When you see the label “full spectrum” on a cannabis-derived product, you probably feel instantly that you can trust its contents to be safe and predictable in terms of the advertised effects (e.g., calmness, pain relief). And yet, “full spectrum” is about as meaningful as any other industry jargon. With the same amount of truth and sincerity, you could replace “full spectrum” with “state of the art” or “cutting edge” or “best in class.” All of these are soulless marketing gimmicks.

Dr. Pepper Hernandez explained the dangers of trusting in “full spectrum” during her lecture on medicinal cannabis as part of The Shift Network’s class Demystifying Cannabis: Discover the Truth About the Profound Physical, Emotional & Spiritual Healing of This Ancient Plant Medicine. (To learn more about the class, click here.) Our staff writer Kat Hearons is enrolled in the class, and with Shift’s permission, she’s passing along one takeaway from that lecture. -Ed.

Full Spectrum vs. Whole Plant: My Analogy

Although Dr. Hernandez didn’t cite early 19th century horror literature, you can always count on me to do that! Here’s what my mind went to as she was explaining the difference between a full-spectrum product and a whole-plant product. 

Frankenstein’s Monster had body parts from multiple different bodies, all stitched together to make one composite body. As I understand it, that’s what full-spectrum cannabis products are: the plant equivalent of the Monster. 

These products contain isolates/distillates of cannabinoids – the big four being tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG) and cannabinol (CBN) – but they’re taken from different plants and crammed into one product (tincture, edible, etc.). Is it the full spectrum of cannabis compounds? Sure. Is this cluster of cannabinoids as effectual, compared to ingesting them from the same leaves/stems/flowers, when it binds with your body’s cannabis receptors though? No. Basically, it’s just Abby Normal weed. (Shout out to “Young Frankenstein” fans who got the reference!)

Dr. Hernandez explained why this is: “Cannabis is a self-contained medicine. It was intended to be consumed as is, not to have its parts distilled and isolated, then thrown back together. Our body’s ECS [endocannabinoid system] knows the difference, even if we don’t.”

When you buy a full-spectrum cannabis product, you might get all the THC, CBD, CBG and/or CBN you’re expecting, but your body won’t process them accordingly if they’re all from different plants.

Cannabinoid Ratios vs. Cannabinoid Sources: Which Matters More?

Products that combine cannabinoids are often chosen by the consumer based on the ratios of their contents. For instance, a consumer might deliberately seek out a 1-to-1 ratio of CBD-to-CBN in a tincture. However, as Dr. Hernandez explains, the ratio isn’t as relevant as where the cannabinoids come from.

“The cannabis plant that will be the most effective isn’t one that’s been engineered to contain only CBD [at the expense of other cannabinoids],” she said. “You don’t want to eradicate or delete any of the cannabinoids the plant has.”

So, even if you find the ratio of cannabinoids you’re looking for, you can’t be sure that the blend itself is what you’re truly looking for. 

What can you do to know you’re buying the right thing for yourself? Dr. Hernandez says you should ask the seller whether the product’s contents come from the same plant. She cautions: 

“If the answer is anything other than an immediate ‘yes,’ I don’t know, man. They should know what they’re selling. If they don’t, then you’re probably not looking at the same plant for those cannabinoids.”

The ratio of X-to-Y cannabinoids isn’t what will ultimately determine whether the product is effective, predictable and safe; the sources of those cannabinoids is what will determine that. Photo by Terence Barksdale/pexels.com

Conclusion: Choose your words carefully to shop wisely.

“I call it [the phrase ‘full spectrum’] ‘greenwashing’ in advertising,” says Dr. Hernandez. “The seller uses it to get you to think you’re buying things taken from the same leaves, the same buds – but you’re not.”

To make sure you’re buying what you’re putting in the time to search for very specifically, be sure to use the words “WHOLE PLANT” when searching for or inquiring about cannabis products. 

Better still, if you can grow at home, use your own whole plant. Dr. Hernandez is a major homegrown advocate. 

“I always tell my patients that the best thing is for them to make their own [cannabis-derived products],” says Dr. Hernandez. “That’s how you know it’s all coming from one plant – as nature intended. And you can track what you use, and how much of it, and get the blend that’s right for your body.” 

The information in this article and any included images are for educational purposes only. This information is neither a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about laws, regulations or your health, you should always consult an attorney, physician or other licensed professional.

Kathleen Hearons is a writer, editor, linguist and voice over actor from Los Angeles. She specializes in creative writing and research-intensive analysis and reporting.

 

 

Sources and Suggested Reading

“Demystifying Cannabis: Discover the Truth About the Profound Physical, Emotional & Spiritual Healing of This Ancient Plant Medicine.” The Shift Network. Accessed July 15, 2025. https://theshiftnetwork.com/Demystifying-Cannabis. 

Dr. Pepper Hernandez. Accessed July 15, 2025. http://www.drpepperhernandez.com. 

The Shift Network. Accessed July 15, 2025. https://theshiftnetwork.com.