CBD isolate

In the modern CBD industry, manufacturers constantly come up with innovative ways to extract cannabinoids from hemp flowers. In turn, as new extraction methods are devised, they lead to the further development of new and exciting CBD products.

Certain hemp CBD products – like full-spectrum extracts – are created with the end goal of retaining a plethora of cannabinoids and terpenes. Conversely, isolate products are made with the objective of isolating CBD from all other plant materials – including other cannabinoids.

In today’s market, different CBD products have garnered their own dedicated following of customers. Around the globe, people enjoy CBD isolate because it affords unrivaled purity and extremely precise dosing.

What is CBD Isolate?

CBD isolates are hemp extracts that are refined into pure CBD.

Importantly, hemp contains over 100 active cannabinoids aside from CBD. When CBD is pulled from hemp flowers through processes like hydrocarbon and CO2 extraction, most of these other active cannabinoids are pulled with the CBD. Even more, most hemp extraction methods also extract terpenes, chlorophyll, and other plant materials. As a result, while most CBD extracts primarily contain CBD, some also house a number of other chemicals.

CBD isolates differ from other hemp extracts in that they don’t contain any other cannabinoids, terpenes, or other plant materials.

How is CBD Isolate Made?

To make CBD isolate, manufacturers must undergo a series of steps to transform hemp biomass into pure CBD.

The first step in the CBD isolate manufacturing process is extraction. For the most part, the initial extraction process is the same for all CBD concentrates, including full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate.

Using hydrocarbon, ethanol, or CO2 extraction methods, manufacturers isolate CBD and other valuable compounds with a solvent. By running the solvent through hemp flowers, it pulls cannabinoids and terpenes from other organic materials. The solvent/cannabinoid mixture is then purged of excess solvents – leaving CBD oil.

After it is made, CBD oil can take a number of avenues in the CBD product supply chain. Sometimes, the crude CBD oil is sold in bulk to other manufactures, while some companies use CBD oil as the main ingredient in vape products and edibles. Other businesses refine CBD oil to further isolate certain compounds.

Distillation is the next step in the isolate manufacturing process. With distillation, manufacturers isolate CBD from other compounds through a process of boiling, condensation, and separation. If done correctly, distillation can result in an extract that is 70% pure CBD.

The final step in the CBD isolate manufacturing process is crystallization. In this phase, the extract is again heated and cooled, where it finally forms into CBD crystals of 99.9% purity.

CBD Isolate Effects

Because CBD isolate is cannabidiol in its purest state, it focuses the effect on the benefits of CBD, as opposed to those of other cannabinoids. In fact, people enjoy isolates because they provide the relief of CBD without any of the added side effects that come with other cannabinoids and terpenes.

Common CBD isolate effects include:

  • Calming
  • Pain relief
  • Sleep aid
  • Anti-inflammatory

CBD has also been proven to be an effective treatment for seizures. In fact, the only FDA-approved CBD medicine to date, epidiolex, is prescribed specifically to treat Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

CBD Isolate Uses

In researching cannabinoids, doctors uncovered a phenomenon known as the “entourage effect.” With the entourage effect, CBD, THC, and other chemicals work in conjunction with one another to create unique effects in subjects. While some people enjoy the benefits of the entourage effect, others prefer to only consume pure CBD.

CBD isolate is a great option for individuals who are skeptical about the unpredictable nature of the entourage effect. CBD isolate is also widely popular because it offers precision dosing and strong product purity.

Some people choose CBD isolate over full-spectrum extracts because they are concerned about drug testing. While the federal government considers levels of 0.3% THC legal in hemp, it can be difficult to explain this trace of THC in your body if you fail a drug test. As such, professional athletes and people who get drug tested for work often prefer CBD isolate to full-spectrum products.

The Pros and Cons of CBD Isolates

As seen with other CBD products, CBD isolates have both their benefits and drawbacks. Yet, these factors are not necessarily universal rules that apply to everyone. Namely, because people often have quite different experiences with cannabinoid products. As such, a factor that might be considered a “pro” for one person can simultaneously be considered a “con” for another.

Potential Benefits of CBD Isolate

In the end, the benefits of CBD isolate are almost entirely tied to the fact that the compound is composed of pure CBD.

With CBD isolate, you can consume extremely controlled doses of CBD, without worrying about potential complications with the entourage effect. With this approach, you eliminate the chance of unwanted side effects from your CBD products.

Isolates are also extremely useful when it comes to making CBD-infused foods and beverages. Due to the fact that CBD isolate is a pure cannabinoid, it doesn’t taint food with the flavor of other plant materials. Conversely, less refined extracts often taste strongly like chlorophyll or other organic compounds.

Disadvantages of CBD Isolate

The disadvantages of CBD isolate are tied to peoples’ preferred methods of CBD consumption, as well as the many manufacturing steps required to make the compound.

While certain people only wish to consume pure CBD with isolate, others enjoy the added effects that come with full-spectrum extracts and the entourage effect. In fact, full-spectrum extracts are also referred to as “whole-plant” extracts because they include so many additional chemical compounds. For people who enjoy all-natural products, CBD isolate seems to lack some of the most beneficial compounds found in hemp.

Because CBD isolate requires so many steps in manufacturing, certain consumers are concerned it might house residual chemical solvents. As some parts of the extraction, distillation, and crystallization processes require the use of chemicals, certain health-conscious demographics might consider isolate to be unnatural and unhealthy.

Contact High Grade Hemp Seed with Questions

As an industry-leading CBD seed company, High Grade Hemp Seed, a division of Santa Fe Farms, has spent years researching the many nuances of hemp flowers and cannabinoids. Please contact us to learn more.