Isolate
A cannabis concentrate that contains a single pure cannabinoid, usually in crystalline or powder form. Think of it as an artist who went solo to pursue the purest form of their own artistic vision, but most fans didn’t follow the solo tour—like David Lee Roth without Van Halen.
The most common example is CBD isolate, which is ≥99% pure CBD (cannabidiol) with all other plant compounds removed. Isolates can also be made for THC, CBG, or other cannabinoids, though CBD is prevalent due to its legal status in hemp.
The process to create an isolate typically involves extracting the cannabinoid from plant material and then using techniques like chromatography and recrystallization to eliminate everything except the target compound. The result is a tasteless, odorless powder or crystalline solid, basically the ghost of cannabis past—stripped of its supporting cast, but still hitting its one note with eerie precision.
Users and formulators like isolates for their precision dosing and versatility. A CBD isolate, for example, can be added to foods, beverages, or topical products to impart effects without any THC or other substances present. Isolates guarantee zero THC (useful for people who must avoid it) and have no risk of entourage interactions or allergic reactions to terpenes. However, the absence of other compounds means the potential synergistic benefits of full-spectrum extracts are lost.
Some people find isolates less effective for certain conditions compared to broad or full-spectrum products that benefit from the Entourage effect. (A bit like the cast of Entourage after Entourage: still here, but it’s not quite the same, is it?) Nonetheless, isolates are invaluable for scientific research and for consumers needing strictly one compound.
In sum, an “isolate” is the purest form of a given cannabinoid, isolated from everything else—offering consistency and simplicity, but lacking the complexity of the whole plant. Precise, predictable, and pure, but not exactly a full concert experience (with apologies to the talented David Lee Roth).
discover a world of pure, drinkable delight.
Cantrip. Always tested, always accurate, and always delicious.