Fact Checked by Doctor NameFull-spectrum cannabis extracts seek to preserve the wide array of compounds produced by the cannabis plant, including cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, to create a final product reminiscent of the starting material.
This contrasts with distillates that isolate specific compounds.
What are Full Spectrum Extracts?
Cannabis contains over 500 compounds that interact to produce effects through an entourage effect.
Many extraction methods, however, can degrade delicate terpenes and flavonoids.
Full spectrum processes aim to retain and harmonize as much of the plant’s complex chemistry as possible.
Popular full-spectrum extracts include:
- Live resin – Made using fresh frozen cannabis to better capture terpenes
- Hash rosin – Solventless concentrate preserving terpene diversity
- Whole plant extracts – Incorporate stalks, leaves, and flowers
Full-spectrum products may be minimally refined to preserve a wide palette of constituents. While THC and CBD typically dominate, the supporting cast of lesser-known components offers nuance.
The benefits of full-spectrum extracts touted by proponents include richer flavor profiles, more influence from terpenes and minor cannabinoids, and potentially greater therapeutic impact.
Raw CBD oils also contain CBDA, its acidic precursor. However, research is still limited to full-spectrum claims.
For consumers seeking an experience closer to the cannabis plant’s unadulterated chemical profile rather than isolated compounds, full-spectrum extracts offer compelling options.
