Broad-Spectrum Hemp Extract

Full-spectrum hemp extract that has had the THC removed, keeping some but not all of the plant's original profile.

Three glass beakers holding hemp extract in three shades from dark green gold to colourless

Broad-Spectrum Hemp Extract: The Honest Comparison

Broad-spectrum hemp extract is full-spectrum extract that has gone through an extra step to strip out the THC. It sits between full-spectrum and isolate — more of the plant than isolate keeps, less than full-spectrum keeps.

HempMy Pet makes full-spectrum. But broad-spectrum is a legitimate category with real advantages for some pets, and you should have the tradeoff laid out straight rather than sold.

The Three Categories

Full-spectrum keeps the plant's whole profile: CBD plus minor cannabinoids such as CBG, CBC, CBDV and CBN, plus terpenes and flavonoids, with trace THC under the 0.3% legal limit.

Broad-spectrum keeps multiple cannabinoids but removes the THC. Isolate is CBD alone. Cornell's Riney Canine Health Center uses the same three-way split.

How THC Is Actually Removed

This is the part most comparisons skip, and it is where the tradeoff actually lives. Three approaches dominate: chromatography, which separates THC using solvents; distillation, which uses controlled heat and vacuum; and conversion, which uses heat, light or catalysts to change THC into other molecules.

Each costs product. Industry sources put CBD losses at roughly 15–20% for distillation and as much as 30% or more for chromatography. None of these processes is selective enough to remove THC and leave everything else untouched.

What Else Gets Lost

Terpenes are the most fragile compounds in the extract — volatile by nature, and the first thing driven off by heat or vacuum. Any thermal step preferentially strips them.

Which is why a good deal of the market's broad-spectrum is reconstructed rather than preserved: isolated cannabinoids and separately sourced terpenes blended back together to hit a consistent target. Some brands say so openly, and it is not dishonest — it delivers genuine batch-to-batch consistency, which is a real advantage. It is simply a different thing from a plant profile that was never taken apart.

"Broad-Spectrum" Is Not a Regulated Term

There is no legal definition of full-spectrum, broad-spectrum or THC-free. No minimum number of cannabinoids, no standard for how much of the native profile must survive. The 2018 Farm Bill's 0.3% THC limit defines hemp; it does not define any of these tiers.

Any brand can print any of these words on a label. Only the certificate of analysis settles what is in the bottle.

And the labels are often wrong. A 2024 analysis in Frontiers in Pharmacology tested 202 commercial CBD products and found 74% mislabelled for CBD content. Of 28 broad-spectrum products tested, three contained THC — two of them above the 0.3% limit. "THC-free" is a claim, not a guarantee, and that cuts across every tier including full-spectrum.

When Broad-Spectrum Is the Right Choice

There are real cases for it, and we would rather you buy the right product than ours. A household where any THC exposure is unacceptable. A dog in competition, working or service programmes subject to testing. An owner who simply prefers zero THC. Or a veterinarian advising against THC given the other medications your pet takes.

In any of those situations, broad-spectrum or isolate is the sensible answer and full-spectrum is not.

Why We Chose Full-Spectrum

We breed our own hemp genetics, grow them on our farm in Longmont, Colorado using organic growing practices, and formulate every batch in-house. Having grown a whole plant, taking it apart to put a version of it back together was not the trade we wanted to make.

We also tested our own product rather than assuming. Our 90-day canine study, overseen by veterinary pain-management specialist Dr. Robin Downing with researchers from Colorado State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, enrolled 37 dogs; of the 32 that completed it, 30 (93%) showed a benefit and 94% of owners reported improved quality of life.

Browse CBD Hemp for Dogs, CBD Hemp for Cats or our bundles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, full-spectrum or broad-spectrum? Neither, universally. Full-spectrum keeps the whole plant profile including trace THC; broad-spectrum removes the THC at the cost of some of that profile. The right one depends on your pet and your circumstances.

Does full-spectrum hemp contain THC, and can it make my dog high? It contains trace THC below 0.3%. A serving delivers a small fraction of a milligram — far below the amount at which signs appear. See our THC entry for the numbers.

Is broad-spectrum actually THC-free? It is processed to remove THC, and independent testing has found products that still contained some. The COA for your batch is the only way to know.

How is THC removed from broad-spectrum hemp? Usually chromatography, distillation, or conversion — each of which also costs some CBD and terpene content.

Does removing THC remove terpenes too? Largely, yes. Terpenes are volatile and go first under heat or vacuum, which is why many broad-spectrum products have terpenes added back afterwards.

How much hemp can a 70lb dog have? Servings scale with body weight — check the serving guidance on the product page and start below it, building up gradually. Your veterinarian can advise for your individual dog.

What is the highest quality hemp for dogs? Quality is verifiable, not claimable: look for a per-batch COA from an independent ISO 17025 accredited lab, a cannabinoid profile matching what the label says, contaminant panels, and a company that tells you where the hemp was grown.

Is "broad spectrum" a regulated term? No. It has no legal definition, which is exactly why the lab report matters more than the label.