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As demand for CBD continues to grow, consumers should approach products with a critical eye. As companies rush to join a burgeoning market, purchasing subpar materials becomes a real concern and is quite often a waste of money. More importantly, spiking of CBD tinctures/drops is quite common with CBD isolate which might not be beneficial.
It is quite a confusing landscape for consumers to understand what they are buying, and many CBD companies are marketing products that are low quality and are subject to mold or pesticides.
It is certainly not easy for consumers to figure out if what they are buying is high-grade or not. There currently are no adopted industry standards or required certification processes.
Ensure that you get the highest-grade CBD
So, what is the best way to ensure you are getting quality CBD products? It is a bit of effort… you’ll need to understand how the plants were grown, flowers were processed, what cannabinoids, terpenes and other phytonutrients are present, and what other ingredients have been added to the CBD oil. You can find more here on what to look for.
CO2 Extraction
In order to remove CBDa (the raw, precursor form of CBD found in hemp/cannabis flowers) and other phytonutrients, the most common solvent used in the industry is pressurized carbon dioxide.
By lowering the temperature of carbon dioxide to quite cold temperatures (below minus 69 degrees Fahrenheit) and increasing pressure, the extraction process begins. As the carbon dioxide is heated and pressurized, it allows for the separation of the oil into various parts. Through multiple passes, you end up with the separated CBD oil and terpenes.
The critical part here is that much of the plant nutrients – phytonutrients– are lost in the process. It’s similar to drinking orange juice from concentrate. You likely don’t know what oranges are in the mix and much of the health benefits are gone. Flavonoids, fatty acids, and antioxidants are nearly completely stripped out.
Isolate
To get pure, crystallized Cannabidiol (CBD), a process of winterization cools down the oil to strip away all of the remaining oils, plant material, waxes, chlorophyll, and other phytonutrients. While you do end up with a crystal powder that is 99% pure Cannabidiol, you end up with a single molecule and none of the other phytonutrients. It’s almost like freeze dried foods!
There are some benefits to using isolate. It is a stable chemical which can be easily added to all kinds of products. In fact, many CBD oil producers use isolate to make their CBD tinctures or spike them to make them stronger. The shelf life is much longer than the more natural full spectrum oil which has biomass that will break down. However, the health benefits seem to be significantly reduced.
True Full Spectrum Oil
While there are many generous ways to label CBD oil “full spectrum”, we have a more conservative definition of full spectrum:
In any given cannabis plant whether it be medical cannabis, recreational cannabis or hemp, there are several cannabinoids, terpenes and various other endogenous phytochemicals. Thereby, “full spectrum” means an infusion or extract that does not intentionally leave out any of these constituent parts.
The Purest CBD with No Isolates, Solvents, or Toxic Additives
At Circle Labs, we aim to offer the entire full spectrum of phytonutrients. We never heat our oil. We have developed our own cold infusion process to avoid the inflammation-causing free radicals that occur when oil is heated above room temperatures. Thus, our oils contain many different cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, fatty acids, antioxidants and other phytonutrients.
While CBD isolates may treat certain ailments, full spectrum options may be more effective, courtesy of their additional cannabinoids. Research has indicated that full spectrum CBD products provide better relief than isolates. This is because when taken together, the cannabinoids reinforce each other’s effects, creating a greater result than each can produce separately.
We are dedicated to offering the highest quality CBD products made through sustainable processes. Our oils are never made with concentrates or isolates and there are no added flavors. We preserve the natural complexity of the hemp flower in a clean and simple delivery solution. Find out more or place an order by calling (415) 322-9619 or going online.