Formulating Compliant Products with Full Spectrum Distillate
Full Spectrum Distillate and Compliant Full Spectrum Distillate
If you are a farmer, formulator, lab, or making something for yourself at home, you probably run up against Full Spectrum Distillate and Compliant Full Spectrum Distillate. Those two CBD raw materials are different, mean different things, and both have their own pros and cons.
Let’s start with a basic definition of Full Spectrum CBD Oil. Full Spectrum CBD oil is distillate oil that is amber in color that contains all the cannabinoids from a hemp plant, including CBD and minor cannabinoids. Minor cannabinoids include CBC, CBN, CBG and THC. Non-compliant Full Spectrum CBD Distillate has not gone through any THC remediation process. Full Spectrum CBD distillate CBD to THC ratio is about 25:1 to 29:1 CBD:THC. Full Spectrum CBD Distillate is usually around 80% CBD and 3% THC.
The definition of Compliant Full Spectrum CBD Oil is distillate oil that is also amber in color but has gone through THC remediation process to get the THC levels below 0.3% THC to get it fit for commerce.
Lets explore the PRO’s and CON’s
Pros and Cons of Full Spectrum Distillate
| PRO | CON |
| Has all minor cannabinoids | Not fit for commerce |
| Can make great full spectrum finished products after formulation* | Large companies don’t want to hold on to this stuff from DATCP and FDA ambiguity of rules |
* more on making compliant full spectrum finished products later in this article
Pros and Cons of Compliant Full Spectrum Distillate
| PRO | CON |
| Fit for commerce | THC remediated to below 0.3% THC |
| Most larger companies buy the fit for commerce full spectrum CBD distillate | Other cannabinoids get removed as well that are close to THC like CBN |
The math behind compliant products made with Full Spectrum Distillate
Just because you don’t have a complaint Full Spectrum Distillate, doesn’t mean you cannot make compliant Full Spectrum finished products. Examples of finished full spectrum compliant products include gummies, tinctures, salves, lotions, and gels. So how do you make compliant products? How high of a dosage can you make for finished products? Well, just copy and paste this table in Microsoft Excel and find out. Note that cells B1 to B5 are inputs you need to fill in depending on what you are making. This table will just help you determine if your finished products will end up compliant.
In the example below, we are making a tincture with 3 grams of Full Spectrum Distillate that has exactly 80.00% CBD and exactly 3.00% D9 THC. As you can see below, once Full Spectrum distillate in formulated with a carrier oil, you get a tincture that is compliant at .296% THC
| A | B | C | D | |
| 1 | Distillate (Grams) | 3 | 3 | input |
| 2 | Carrier Oil (Grams) | 26 | 26 | input |
| 3 | Distillate % CBD | 80.00% | 80.00% | input |
| 4 | Distillate % THC | 3.00% | 3.00% | input |
| 5 | Density of Carrier Oil | 0.95 | 0.95 | input (water is 1) |
| 6 | Total Volume | =B2/B5+B1 | 30.36842105 | <– for example 30mL tincture |
| 7 | Final CBD% | =B1*B3/B6 | 7.903% | |
| 8 | Final CBD mg | =B7*28350 | 2240.485269 | <– how much CBD (in MG) is in total container |
| 9 | Final THC% | =B1*B4/B6 | 0.296% | <– this needs to be under .3% |
| 10 | Final THC mg | =B9*28350 | 84.01819757 | <– how much THC (in MG) is in total container |
Please note these important conversions:
| 1000 mg = 1 gram |
| 1 ounce = 28.35 grams |
| 1 tablespoon = 15 grams |
Please write to us if you have any questions or concerns in product selection or formulation.
