid (CBDa). This product is distilled so the extract is known as a distillate which is just a cannabinoid fraction that does not preserve terpenes or many other beneficial compounds. It is not a surprise then to see that terpene testing was omitted as a result.

As a general rule of thumb, if a product is distilled or refined, it is going to lack a full spectrum of hemp compounds.

CBDfx

Product: 3000mg Ultra Full Spectrum Capsules
Lab results: Click to view

• THC: Yes
• Minor Cannabinoids: Yes
• Acidic Cannabinoids: No
• Terpenes: Not tested
  
• Total number of compounds: 6

Analysis: CBDfx Ultra Full Spectrum Capsules include THC and minor cannabinoids. It claims to offer a “complete terpene profile” but does not back it up with testing data. There also are no acidic cannabinoids present making it difficult to call this product full spectrum.

The Bottom Line

The term “full spectrum” should signify a comprehensive profile of cannabinoids and terpenes. However, as this analysis shows, many top CBD brands fall short and even omit crucial testing. This lack of transparency and completeness can mislead consumers seeking the full benefits of the entourage effect and leave them feeling like hemp products don’t work.

We crafted our True-to-the-Plant Oil for this very reason. We believe that the plant’s natural chemistry delivers the most therapeutic effects and strive to naturally preserve as many compounds as we can. As the lab testing shows, our oil contains significantly more compounds than any leading brand which means better effects for our customers.