Cannabidiol (CBD) distillate is a liquid containing a refined form of CBD. The distillation process helps to remove some other compounds from the cannabis plant, providing a higher concentration of CBD.

The cannabis plant contains hundreds of phytochemicals, or plant compounds, including cannabinoids. CBD is a cannabinoid that may possess several potential health benefits. While more research is still necessary, this could include reducing inflammation, pain, and anxiety.

Many CBD products contain other cannabinoid compounds, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), or other cannabis plant compounds called terpenes. These may cause unwanted side effects in some people. However, in some cases, cannabis plant compounds may work together to strengthen CBD’s benefits.

Some production methods can extract a purer form of CBD into a liquid called CBD distillate. This article explains CBD distillate, compares it to CBD isolate, and breaks down the potential benefits and risks.

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CBD distillate is a yellow, viscous liquid that contains a high percentage of CBD. It forms after the hemp plant undergoes a distillation process. Distillation refers to a purification method that can separate components or impurities of a liquid mixture, typically by using heat.

This process filters out other compounds, leaving the remaining liquid with a much higher concentration of CBD. The distillation process for CBD distillate typically uses steam, vacuum suction, and higher temperatures to strip and refine CBD from hemp extracts into a CBD-rich liquid.

This may vary depending on the extraction methodTrusted Source. According to a 2020 reviewTrusted Source, the preferred extraction methods use the following:

  • carbon dioxide
  • ethanol
  • solvents

Other extraction methods, such as those using butane or hexane, may leave harmful residues in the final product.

Distillation does not entirely remove THC and other cannabinoids. However, it increases the concentration of CBD in the final liquid product. CBD distillate is a full-spectrum product, meaning it contains all of the compounds in the whole cannabis plant.

Legally, CBD products may only contain up to 0.3%Trusted Source THC. This is not enough to produce the “high” that people may associate with the cannabis plant.

CBD distillate and isolate are different forms of CBD products, and the definition depends on which other compounds are in the final product.

As full-spectrum products, CBD distillates contain THCTrusted Source, terpenes, essential oils, plant compounds, and other cannabinoids. However, CBD is the most prominent compound. CBD isolates contain pure CBD and no other cannabis-derived compounds.

While distillate usually develops as a liquid, CBD isolate is often available in many different forms, such as gummies.

There is currently only one use of purified CBD that has approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Trusted Source, which is an antiseizure medication called Epidiolex.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), some researchTrusted Source has found that CBD may have benefits for people looking to manage certain symptoms. However, long term, stronger studies are necessary to confirm if CBD could help reduce:

A 2023 reviewTrusted Source suggests that CBD may also have use in other health conditions, including:

There is only a small amount of research into the effects of CBD distillate over other forms of full-spectrum CBD. However, compared to CBD isolate, CBD distillate might produceTrusted Source greater benefits as different cannabis-derived compounds work together, according to a theory known as the entourage effect. The entourage effect would not apply to isolate as it does not contain other compounds.

According to a 2023 reviewTrusted Source, the entourage effect is only a theory, and stronger, larger studies could help confirm it.

CBD in any form is relatively safe to use. However, it may cause side effects for some people, especially in high doses or concentrations, These might include:

The FDA does not control most CBD products. As such, it is not uncommon for labeling to be inaccurate. A 2017 studyTrusted Source found that 25% of CBD products listed a lower amount of CBD and THC than the product actually contained. The researchers also found that 60% of products contained less CBD and THC than the label advised.

People may, therefore, receive a higher or lower dose than expected, depending on the manufacturer.

When picking a CBD product, people can reduce their risk of inaccurate labeling and maximize the possible benefits by considering the following:

  • Check that the distillate contains less than 0.3% THCTrusted Source.
  • Make sure that the distillate is pesticide freeTrusted Source and also that the manufacturer has not used butane or hexaneTrusted Source in the production of the distillate.
  • Look over the FDA’s warning lettersTrusted Source page. This list includes manufacturers that the FDA has contacted to request the withdrawal or relabeling of certain products that do not meet requirements. Check that a manufacturer does not feature on this page.
  • An external, independent lab with full ISO-IEC-17025 certification should have tested the product for heavy metals, mold, pesticides, and microbes. The product should come with a certificate confirming this check.
  • A certificate of analysis (COA)Trusted Source should be available for every product from a manufacturer. This will show the content of each cannabis compound in a product, including CBD, as well as the results of all safety tests and contaminant checks.

CBD distillates are full-spectrum, liquid CBD products that contain a high concentration of CBD. They also contain other cannabinoids. This means they differ from CBD isolate products, which only contain CBD.

Few studies have compared the two, but distillates may benefit from the entourage effect. This refers to the theory that different cannabis plant compounds work together to provide possible health benefits.

Further research is necessary to confirm the benefits of CBD and the strength of the entourage effect. However, evidence suggests that CBD may help with pain, anxiety, and inflammation. When choosing a CBD distillate, it is advisable to pick a reputable manufacturer with a COA from an independent lab.