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What is full-spectrum CBD?

Full-spectrum CBD is a whole-plant extract that keeps other cannabinoids, including some THC. In Australia most such products are Schedule 8.

Facts checked 13 November 20263 min readHow we research

Full-spectrum CBD is a whole-plant extract that keeps the plant’s natural mix of cannabinoids and terpenes, including some THC. It differs from isolate, which is CBD on its own, and broad spectrum, which keeps other plant compounds but has the THC removed. No good trial shows that one type works better than another, but full-spectrum products can cause a positive drug test.1

How do the three types compare?

Term What it contains THC
Isolate CBD only None intended
Broad spectrum CBD plus other cannabinoids and terpenes Removed
Full spectrum The extract with its natural mix of cannabinoids and terpenes Some

These are industry words. They are not defined in Australian law.

How does Australian law treat full-spectrum CBD?

The law looks at the share of cannabinoids that is CBD. A product is a Schedule 4 (prescription only) CBD medicine when CBD is 98% or more of its cannabinoids. Once other cannabinoids pass 2%, it falls under the cannabis and THC entries as a Schedule 8 controlled drug. That is where most products sold overseas as “full spectrum” would land.2

Does full spectrum work better?

That is the “entourage effect” claim. It has not been shown in controlled human trials.

  • No head-to-head trial has shown full spectrum beating isolate for any condition.
  • The epilepsy trials that led to a registered medicine used highly purified CBD.3
  • One small pilot in 44 people with alcohol use disorder found 150 mg a day of a full-spectrum product reduced craving more than a broad-spectrum product or placebo. The result needs repeating.4

A 2023 scoping review said the literature “provides limited evidence” for the entourage effect.5

Will full-spectrum CBD show on a drug test?

It can. Fourteen patients took a full-spectrum, high-CBD extract containing 0.02% THC for four weeks. The authors concluded that people using such products “may have positive test results” on a urine drug screen.6 Driving with any THC is an offence in every state and territory, with a medical defence in force only in Tasmania.7 See will CBD show up on a drug test?

Can you trust the label?

Not always, for unregulated products. In a 2024 United States study, 26% of products claiming to be full spectrum, broad spectrum or isolate did not meet the definition of the type named.8

If you drive, are drug tested or compete in sport, treat a full-spectrum product as a THC product, and ask your prescriber how much THC yours contains.

Read the full guide: full spectrum vs broad spectrum vs isolate.

Footnotes

  1. World Health Organization, Expert Committee on Drug Dependence. Cannabidiol (CBD) critical review report, 2018. https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/controlled-substances/whocbdreportmay2018-2.pdf ↩

  2. Australian Government. Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard, October 2026) Instrument 2026, cannabidiol, cannabis and tetrahydrocannabinols entries. https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2026L01327/asmade/2026-09-30/text/original/pdf ↩

  3. US National Library of Medicine, DailyMed. Epidiolex (cannabidiol) oral solution prescribing information. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=8bf27097-4870-43fb-94f0-f3d0871d1eec ↩

  4. Pilot randomised trial of full-spectrum and broad-spectrum hemp CBD (150 mg a day) in alcohol use disorder. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12066606 ↩

  5. Scoping review of the entourage effect, 2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37535820/ ↩

  6. Dahlgren MK, et al. Urine THC testing after four weeks of a full-spectrum, high-cannabidiol extract. JAMA Psychiatry, 2021. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33146684/ ↩

  7. Tasmanian Legislation. Road Safety (Alcohol and Drugs) Act 1970, s 6A. https://www.legislation.tas.gov.au/view/whole/html/inforce/current/act-1970-077 ↩

  8. Gidal BE, et al. Product labeling accuracy and contamination analysis of commercially available cannabidiol product samples. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10982813/ ↩

This page is general information, not medical or legal advice. Laws and evidence change; we show the date we last checked the facts at the top of every page. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.

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