Topical CBD and CBG: The Complete Professional Picture
A practitioner-level guide to full spectrum hemp extract, the entourage hypothesis, the difference between topical and transdermal, and how Kannaco formulations compare.
Key Terminology
Definitions Every Practitioner Should Know
Plain definitions for the core terminology used in cannabinoid science and topical formulation, with practitioner-relevant context for each.
Full Spectrum Extract
An extract that retains all naturally occurring compounds from the hemp plant: cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and trace THC (below 0.3% by federal law). The full chemical profile is preserved.
Preferred when the goal is the full phytochemical profile of the plant.
Broad Spectrum Extract
An extract that retains most hemp plant compounds but has had THC specifically removed through additional processing. THC is below detectable limits, which is not the same as a verified 0.0%.
A middle option between full spectrum and isolate. Less common in topical formulations than either.
CBD Isolate
Pure cannabidiol in crystalline form, with all other compounds removed. 99%+ CBD by weight with 0.0% THC.
The most precisely defined formulation option, with no THC content. Used in Kannaco Pro Cream and Pro Roll-On paired with CBG isolate.
CBG (Cannabigerol)
A non-psychoactive cannabinoid sometimes called the 'mother cannabinoid' because other cannabinoids are biosynthesized from its precursor form (CBGA).
Kannaco Pro formulas pair CBG isolate with CBD isolate in a 1:1 ratio.
The Entourage Effect
A hypothesis, first proposed by Raphael Mechoulam, about how cannabinoids and terpenes behave together in a whole-plant extract. It remains a hypothesis.
A term practitioners will hear alongside full spectrum extracts. Present it as a research hypothesis, not as a product benefit.
Endocannabinoid System (ECS)
A biological signaling system present in all mammals. It is a subject of ongoing research.
Background term only. Kannaco topicals are applied to the skin, and we do not claim that they act on this system.
Terpenes and Flavonoids
Naturally occurring hemp compounds found alongside cannabinoids. Terpenes in hemp include beta-caryophyllene, linalool, and myrcene. Flavonoids include quercetin and kaempferol.
These compounds are retained in a full spectrum extract and removed from an isolate.
Certificate of Analysis (COA)
A lab report for a specific batch. Kannaco COAs come from SC Labs (ISO/IEC 17025 accredited) and list cannabinoid content, including THC.
The document to share when a client or staff member asks what is in a product. COAs are available on request for every batch.
Topical vs. Transdermal
A topical product is applied to the surface of the skin. Transdermal is a separate product category designed to move compounds through the skin.
Use the word topical, not transdermal, when describing a cream or roll-on.
Background Concepts
Three Concepts Behind Full Spectrum Topicals
Three background concepts practitioners hear about full spectrum topicals, and how to describe them accurately to your clients and team.
The Endocannabinoid System: Background Only
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a signaling network found in all mammals, and researchers have also described it in the skin. It is an active field of study and a term your clients may bring up.
Kannaco topicals are applied to the skin, and we do not claim that they act on the ECS or change any body process. When the subject comes up, describe the products by what they are: a cream or roll-on applied to the skin, with a cooling or warming feel.
Kannaco topicals are applied to the skin, and we do not claim that they treat, cure or prevent any condition.
The Entourage Effect: A Research Hypothesis
Full spectrum hemp extract contains over 100 identified phytocannabinoids alongside terpenes, flavonoids, and fatty acids. The entourage effect, first described by Raphael Mechoulam and Shimon Ben-Shabat in 1998, is a hypothesis about how these compounds behave together.
It remains a hypothesis. For a topical, the practical meaning of full spectrum is simple: the extract keeps the naturally occurring compounds of the plant, including trace THC, while an isolate contains only the selected cannabinoids.
The entourage effect is a hypothesis. Do not present it to clients as a benefit of any Kannaco product.
Topical vs. Transdermal: Two Different Terms
Topical and transdermal are not interchangeable terms. A topical product is applied to the surface of the skin. Transdermal is a separate product category designed to move compounds through the skin.
All Kannaco products are topicals. They are applied to the skin and described by their feel, texture and ingredient list. For questions about drug testing, refer to the THC figure on each batch-specific Certificate of Analysis and never promise a test outcome.
Use the word topical when you describe a Kannaco cream or roll-on to clients and staff.
Ingredient Science
Every Ingredient. Every Role.
A practitioner-level breakdown of the key cannabinoid, botanical and sensory ingredients across the Kannaco topical line, with the role of each.
CBD (Cannabidiol)
Primary cannabinoid in all three formulas
CBD (cannabidiol) is a cannabinoid from hemp. All three formulas pair CBD with CBG and contain 0.0% THC. Cannabinoid content for every batch is listed on its Certificate of Analysis.
CBG (Cannabigerol)
Second cannabinoid in all three formulas
CBG (cannabigerol) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid. The Pro formulas pair CBG isolate with CBD isolate in a 1:1 ratio, with 0.0% THC. The Cooling Cream also pairs CBD with CBG, with 0.0% THC.
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Botanical extract in the aromatic blend
Arnica montana flower extract is a botanical ingredient that contains sesquiterpene lactones (helenalin, dihydrohelenalin). In Kannaco formulas it is part of the warming, aromatic botanical blend.
Menthol
Cooling feel on the skin
Menthol gives the characteristic cooling feel on the skin without an actual temperature change. The cooling onset in all three Kannaco formulas is primarily driven by menthol.
Camphor
Warming feel, part of the aromatic blend
Camphor gives the warming feel that follows the menthol cooling phase. This sensory arc, a cooling onset followed by a warming mid-phase, is a hallmark of all three Kannaco formulas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Full Spectrum CBD: Professional FAQ
The most common questions practitioners ask about full spectrum formulations, the entourage effect, and how Kannaco products compare.
Full spectrum retains all naturally occurring hemp compounds: cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and trace THC. Isolate formulations contain only the specific cannabinoids selected (in Kannaco's case, CBD and CBG), with all other compounds removed. Every Kannaco formula, including Cooling Cream, uses CBD and CBG and contains 0.0% THC.
Full spectrum hemp extract contains trace THC, below 0.3% by federal law. Kannaco does not use full spectrum extract: Cooling Cream, Pro Cream and Pro Roll-On all use CBD and CBG and contain 0.0% THC. The THC figure for each batch is shown on its Certificate of Analysis.
Yes. Cooling Cream, Pro Cream and Pro Roll-On all use CBD and CBG and contain 0.0% THC. Cooling Cream has 4,000 mg per 3.4 fl oz (100 mL) bottle (40 mg/mL). The Pro formulas pair CBD and CBG isolate in a 1:1 ratio.
The entourage effect was first described by Raphael Mechoulam and Shimon Ben-Shabat in 1998 and expanded by Ethan Russo in 2011. It is a hypothesis about how cannabinoids and terpenes behave together in a whole-plant extract. The evidence is not yet definitive, and Kannaco does not make product claims based on it.
Kannaco topicals are applied to the skin, and Kannaco does not make drug interaction claims. Practitioners should always use their own professional judgment and follow their standard protocols.
Menthol gives a cooling feel on the skin. Camphor is part of the warming, aromatic blend. Together they shape how each product feels during and after application.
The COA from SC Labs (ISO/IEC 17025 accredited) verifies: total cannabinoid potency (CBD, CBG, THC, and all other detected cannabinoids), absence of pesticides (over 60 compounds tested), absence of heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury), absence of residual solvents, microbial safety (total aerobic count, yeast, mold, E. coli, Salmonella), and water activity. COAs are available on request for every batch. The 0.0% THC result on every formula is verified by this same testing protocol.