Whole Plant Extracts vs Single-molecule Compounds
Understanding the benefits of Medical Cannabis can be a confusing subject.
One area that typically causes confusion, especially if you are new to medical cannabis, is single-molecule compounds versus whole plant extracts.
Understanding the difference between whole plant cannabis products and single-molecule cannabis products is important so you can make the best and most informed decisions possible when it comes to your medical cannabis therapy.
Please keep in mind that whole plant extracts are often called “full-spectrum” extracts and that these two terms are interchangeable.
What are Single-molecule Compounds?
Single-molecule compounds, frequently referred to as “distillates” or “isolates,” are cannabis products that are created by extracting one specific cannabinoid like CBD or THC.
While being able to isolate a specific cannabinoid may sound great at first, single-molecule compounds may not be as beneficial to your health as whole plant extracts.
The medical efficacy of cannabis appears to increase in potency as the various cannabinoids, terpenes and other compounds interact with each other.
What are Whole Plant Extracts?
Whole plant extracts or full-spectrum extracts are cannabis extracts that have been created using whole plants and have had no cannabinoids or other beneficial compounds purposely removed.
The chemical profile of the full-spectrum extract will vary depending on the strain of cannabis or hemp that was used, as well as the extraction method.
For example, a very high CBD, very low THC strain like Avidekel will produce a full-spectrum extract that has high levels of CBD and very low levels of THC. If the same extraction process was used with a high THC, low CBD strain like Bubba Kush, it would result in a whole plant extract with high levels of THC and low levels of CBD.
Typically, a base carrier oil is added to dilute the extract or the extract is sold without being diluted in its “pure” form. An example of a non-diluted full-spectrum extract is the legendary Rick Simpson Oil (RSO).
Follow this link to learn more about RSO.
The most apparent benefit of these full-spectrum extracts is that they are made with whole plants and contain natural fatty acids, flavonoids, vitamins, minerals, terpenes and many other lesser known cannabinoids.
These cannabis compounds work together to create synergies known as “The Entourage Effect.”
What is the Entourage Effect?
Have you ever heard of The Entourage Effect?
As the name suggests, “The Entourage Effect” creates synergies between cannabinoids (there are close to 150 different phytocannabinoids that can be produced by the cannabis plant) and other cannabis compounds that can create powerful effects and medical benefits.
Current research suggests that specific cannabinoids can be far more effective when combined and some, like CBN, wil not have any effect at all unless other cannabinoids are present. If research continues to deliver results like the ones shown in this study, we will likely see more evidence in the near future demonstrating that whole plant extracts deliver more overall medical effectiveness.
To learn more about the Entourage Effect click here.
Why Single-molecule Compounds can be Bad for Your Wallet
If you have purchased any prescription medications in recent years, then you know how expensive they can be. This is especially true if the medication you are purchasing is patented and there are no generic versions of it available on the market.
These patents allow pharmaceutical companies to set their own prices and stop other companies from creating generic versions of medications for up to 20 years. The problem for pharmaceutical companies is that they must have unique ingredients or processes for extracting specific compounds for them to be able to obtain a patent in the first place.
This is where single-molecule compounds come into play.
One great example of how this process works can be seen in the medication Epidiolex.
The Cost of Epidiolex vs Full-spectrum Oil
According to Rxlist.com, Epidiolex is:
a clear, colorless to yellow liquid containing cannabidiol at a concentration of 100mg/ml.
The US FDA states this medication is used for treating seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome in patients 2 years of age or older.
The company that makes Epidiolex, GW Pharmaceuticals, “owns 8 issued patents and 22 pending, published applications specifically related to proprietary uses for, extraction methods of, and hybrid strains of cannabis,” according to Patentvue.com.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, a company that has been successful using full-spectrum cannabis oil for treating Dravet syndrome is Charlotte’s Web. This company is owned and operated by the Stanley Brothers, who created a high CBD and very low THC strain for medical purposes named Charlotte’s Web.
The company gained significant amounts of media attention after the Figgy family found success using their full-spectrum cannabis products to help their young daughter, Charlotte, find relief from her Dravet syndrome related seizures.
If you would like to read more about her story, please visit our article on medical cannabis and pediatric epilepsy.
While both products show promise in the treatment of Dravet syndrome, the cost to acquire them is vastly different. A 100 ml bottle of Charlotte’s Web CBD oil that contains 50 mg/ml CBD costs $275 USD or roughly $3,300 USD per year, according to Charlottesweb.com, while the estimated cost for a year of Epidiolex treatment is $32,500 USD, according to Yahoo Finance.
In short, the cost of a patented medication that uses a single-molecule compound is MORE THAN 9 times that of a whole spectrum oil that has been given considerable evidence for helping patients with the same medical condition.
What About Other Isolates?
Aside from their use in the pharmaceutical industry, cannabinoid isolate products have appeared in the medical and recreational cannabis marketplaces as well. While there are various isolate products that only contain THC, it is far more common to hear of isolates that are “Pure CBD.”
These “Pure CBD” products are typically CBD oils that are created by adding a carrier oil to CBD isolate.
To learn more about the different types of CBD oils and how they are made, please visit this Kanteeva article.
Do CBD Isolates Work?
Recently, there has been tons of media coverage about how amazing CBD can be. Most likely, you have even heard stories from people you know about their success with CBD oil.
It is important to understand that CBD oil is not necessarily made from a CBD isolate.
More often than not, when you hear the success stories associated with CBD oil, the people sharing those stories are consuming either a full-spectrum or broad-spectrum CBD oil that has been made from a whole plant extract and not created from an isolate.
There is no arguing that CBD has great potential for treating a variety of symptoms, and many people have success using CBD isolate products.
Many of these same users have reported even more potent medical benefits when they switch to a broad-spectrum or full-spectrum oil.
Again, just as with isolates in the pharmaceutical industry, there has been research that shows these single-molecule products are not as effective as their whole spectrum counterparts.
Isolates can be beneficial if you are in an area that does not allow full-spectrum products or if you want the benefits that CBD offers while consuming no THC whatsoever.
Final Thoughts
If you have the choice between a whole plant extract or a single-molecule compound, we urge you to stop and consider your options before trying any products as whole plant products are most likely going to be your best option.
If you are struggling to find the best strains for your individual needs, we invite you to read our ailment articles and our in-depth strain reviews to learn more about different cannabis strains.
We Want to Hear From You
Have you had the opportunity to try whole plant extracts or isolate products in the past? If so, we would love to hear from you.
Please share your experience with the community in the comments area below.
If you have any additional questions about the best options for your needs, please feel free to ask in the comments area below and one of our Kanteeva team members will get back to you as soon as possible.
Also, be sure to join the Kanteeva community to learn more about what others are finding the most success with.
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