Definitive Guide to Full Spectrum Hemp Oil

Person Putting Veritas Farms Tincture Bottle in pocket | Veritas Farms
Airi Macaluso

Airi Macaluso

Medical Hemp Expert, Hemp Wellness Consultant, and Long-Time Cannabinoid Writer

Full-spectrum hemp oil can offer a range of benefits for the user. If you’re interested in using hemp oil products but still have a lot of questions about it, Veritas Farms can help you decide the best product for you. Here is our complete guide to full-spectrum hemp oil and how it works in the body.

What Is Hemp?

Hemp is a flowering plant in the Cannabaceae family. While many people believe that hemp and marijuana are different species, they are actually the same plant that are bred to contain different amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The difference in THC is critical in the eyes of the law, because legally, the difference between hemp and marijuana is the allowable amount of THC in the plant.

One question you may be wondering is, “does full-spectrum CBD oil have THC in it?” When it comes to full-spectrum hemp, there are small traces of THC. Full-spectrum hemp oil must contain less than 0.3% THC. That’s not nearly enough to get you high, but it is enough for the entourage effect to kick in—a biochemical effect that occurs in the human body when a combination of cannabinoids are present at the same time, enhancing all their effects simultaneously.

“The philosophy on cannabinoids is “The more, the merrier!” These cannabinoids exist harmoniously in nature, and they were literally built to work together. A synergistic effect happens when they’re allowed to remain a family and continue to interact with each other. This balance is what makes every strain of cannabis unique,” highlights Resident Veritas Farms CBD expert Airi Macaluso. 

THC is a cannabinoid, as is cannabidiol (CBD). However, hemp contains many cannabinoids, including cannabinoids like CBG, CBN, CBC, flavonoids, terpenes, and 0.3% of THC. This whole plant approach allows the entourage effect to kick in and makes hemp a very effective product.

What Are Cannabinoids?

Cannabinoids are naturally occurring compounds that are found in cannabis plants, as well as many other species of plants and animals, including many mammals. The two most commonly discussed cannabinoids right now are THC and CBD.

THC is the compound known for creating a “high.” CBD, alternatively, is known for providing relief for those with discomfort, as well as many other things like relaxation and calm.

How Do Cannabinoids Work in the Body?

Humans and other mammals have an endocannabinoid system (ECS), part of the central nervous system. It is believed that the ECS plays a crucial part in numerous bodily functions, such as sleep, mood, appetite, and injury mitigation.

In addition to all of these functions, the ECS helps bring stable conditions to your body, also known as homeostasis. To do this, the ECS targets two networks of cannabinoid receptors in your body: CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are found in our connective tissues, gonads, organs, and throughout the nervous system. CB2 receptors are mostly dispersed through the immune system and related organs.

CB1 and CB2 receptors are what allow our bodies to interact with compounds like CBD and THC. Because of this, cannabinoids from full-spectrum hemp concentrate help to maintain homeostasis. When you experience muscle discomfort or stress, full-spectrum hemp oil helps trigger your ECS and brings balance to your mind and body.

Hemp Plant Greenhouse | Veritas Farms

Marijuana vs. Hemp: What’s the Difference?

Both marijuana and hemp are varieties of the cannabis sativa plant. Marijuana is typically cultivated as a horticultural crop, while hemp is thought of as an agricultural crop. The connotation of marijuana tends to evoke that of a drug, whereas hemp is used for various applications, including household and industrial products.

Popular CBD products today—including full-spectrum hemp oil—are derived from hemp and grown at an industrial scale. Exacting specifications ensure everything is legal, as well as maximize its cannabinoid profile and any benefits.

Is Cannabis Legal?

The legality of cannabis depends on the type of plant in question. For many years, federal law lumped hemp in with other cannabis plants, effectively outlawing the substance under the 1937 Marijuana Tax Act and 1970 Controlled Substances Act.

The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has designated marijuana as federally illegal, although some states have legalized marijuana at certain levels, including for medical purposes. Under federal law, it’s illegal to grow any cannabis sativa marijuana varieties and ingest products made from the plant.

Hemp, on the other hand, can now be legally cultivated. Under the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp is legal but cannot contain more than 0.3% THC. Because of this, the use of hemp will not get you high.

