There are so many combinations of cannabinoids, terpenes, and other lesser-known elements that could mean that applying the entire cannabis plant could actually be the best way to get the most out of this drug.
While there is of course a lot of talk these days about the therapeutic benefits of marijuana's non-intoxicating compound cannabidiol (CBD), there's more to the cannabis plant, and it's said that really the best application should contain all of the plant's components.
When it comes to cannabis extracts, the term “full spectrum” is an important one to remember. Normal extractions are known to sift out certain components, which can cause the finished product to lack the depth present in the entire plant. Thus, a customer can get their hands on a very potent product, which could contain more than 50% THC, but lose taste and other crucial aspects. In the world of full spectrum extracts, the chemist takes care to extract the exact profile from the plant.
The entourage effect
To truly understand the importance of full spectrum, it is first necessary to come to grips with the term the cannabis industry refers to as 'the entourage effect'. Simply put, the cannabis plant is made up of over 100 cannabinoids, a variety of terpenes, flavonoids, etc., all of which work in synergy to bring to life the plant's unique therapeutic properties.
Research has shown that whole plant medicine is more effective than CBD-only extracts when it comes to treating health problems, especially pain and inflammation. It is not that CBD alone has no curative effect, but the cannabinoid is somewhat limited when the other components of the plant are missing.
Think of the entourage effect in terms of a musical group. The guitarist can single-handedly produce an effect that evokes a certain feeling in an individual. But in combination with the bass, drums and vocals, that's when the magic really happens.
It's easy to get confused and overwhelmed when looking for extracts for their medicinal function. Right now, CBD is the rock star cannabinoid that, in some cases, even surpasses marijuana's psychoactive compound THC. But while the media mostly talks in terms of CBD when telling success stories about children with epilepsy, sometimes they don't tell the public that many of these sick children are actually using whole plant extracts - they are simply derived from CBD-dominant strains.
"They don't always tell us the whole truth," said Jason David, whose son Jayden has been using medical marijuana to combat his attacks since 2011.
“It is impossible for all of these children in Colorado to control their seizures and get off all their medications without using different ratios and adding THC and THCA. Charlotte's Web can work great at first, but it's impossible to get off all the drugs and go through benzo shots without being able to play with the THC ratios. ”
It can be difficult to track down true full spectrum cannabis extracts. This is mainly because the process of developing these types of products is so extensive that only those who are well acquainted with the mad science can attack the work without making it a spectacle. However, if a retailer is selling full spectrum products, most of them will have the paperwork to prove they are legit. When in doubt, ask for the documentation - they'll be happy to share it with you.
Sources include ChicagoTribute (EN), TheFreshToast(EN), Topic420 (EN)
