CBD oil and CBD products are popular because of their purported healing effects, but with so many types available it can be difficult to understand the difference. Some products say they are THC free, but is that true?
There are many reasons why people take CBD oil, and many don’t want to risk having THC in their bloodstream either because of a fear of the high or they just don’t like the idea of it being in their system.
We’ll examine what it means when a CBD product is THC free and if it’s better than the alternative.
What Are THC and CBD?
The hemp plant is where recreational cannabis and CBD-based products come from. There are many chemicals in this plant including cannabidiol, CBD, and tetrahydrocannabinol. THC. Many of these chemicals have beneficial properties, but the most talked about is CBD and THC.
While CBD has been associated with calming, pain relief, etc., THC is the chemical that creates the high that is popular with recreational marijuana. It’s can create feelings of paranoia and psychoactive effects.
CBD products come in various forms from standard, THC free, ND-THC, and full or broad spectrum. It’s important to understand the difference when buying these products.
Is THC Free, Really THC Free?
You’ll see many CBD products saying they are THC free, but that may not be the case. It’s legal to have as much as .3 percent of THC by weight in the product and still be legal to sell. Many companies that sell CBD products proclaim a product is THC free if it contains less than this amount.
When a CBD product is evaluated, a third-party lab analyzes the levels of before it hits the shelves and provides a certificate of analysis that verifies the amount of cannabis chemicals in their product. The problem arises in how accurate their equipment is in the analysis.
It can be difficult to proclaim any CBD product is officially THC free because there may be an amount in the product that is too low for the machines to detect. If a product says it is ND-THC, then it means analysis of the product showed THC levels were so low, it was not detectable by the lab equipment.
If you’re looking for a CBD product that has the absolute lowest amount of THC possible, then you’d want to choose ND-THC over THC free.
When someone seeks CBD isolates, they want a product that is CBD only and does not have any of the other chemicals in cannabis including THC. A CBD isolate contains only CBD molecules, but even the most state-of-the-art lab equipment that can trace minuscule levels of THC cannot be 100 percent sure there is no trace of the chemical in the product.
The best you can get is ND-THC because it has amounts so low the lab equipment can’t detect it.
Will I Get High from THC in CBD?
Many people are afraid that a small amount of THC in CBD can get them high, but that would be exceedingly difficult. There is a distinct difference between recreational marijuana and CBD products. Marijuana has high levels of THC, which is the exact opposite of THC free CBD products.
The only way to get a high from the low levels of THC in CBD products would be to take a large amount of it. Given the general expense for CBD products, this would be incredibly expensive and even then, you might not get high from it because the levels are so low.
People also fear they could fail a drug test because of the THC levels in CBD products. If the company is only looking for THC, then you should not fail the drug test. The Department of Health and Human Services and Federal Drug Administration sets the THC drug test limit at 50 milligrams/millilitre.
There is no way CBD can trigger that amount. Keep in mind that not all companies follow that standard, so check with them before using CBD. It’s also possible the company is checking for all cannabinoids, which includes not only THC but CBD as well.
In this case, it is possible for you to fail the drug test based on levels of CBD. Ask your employer what type of test they are using and their limits for both CBD and THC.
Full Spectrum vs. Broad Spectrum CBD
Many products are CBD only with trace amounts of THC, but there is also full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD. What’s the difference?
A full spectrum distillate contains CBD, but also all the other chemicals found in hemp including trace cannabinoids, terpenes, and others. It also contains less than .3 percent of THC. Full-spectrum extends the benefits of CBD by adding other compounds with healing benefits.
Broad-spectrum products are like full-spectrum in that they contain all the compounds of hemp, but exceptionally low traces of THC. It’s like taking a CBD isolate and then adding the other compounds except for THC. The levels are usually so low then are non-detectable.
Is THC Free CBD Better?
Given that many companies show THC free as simply falling below the legal standard, there is little difference between THC free and a product that doesn’t proclaim it is THC free. Instead, seek out products that contain ND-THC as they have the absolute lowest amount.
If you are looking for the ultimate in purported healing and relaxation without the presence of THC, then broad spectrum would provide the best outcome. They are also more expensive because they must provide testing and keep levels of all the cannabinoids and terpenes within acceptable levels.
If you’re not worried about the levels of THC, then full spectrum provides the effects of CBD, plus the other compounds as well.
Choose the Best for You
Whether a product is THC free or not, it’s best to do extensive research first and make sure their testing is accurate and transparent. There are many types of CBD products available, so choose the one that best fits your needs.
If you would like to learn more about CBD oil or CBD oil testing, then please explore our site.
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
