CBG, full spectrum, isolate: a cannabinoid category map for european resellers

Key takeaways

• Cannabinoids are the family of compounds in hemp; CBD and CBG are the two you’ll see most in legal hemp products, alongside trace, regulated amounts of THC.
• The terms full spectrum, broad spectrum and isolate describe what’s in an extract, not how strong it is.
• Full spectrum keeps the natural range of compounds (including trace THC); broad spectrum removes the THC; isolate is a single, near-pure cannabinoid.
• These categories map directly onto the products you stock — flower, oils and extracts.
• The only authoritative statement of composition is a product’s Certificate of Analysis.

Cannabinoids 101

Cannabinoids are a family of natural compounds produced by the hemp plant. Scientists have identified well over a hundred, but only a handful matter day to day in a CBD business. Here’s the short map:

• CBD (cannabidiol) — the cannabinoid the whole category is built around, and the basis of most legal hemp products.
• CBG (cannabigerol) — often described as a “parent” cannabinoid, because its acidic form is a precursor from which others develop in the plant. It has become a popular product category in its own right; hemp flower is frequently described as either CBD-dominant or CBG-dominant.
• THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) — the cannabinoid that is controlled as a narcotic and intoxicating. In legal hemp products it is present only in trace, regulated amounts, and keeping within each market’s THC limit is what keeps a product legal (see THC limits across Europe).
• CBN (cannabinol) and CBC (cannabichromene) — minor cannabinoids you’ll see listed on lab reports as part of a full profile.

A couple of technical points that come up. Cannabinoids exist in acidic and neutral forms — CBDA converts to CBD, CBGA to CBG, and so on, largely through heat. That’s why a lab report often lists both. Alongside cannabinoids, hemp also contains terpenes, the aromatic compounds responsible for a flower’s smell and much of its character. When you read a product’s composition, you’re really reading the balance of these compounds — and which ones are present depends heavily on the extract type.

Full spectrum vs broad spectrum vs isolate

This is the distinction that causes the most confusion, and the most important thing to understand is what it actually measures. It describes the composition of an extract — which compounds it contains — not its potency. A common misconception is that “isolate” means “strongest.” It doesn’t; it means “purest.” Here’s the map:

• Full spectrum retains the full natural range of compounds extracted from the plant — CBD, minor cannabinoids, terpenes, and the trace amount of THC that occurs naturally (kept within the legal limit). It is the most “complete” profile, closest to the plant itself.
• Broad spectrum is full spectrum with the THC removed (or reduced to non-detectable), while keeping the other cannabinoids and terpenes. It’s the option for customers or markets that want the wider profile without the THC.
• Isolate is a single cannabinoid in near-pure form — most commonly CBD isolate at around 99%, a crystalline product with the other cannabinoids and terpenes stripped away. It’s the purest and the most versatile as an ingredient, precisely because it’s just one clean compound.

Laid side by side:

You’ll sometimes hear the term “entourage” used in marketing to describe full-spectrum products. Treat it as a marketing concept rather than a claim you should make on a product — stick to describing composition, and let the lab report speak to what’s actually in the jar.

How these map to the products you stock

The terminology isn’t abstract — it lines up directly with the categories on your shelf (covered in our guide to flower, resin and extracts):

• Flower is naturally a full-spectrum product in the sense that it contains the plant’s whole profile. It’s commonly sold as either CBD-dominant or CBG-dominant, depending on the variety — a distinction worth making clear to customers choosing between them.
• Oils are frequently full spectrum (retaining the natural profile) or broad spectrum (THC removed). Note that oils are ingestibles and sit on the Novel Food track — see Novel Food and CBD.
• Lab extracts span the range: a rosin preserves much of the plant profile, while CBD isolate crystals are the pure single-compound end of the spectrum.
• CBG products — flower or extracts — give you a distinct category to offer customers specifically looking for CBG rather than CBD.

So when a customer asks for “the full-spectrum one” or “something without THC,” you’re not guessing — you’re pointing them to the right product type. And when you’re building an assortment, these categories let you deliberately cover CBD and CBG, and full spectrum through to isolate, so different customer preferences are all served.

What to ask your supplier about composition

Because these terms get used loosely in the market, precision protects you. When you assess a product, ask your supplier:

1. Is it full spectrum, broad spectrum or isolate? — and have that confirmed by the lab report, not just the label.
2. Is it CBD- or CBG-dominant? — particularly for flower, where it changes what you’re offering.
3. What’s the cannabinoid profile? — the actual percentages, including THC, so you can confirm it fits your market’s limit.
4. Are terpenes retained? — relevant for full and broad spectrum products and for aroma.
5. Can I see the COA? — the single document that turns all of the above from a claim into evidence.

A supplier who can answer these clearly, and back them with a Certificate of Analysis, is demonstrating exactly the kind of control you want — it’s one of the checks in our supplier checklist. A label alone is not enough; the report is what confirms composition.

Putting the map to use

The value of holding this map in your head is twofold. First, it makes you credible with customers: you can explain, in plain terms, why one product differs from another and which suits what they’re asking for — and that credibility is what builds a loyal customer base. Second, it makes you a sharper buyer: you can read a supplier’s range precisely, ask the right questions, and assemble an assortment that deliberately spans CBD and CBG, and full spectrum through isolate, rather than stocking whatever happens to be on offer.

Pair this with the grade knowledge in our indoor, greenhouse and outdoor guide and the merchandising logic in flower, resin and extracts, and you have the full picture of what you’re selling — the foundation for selling it well.

Want to map your range? A Highness sales agent can talk you through what’s available across CBD and CBG, and full spectrum to isolate, and help you cover the categories your customers ask for. Contact the Highness sales network to explore the range by category.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between CBD and CBG?
Both are cannabinoids found in hemp. CBD is the compound most products are built around; CBG is often called a “parent” cannabinoid because its acidic form is a precursor to others. Hemp flower is commonly sold as either CBD-dominant or CBG-dominant.

What does full spectrum vs broad spectrum vs isolate mean?
They describe composition. Full spectrum keeps the plant’s whole range of compounds, including trace (legal-limit) THC; broad spectrum removes the THC while keeping the others; isolate is a single near-pure cannabinoid, usually CBD at around 99%.

Is isolate stronger than full spectrum?
No — isolate is purer, not stronger. It contains a single near-pure cannabinoid with the other compounds and terpenes removed. “Spectrum” describes what’s in the product, not its potency.

How do I know what’s actually in a product?
By reading its Certificate of Analysis. The COA states the cannabinoid profile and confirms composition; a label or marketing term alone is not reliable evidence.

Which type should I stock?
A balanced range usually covers several: flower (CBD- and CBG-dominant), full or broad spectrum oils, and extracts including isolate — so you can serve customers with different preferences. Confirm what’s legal in your market first.

About this guide: prepared for resellers learning to navigate cannabinoid and extract terminology. Reviewed by Highness Distribution. This article describes composition only and makes no claims about effects; the authoritative statement of any product’s composition is its Certificate of Analysis. Verify what’s legal in your market and take professional advice where appropriate.