How To Use CBD Isolate Powder: Step-By-Step Guide

How To Use CBD Isolate

The best part about CBD isolate is its versatility. Because of its odorless, flavorless profile and powder form factor, you can add CBD isolate to just about anything.

Here are three ways to use CBD isolate powder:

1. Make Your Own CBD Tinctures

One of the best uses for CBD isolate powder is to make your own DIY CBD tinctures.

CBD dissolves well in fats but poorly in water. You can easily make your own CBD oils at home at whatever potency you want. You can also add terpene concentrates to add any flavor you want to the tincture.

First, weigh out your dose of CBD isolate. Most CBD oils contain increments of 300, 500, 1000, 1500, or 2000 mg of CBD per 10z (30 mL) bottle. Double each amount if you’re using larger, 2 oz (60 mL) bottles instead.

Here’s a chart to compare the potency of the oil based on the total amount of CBD you decide to add:

Next, pour the powder into an empty tincture bottle and fill it up to the neck with any carrier oil of your choice.

Don’t fill the bottle to the top because once you add the dropper, it’s going to cause everything to spill out and make an oily mess everywhere.

Some good carrier oil options are hemp seed oil, MCT oil, or sweet almond oil.

Seal up the tincture bottle and give it a good shake. Let the bottle sit overnight and shake it some more. Repeat the process until you see no more CBD isolate sediment sitting at the bottom.

You can also add a few drops of terpene extract or some essential oils to give it some flavor. Don’t exceed about 5 drops for a 1 oz bottle.

2. Use it In Cooking

You can use CBD isolate powder in cooking. There are a few ways to do this, but the best is to dissolve it into some butter or another cooking oil first using the same method outlined above for making tinctures.

You can then use this CBD-infused cooking oil to use in baking or cooking as you please.

If using butter, make sure to melt it in a pot or in the microwave first so the CBD isolate will be able to dissolve completely.

A standard stick of butter is about 120 mL. So a good starting point would be to add 2000 mg (2g) of CBD isolate per stick.

Check out our Beginner’s Guide to Cooking With CBD.

3. Make Your Own Vape Oils

Making CBD-infused vape oils follows the same process as making a tincture. You can either buy premade vape oil or make it yourself by mixing vegetable glycerine and propylene glycol together.

The usual formula is to use equal parts VG to PG and anywhere from 300 to 2000 mg of CBD isolate per 30 mL of oil.

To add flavor, pick up some concentrated terpenes and add about 4–6 drops per 30 mL of vape oil.

4. Vape it Directly In a Mesh or Mod Vaporizer

Mesh vapes are designed to vaporize concentrates. They work with CBD powders, shatters, pastes, and waxes.

Every vape is different, but the general idea is to open the top compartment, expose the stainless steel mesh, and pour on the desired dose of CBD isolate powder. Close it up and hit the power button to instantly vaporize the entire dose in one puff.

Be careful how much CBD powder you’re using because these vapes will evaporate the entire dose with one click.

Start with about 10 mg of CBD isolate and go up from there.

This method has a bit of a learning curve but delivered the strongest CBD hits possible.

You can also use other cannabinoid concentrates with this same method. It’s a popular method for people using delta 8 THC distillates as well.

What’s The Dose of CBD Isolate?

The dose of CBD is going to be different for everybody. The dose can change depending on your individual metabolism, sensitivity to CBD, and tolerance.

Start low and increase the dose once you’re familiar with how CBD feels for you.

CBD is non-psychoactive, but very high doses can have a psychoactive-like effect. It’s unlike the high from THC, but it may still be strong enough to affect your ability to drive or work.

A good starting dose for CBD is around 10 mg. Experienced users often take closer to 50 mg per dose once they’re familiar with how CBD makes them feel.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Dosing CBD.

CBD Isolate vs. Full-Spectrum Extracts: What’s the Difference?

There are technically three different types of CBD extracts — isolates, full-spectrum extracts, and broad-spectrum extracts.

Here are the pros and cons of CBD isolate vs. full-spectrum hemp extract or broad-spectrum CBD.

1. Full-Spectrum CBD

Full-spectrum CBD products contain CBD as well as other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids extracted from the cannabis or hemp plant.

All hemp and cannabis plants contain more than one compound. During the extraction process for full-spectrum CBD products, those other compounds are extracted along with the CBD. Then, they end up in the product you buy.

Your full-spectrum CBD products might include trace amounts of CBG (cannabigerol), THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBN (cannabinol), or any other cannabinoid present in the original plant.