What Is Full-Spectrum Hemp Oil?

Full-spectrum hemp oil is an extract that is derived only from hemp, which has no mind-altering effects. It is hemp in its purest form, meaning it is a pure full-spectrum hemp extract of the plant and contains all the beneficial compounds found in hemp.

Hemp oil is produced when hemp leaves and aerial parts, the buds and flowers, are dried and mashed into a fine powder. The oil can then be extracted gently from the mashed leaves and flowers. This extraction process allows the hemp oil to contain whole phytocannabinoids, ensuring that the product contains all beneficial compounds.

It’s important to understand the different types of hemp oil because not all hemp products are created equal. There are numerous ways to take full-spectrum hemp oil, like capsules, salves, balms, tinctures, creams, edibles, and more.

There are also many full-spectrum hemp benefits, including reducing stress and muscle tension.

CBD Oil vs. Full-Spectrum Hemp Oil

There are different types of hemp oil, and they each have their own chemical makeup to provide different types of relief. A “purified” oil contains an isolated compound, while a “full-spectrum” phytocannabinoid oil contains all the compounds from the plant.

Different strains of cannabis produce different spectrums of compounds. The compounds in a full-spectrum oil vary based on the genetics of the plant from which it’s derived. For example, hemp doesn’t contain notable amounts of the psychotropic THC; therefore, hemp oils don’t contain intoxicating cannabinoids found in cannabis.

The different types of CBD and hemp oils are as follows:

  • Full-Spectrum Hemp Oil: As mentioned above, full-spectrum hemp contains all compounds from the plant, including cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. Full-spectrum hemp oil also contains 0.3% or less of THC.
  • Broad-Spectrum Hemp Oil: Broad-spectrum hemp has terpenes, flavonoids, and phytocannabinoids from the hemp plant but does not contain any traces of THC. This type of hemp oil is made by stripping the THC from the oil or reintroducing all compounds except THC into a CBD isolate.
  • CBD Isolate: This product is a form of CBD that does not contain any traces of THC or any other cannabinoid, terpene, or flavonoid. All compounds are extracted from the plant to form CBD isolate, resulting in a fine, white, crystalline powder that easily dissolves in liquid.
  • Hemp Seed Oil: While the three products above are made from the flowers and leaves of the hemp plant, hemp seed oil is extracted from the plant’s seeds. Hemp seed oil contains beneficial elements, including essential fatty and amino acids, high levels of vitamins A, C, and E, protein, fiber, and other minerals. Although hemp seed oil is derived from hemp, it contains no cannabinoids.
CBD Oil vs. Full-Spectrum Hemp Oil Extraction | Veritas Farms

How to Identify Quality Hemp Oil

While CBD and hemp oils have been around for some time, they are only now gaining widespread popularity across the United States. With an expanding cannabis industry, CBD products have become less stigmatized, allowing more companies and entrepreneurs to take advantage of the high demand.

Because of this, some CBD and hemp oils may be of sub-par quality or even bogus products that don’t contain CBD at all. Anyone looking to buy full-spectrum hemp oil should do thorough research before making any purchases.

Veritas Farms sends our products out for third-party testing to ensure the highest level of quality. Reputable CBD manufacturers will test their products both in-house and through third parties. This practice builds trust between manufacturers and both retailers and consumers, which is especially important in an industry that is highly unregulated, like CBD.

In addition to verifying that the hemp used in CBD products is not contaminated or low-grade, independent lab testing will determine if companies are exaggerating the cannabinoid profiles in their products to increase sales or justify higher prices. At Veritas Farms, our products are verified through third-party testing to ensure each product meets our high standards.

How Much Hemp Oil Should You Take?

To get the best effects from full-spectrum hemp oil, it’s important to select the correct potency.

If you’re new to using these products, finding the right serving size to fit your needs may take some time. Follow these tips for a better experience and to get the most out of hemp oil products.

1. Start Slow

You may be eager to take cannabinoid oil to address that nagging chronic condition, but you don’t want to take too much too soon.

Start with the smallest serving size possible and keep track of how it affects your body. If it doesn’t seem like enough, slowly increase the serving size over time. You may find that just a small amount gives you the results you’re looking for.

