Broad Spectrum vs Full Spectrum CBD Oil: The Difference
If you’ve compared two CBD oils side by side and found one labelled “broad spectrum” and the other “full spectrum,” with no further explanation of what that actually means, you’re not alone. The difference between broad spectrum vs full spectrum CBD comes down to one specific compound, THC, and understanding it is the single most useful thing you can know before choosing between the two. It’s a five-minute read that saves you from guessing at the checkout, or worse, buying a product that doesn’t actually suit what you need it for.
“Whenever someone asks me broad spectrum or full spectrum, my answer is always the same: full spectrum, every time. For me it comes down to the full plant profile – all those minor cannabinoids and terpenes working together rather than isolated on their own. THC content has never been a concern for me personally, and once you’ve felt the difference the complete profile makes, it’s hard to go back to anything less. That’s the choice I’d make every single time, and it’s the one I recommend to anyone who asks.” – Avid Consumer
For the full background on what CBD oil is and how it’s made, see our full CBD oil South Africa guide. This article focuses specifically on the broad spectrum versus full spectrum decision, so if you’re already comfortable with the basics, you can go straight to the comparison below.
The Core Difference: THC
Both broad spectrum and full spectrum CBD oil are made from the same starting point, hemp plant extract containing CBD along with a range of other naturally occurring cannabinoids and terpenes. What separates them is a single processing step: whether THC is removed from that extract or left in at a trace, regulated amount. Everything else about the two products, from how they’re dosed to how they’re stored, is essentially the same, which is exactly why THC content is the one detail worth focusing on when you’re choosing between them.
Broad Spectrum: THC Removed
Broad spectrum CBD oil goes through an additional filtering step after initial extraction, specifically to remove THC while keeping the other cannabinoids and terpenes intact. The result is a product with zero or effectively undetectable THC, while still carrying the wider range of hemp compounds beyond CBD alone. This additional step is why broad spectrum products are sometimes described as sitting between full spectrum and isolate, all of the plant’s compounds except the one people most often want removed.
Full Spectrum: Trace THC Within Legal Limits
Full spectrum CBD oil skips that additional THC-removal step, so it retains the complete plant profile, including a small, regulated amount of THC. SAHPRA’s THC and CBD information [opens in new tab] sets out the specific thresholds that keep a full spectrum product classified as a complementary medicine rather than a controlled substance. The THC level in a compliant full spectrum product is deliberately kept well below anything that would produce an intoxicating effect, its presence is a byproduct of keeping the full plant profile intact, not a design goal in itself.
What Compounds Each One Keeps
Beyond THC, both spectrum types keep a similar range of minor cannabinoids and terpenes from the original hemp extract, compounds like CBC, CBN, CBG and CBDV, alongside CBD itself. Neither spectrum type is “purer” CBD than the other in terms of CBD content specifically, the difference is entirely about what else comes along with it. This is different again from isolate, which strips out everything except CBD on its own, leaving neither the other cannabinoids nor the terpenes that broad and full spectrum products both retain. If your priority is CBD specifically and nothing else from the plant, isolate is worth knowing about as a third option, even though it isn’t the comparison this article focuses on.
How CBD Oil Is Extracted And Filtered
Most CBD oil starts with a CO2 or ethanol extraction process that pulls cannabinoids and terpenes out of raw hemp plant material into a concentrated extract. Peer-reviewed research describes how CO2 extraction pulls cannabinoids and terpenes from hemp [opens in new tab] in a single process, using pressurised carbon dioxide rather than a chemical solvent. From there, the extract is filtered using chromatography, a separation technique, either to remove THC specifically for a broad spectrum result, or filtered further still to strip everything but CBD for an isolate. Full spectrum oil skips this additional filtering stage entirely, which is why it retains the widest compound profile of the three. The care taken at this filtering stage, not just the extraction method itself, is ultimately what determines which of the two products you end up with.
Which One Should You Choose?
Neither option is objectively better, the right choice depends on what matters to you specifically: THC avoidance, or the complete plant profile. Both are legitimate, well-supported choices, so think of this less as picking a “winner” and more as matching the product to your own priority.
Choose Broad Spectrum If…
Broad spectrum is the more straightforward choice if you want to avoid THC entirely, whether that’s a personal preference or a practical necessity like a workplace drug-testing policy. You still get the wider range of hemp compounds alongside CBD, just without any THC in the mix, so you’re not sacrificing much beyond that one compound.
Choose Full Spectrum If…
Full spectrum suits you if you’re not concerned about trace THC and want the complete, unfiltered plant profile. Some people choose full spectrum specifically because they want every naturally occurring compound intact, on the idea that they may work together rather than in isolation, sometimes called the entourage effect. If drug testing at work is a real consideration for you, that risk, however small, is usually the deciding factor toward broad spectrum instead, and it’s worth weighing before you commit to a bottle.
African Cannamed’s Broad Spectrum And Full Spectrum Range
African Cannamed makes one product in each spectrum type, so the choice comes down to which of the two considerations above matters more to you. For the zero-THC option, our Broad Spectrum CBD Oil is made with MCT oil in an oral dropper format, available in four strengths from 600mg to 4000mg, with THC entirely removed. For the complete profile, our Full Spectrum CBD Oil Spray carries the full phytocannabinoid range in the same four strength options, in a natural-tasting oral spray format, with trace THC within South Africa’s regulated limits. Both are independently tested, with published Certificates of Analysis confirming exactly what’s in each batch, so you don’t have to take either product’s label on faith alone.
Browse African Cannamed’s CBD Oil range, or read the complete CBD oil guide for the full picture on dosage, legality and choosing a quality product.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between broad spectrum and full spectrum CBD oil?
Broad spectrum keeps the range of hemp compounds that occur alongside CBD while removing THC entirely during an additional filtering step. Full spectrum keeps the complete plant profile, including trace THC within South Africa’s regulated limits. Both retain the same set of other cannabinoids and terpenes.
Does broad spectrum CBD oil contain THC?
No. Broad spectrum CBD oil goes through additional filtering specifically to remove THC, leaving zero or effectively undetectable levels while keeping the other hemp compounds intact.
Which is better, broad spectrum or full spectrum CBD oil?
Neither is objectively better. Broad spectrum suits people who want to avoid THC entirely, whether by preference or practical necessity. Full spectrum suits people who want the complete, unfiltered plant profile and aren’t concerned about trace THC. The right one for you depends entirely on which of those two priorities matters more.
Will full spectrum CBD oil show up on a drug test?
It carries some risk, however small, since it contains trace THC within South Africa’s regulated limits. Broad spectrum oil, with THC removed entirely, carries a far lower risk of triggering a positive result on a THC-specific test. If drug testing at work is a consideration for you, that’s usually the deciding factor between the two.
Last Updated: July 2026
