The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) distinguishes CBD
(cannabidiol) extracts from hemp-derived products that have a
history of consumption, such as cold-pressed hemp seed oil. The
agency has not attempted, however, to make any distinction between
highly concentrated CBD isolate versus "full-spectrum"
hemp extracts that contain numerous cannabinoids, including CDB, at
lower concentrations. This article discusses whether the form of
CBD should impact its legality as a food additive or dietary
supplement under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA).
To understand the issue, it is important to define some of the
terminology. Isolate is CBD in its purest form and generally refers
to a pure crystalline powder that typically contains more than 95%
CBD. To produce CBD isolate, a manufacturer undertakes a process to
isolate only the CBD molecule, stripping out all remaining plant
material. Unlike CBD isolate, a full-spectrum hemp extract contains
the full assortment of