2. Gradually Increase the Dosage

Because it takes some time for these products to build up oil to affect your endocannabinoid system, you should gradually raise the serving size. “It can take up to 30 days to experience a significant impact from regular CBD usage,” Macaluso clarifies. Take the same dose for a few weeks or so before you make it any bigger. You want to keep track of how the potency affects your body to determine what serving size is best for you.

3. Try Different Delivery Methods

There are several delivery methods you can try, depending on your desired outcome from the product. Full-spectrum hemp oil can be consumed orally by tablets, gummies, or tinctures, or topically by salves, balms, and creams.

The delivery method you choose ultimately comes down to what works best for you and what type of relief you wish to receive from the product. “Ingestibles work throughout your entire body. Topicals are designed to address localized discomfort, like achy muscles,” says Macaluso.

4. Talk to a Healthcare Professional

Thanks to countless websites and blogs, you can find quite a bit of information about the benefits of hemp online. But to get the best answers, consider talking to a healthcare professional.

Whatever ailment you hope hemp oil can help you with and how much you should take should be discussed with a healthcare provider. Doctors or other medical professionals can work with your health history to find the best solution for you.

5. Not All Cannabinoid Oils are the Same

Cannabinoid oils are used for several chronic conditions, but the quality of the product is what ensures a successful outcome for you. At Veritas Farms, we are dedicated to growing the absolute best plants to produce superior hemp oils. We use the whole plant, ensuring that all essential elements remain intact.

For more details, read our blog post about hemp oil serving size.

How to Gauge Potency of Cannabinoid Oil

Cannabinoid oil potency is segmented into three different types. It’s important to note that doctors can’t prescribe CBD or other cannabinoids; they can only make a recommendation based on your symptoms.

To further complicate the potency issue, there’s no universal dose or recommended daily allowance of hemp oil to act as a guide. Because of the way cannabinoids interact with the body, several variables—including your weight, metabolism, diet, and the usage consistency—make it hard to dictate a standard serving size for each product.

That’s why we recommend you start with a small, low-potency dose and work your way up only if necessary. Here are some common serving sizes of cannabinoids oil:

  • Low potency: 2.5–15 mg per serving: Low doses of cannabinoid oil are a great place to start and may be effective for people with active endocannabinoid systems who don’t need stronger doses. Just a small dose every day, also known as micro-dosing, may be used to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
  • Medium potency: 16–33 mg per serving: In most cases, doubling your lower-potency serving size can be effective. The severity of your symptoms and how your ECS works will determine how many servings per day you will need.
  • High potency: 34+ mg per serving: Research is underway to see how high-strength servings of cannabinoid oil can be used for several ailments.

Macaluso clarifies that, “It’s very unlikely that you’ll use too much CBD. The highest dose used in long term studies was 1,500 mg. That would be several bottles of CBD oil a day. Listen to your body. Be patient. Your body knows what it wants, and over time, it will begin to tell you.”

CBD for Pain

What Are the Different Types of Hemp Oil Products?

As mentioned above, there are several delivery methods for hemp oil products. Full-spectrum hemp oil is most commonly found as easy-to-swallow capsules or liquid tinctures applied under the tongue. Both of these product delivery methods are ingested orally, allowing the hemp oil to enter your digestive system and be metabolized by your liver.

Balms, hemp salves, and skin lotions are most effective on the area where it’s applied outside of the body, rather than entering the bloodstream directly.

Ultimately, which phytocannabinoid product you choose depends on the result you wish to achieve. Regardless of what product you decide on, you’ll want to make sure you’re buying from a reputable manufacturer that understands how to extract the hemp plant’s essential cannabinoids safely and effectively.

Try Full-Spectrum Hemp Oil for Yourself

Everybody is different, but with the surging popularity of hemp and CBD products, aren’t you curious about giving high-quality, full-spectrum hemp oil a try?

Find the right product and potency for you—from yummy CBD lip balms to tinctures and gummies.

The CBD oil products we offer at Veritas Farms are all made from full-spectrum hemp, so you get the benefit of all cannabinoids and compounds. Check out our full line of products to learn more.

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