Full spectrum CBD contains everything the hemp plant produces, including trace Delta-9 THC below the federal 0.3% limit. Broad spectrum CBD starts as the same extract, then goes through an extra refinement step that strips THC down to trace levels, in our case less than 0.1% total THC, while keeping the other cannabinoids and terpenes intact. The difference is not marketing. It shows up as a line on a lab report, and this guide shows you exactly where to look.
Key Takeaways
- Full spectrum CBD keeps the plant’s complete profile, including trace Delta-9 THC under the federal 0.3% limit.
- Broad spectrum CBD is the same extract with the THC refined out to trace levels. Ours tests below 0.1% total THC.
- The difference is verifiable on every batch’s COA: full spectrum shows a small Delta-9 value, broad spectrum shows a trace amount or ND.
- CBD strength is identical at the same milligram count. What changes is composition, not potency.
- If THC testing is part of your life, broad spectrum exists to take that variable off the table.
What is full spectrum CBD?
A full spectrum extract keeps the plant’s whole cannabinoid profile together: CBD out front, minor cannabinoids like CBG, CBN, and CBC behind it, the terpenes that carry flavor and aroma, and a trace amount of Delta-9 THC that stays under 0.3% by dry weight, which is what keeps it hemp under the 2018 Farm Bill hemp provisions. Nothing is isolated, nothing is rebuilt. What was in the flower is in the cart.
That completeness is why full spectrum is the default for people who want the plant as it grew. It is also where flavor lives. Our full spectrum Pure GOLD live resin carts are extracted from fresh-frozen exotic hemp flower, which is what live resin means: the terpene profile is locked in before it can degrade, so the cart tastes like the strain it came from.
What is broad spectrum CBD?
Broad spectrum takes that same extract one step further. After extraction, the oil goes through an additional refinement pass, typically chromatography, that separates the THC molecule out while leaving the rest of the cannabinoid and terpene profile in place. Done well, it is surgical: one compound comes out, the character stays. Done cheaply, it flattens the extract, which is why the terpene profile of a broad spectrum product tells you a lot about who made it. The result sits between full spectrum and a CBD isolate: nearly everything the plant offers, without the THC.
One honest note you will see on our own product pages: no cannabis extract can be guaranteed to contain absolutely zero THC. That is why the credible claim is a number, not a promise. Our broad spectrum distillate tests below 0.1% total THC, and every batch’s exact result is published on its certificate of analysis. If a brand says “THC-free” and cannot show you the lab line that backs it up, that is a red flag.
The difference, side by side
| Full spectrum | Broad spectrum | |
|---|---|---|
| THC content | Trace Delta-9, under 0.3% by dry weight | Stripped to trace levels; ours tests under 0.1% total THC |
| Cannabinoids | Complete profile: CBD, CBG, CBN, CBC and more | Nearly complete profile, THC removed |
| Terpenes | Full strain character, richest flavor | Preserved through refinement |
| On the COA | Delta-9 THC shows a small number under 0.3% | THC line shows a trace amount or ND (none detected) |
| Who reaches for it | People who want the whole plant and the fullest flavor | People who want CBD with no meaningful THC in the cart |
How to see it on a lab report
Every Primary Jane product ships with a QR code that opens the batch’s certificate of analysis from an independent lab. On the COA, find the potency table. It lists each cannabinoid with its measured percentage. On a full spectrum product you will see a Delta-9 THC value sitting under 0.3%. On a broad spectrum product that line reads as a trace value or ND, which means none detected above the lab’s reporting limit.
Thirty seconds with the potency table tells you more than any label copy ever will. If you want the full walkthrough, we wrote one: how third-party testing works and how to read a COA. Every batch we make is published on our Lab Results page.
Does broad spectrum have THC?
The straight answer: a trace at most, and you can verify the exact number yourself. Broad spectrum is refined specifically to remove THC, and each batch’s COA shows what is left, in our case below 0.1% total. Because trace amounts are not absolute zero, one fact matters if you are subject to THC testing: full spectrum products contain small amounts of THC by design, and repeated use is the scenario where that matters most. Broad spectrum is the option built for people who want that variable off the table. For the full picture, read our guide on CBD and drug testing. No product, ours included, can promise the outcome of a drug test, so we would rather show you the lab data than make the promise.
What about CBD isolate?
Isolate is the third option: pure CBD crystal with everything else removed, usually the cheapest way to put the letters CBD on a label. We do not build products on isolate. Once the minor cannabinoids and terpenes are gone, so is the character of the plant, and character is the point of small-batch extraction. Broad spectrum is our answer for THC-conscious buyers because it removes one compound instead of removing everything.
Which one belongs in your cart?
It comes down to what you want in the vapor. If you want the complete profile and the truest strain flavor, full spectrum is the pick. If you want the same craft extract with THC taken out of the equation, that is exactly what our THC-free line is for. Neither choice is a compromise on quality, because both are made the same way: US-grown exotic hemp, small batches, fresh-frozen flower, all-glass hardware with nothing cut in, and a COA for every batch.
One more practical note: spectrum matters more than the number on the front of the box. Two carts can both say 2G and behave nothing alike, because milligrams describe quantity while spectrum describes what is actually in the oil. Read the spectrum first, the strength second, and the COA before either.
- Pure GOLD 2G THC-Free CBD Vape Carts · broad spectrum, all-glass 510 cart
- Pure GOLD 2G THC-Free Disposable · same extract, built-in battery
- Pure GOLD 4G Dual-Chamber Broad Spectrum Disposable · two strains, one device
Browse the whole line in our CBD vape collection, and scan the QR on whatever you pick. The lab report is the story we want you to read.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is broad spectrum CBD?
Broad spectrum CBD is a hemp extract that keeps most of the plant’s cannabinoids and terpenes but has the THC removed to trace levels through additional refinement. It sits between full spectrum, which keeps trace THC, and isolate, which keeps only CBD.
Does broad spectrum CBD show up on a drug test?
Broad spectrum products contain at most trace THC, and each batch’s exact level is on its COA. Testing outcomes depend on the product, usage, and the test itself, so no brand can honestly guarantee a result. Checking the batch COA before you buy is the only real verification.
Is full spectrum stronger than broad spectrum?
Not in CBD content. At the same milligram strength the CBD dose is the same. The difference is composition: full spectrum carries the complete profile including trace THC, while broad spectrum carries the profile without it.
How do I check the THC content of my product?
Scan the QR code on the packaging or visit our Lab Results page, open your batch’s COA, and read the potency table. Full spectrum shows Delta-9 THC under 0.3%. Broad spectrum shows a trace value or ND.
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