Note that all CBD products have less than 0.3% THC, so you’re unlikely to feel high or experience any psychoactive effects from a full-spectrum CBD product, even if it contains some THC.

Related: What are the best full-spectrum vape oils?

2. Broad-Spectrum CBD

Broad-spectrum CBD products contain other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, but include 0% THC.

Because of the entourage effect, which proposes that the presence of other cannabinoids and terpenes can make CBD more effective, broad-spectrum CBD is ideal for people who want to maximize their CBD experience without the risk of ingesting THC.

3. CBD Isolate

CBD isolate is cannabidiol, isolated from all other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. This powder form of CBD doesn’t have any flavor or smell and has no risk of producing a high.

Isolates are generally considered weaker than full-spectrum extracts, but the lower cost and high purity make it just as easy to simply take a higher dose to compensate.

Related: What are the best CBD isolate oils?

Why Choose CBD Isolate?

CBD isolate is a great option for many CBD users. The benefits of CBD range from its anti-inflammatory properties to its potential for reducing tumor size in cancer patients and so much more.

However, if you have a high sensitivity to THC, regular or upcoming drug tests, or you are anxious about the potential of getting high, CBD isolate is a great option.

Because CBD isolate contains no THC, there is no risk of testing positive for marijuana on a drug test after using CBD isolate.

Here are some of the top reasons to try CBD isolate as opposed to other CBD products.

1. CBD Isolate Is Flavorless

CBD isolate usually has no flavor or smell. If you like putting your CBD products in food or drinks, this is an excellent option for you. The powder will dissolve into warm liquids and can be distributed evenly throughout any mixture.

This lack of flavor is also ideal for children or people experiencing severe nausea. CBD works best for nausea when combined with some THC for the entourage effect, but the CBD compound itself can still help reduce queasiness.

2. CBD Isolate is Cheap

Depending on the concentration of CBD you take, CBD isolate can be cheaper than buying full- or broad-spectrum CBD. If you take high doses of CBD, CBD isolate is a cost-effective, low-maintenance option.

CBD isolate also comes in a low-profile powder form, so it’s easy to carry with you without any hassle. You won’t have to worry about gummies melting in your bag or bringing enough CBD with you.

3. CBD Isolate is Guaranteed THC-Free

The obvious benefit of CBD isolate is that there is no risk of ingesting THC.

If you are wary of THC as a new user or someone who is highly sensitive to the compound, you can be 100% sure that your CBD isolate doesn’t contain THC. (Keep in mind that this applies only for lab-tested products distributed by trustworthy companies.)

This also makes CBD isolate a good choice for children prescribed CBD by their pediatrician.

CBD isolate has been shown to reduce the frequency of seizures in kids with treatment-resistant epilepsy [1]. It can also be used to treat adolescent ADHD and anxiety with no risk of the child ingesting THC.

4. CBD Isolate Can Be Dosed Efficiently

Another benefit to CBD isolate is that it offers great control over the concentration of CBD in your product. CBD manufacturers offer isolates in a variety of concentrations so you can easily take the dosage you need.

If you take a 50 mg dose of CBD isolate from one brand, and 50 mg from another, they’re going to feel exactly the same.

This isn’t the case with full-spectrum extracts. When you take a 50 mg dose from one brand it could contain an entirely different ratio of cannabinoids than another, and therefore may have totally different effects.

If you’ve come to rely on a specific dose of CBD isolate, you can be sure that no matter who you order from, the effects are going to be virtually identical.

Key Takeaways: Using CBD Isolate

CBD isolate is the purest form of CBD, containing only the cannabidiol compound. No other cannabinoids, terpenes, or flavonoids are present in CBD isolate.

CBD isolate comes in high and low concentrations, with the highest concentration available of any other CBD product. It’s flavorless and odorless, making it easy to add to recipes or use in capsules.

One drawback of CBD isolate is that it won’t produce the entourage effect unless combined with other cannabinoids. The benefits include all the benefits of CBD, as well as no risk of getting high, high concentrations, more versatility, and cost-effectiveness.

Make sure to always purchase your CBD isolate from a trusted, lab-tested manufacturer or distributor.

References

1. Huntsman, R. J., Tang-Wai, R., & Shackelford, A. E. (2020). Cannabis for pediatric epilepsy. Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology, 37(1), 2-8.
2. Corroon, J., & Phillips, J. A. (2018). A cross-sectional study of cannabidiol users. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 3(1), 152-161.