There is no single form of CBD. It comes as an oil you hold under the tongue, a gummy you chew, a cream you rub into a sore shoulder, and several formats in between. Which one suits you depends on what you want it for.
Full spectrum, broad spectrum, and isolate
Before the format comes the extract. Every CBD product is one of three kinds.
Full spectrum keeps the full range of compounds found in the hemp plant, including a trace of THC within the legal limit. Some people choose it for that wider plant profile.
Broad spectrum keeps the same range with the THC removed. It suits anyone who wants the wider profile and no THC at all.
Isolate is CBD on its own. Everything else is stripped out, which makes it the most predictable of the three.
None of the three is stronger than the others by definition. Strength comes from the milligrams in the bottle, not the spectrum on the label.
The main forms of CBD
Oils and tinctures
A dropper of oil is held under the tongue before swallowing. The dropper makes the amount easy to adjust, which matters while you are still working out what suits you.
Read more: CBD tinctures and oils
Gummies and edibles
An edible is measured for you, so there is nothing to pour and nothing to guess at. It passes through digestion, so it takes longer to be felt than an oil. The effect tends to last longer.
Read more: CBD gummies
Topicals
Creams, balms, and roll-ons go on the skin over a specific spot. They are used for that area rather than for a whole-body effect.
Read more: CBD topicals and does topical CBD work
Smokable hemp
Hemp flower and hemp cigarettes are inhaled, which is the fastest route on this page. It also carries the drawbacks of smoking anything, so it suits a narrow set of people.
Read more: CBD cigarettes
Capsules
A capsule is a fixed amount swallowed like any supplement. It behaves much like an edible, without the flavor.
Which form should you choose?
Start with what you want it for, not with the product.
- For a sore knee, a stiff neck, or skin, a topical goes directly on the area.
- For something steady through the day, an oil or a capsule is easier to keep consistent.
- For a set amount with no measuring, a gummy or a capsule does that work for you.
- For finding your own amount, an oil gives the finest control of anything here.
One check applies to every form. Every product should have a third-party certificate of analysis available. It should show the cannabinoid content and confirm the product is free of contaminants. Potency that cannot be verified is only a number printed on a label.