What does “Isolate” mean?

A single cannabinoid purified from everything else in the plant.

Isolate in plain English

A single cannabinoid purified from everything else in the plant.

The licensed cannabidiol medicine used in two rare childhood epilepsies is a purified preparation, which is part of why its evidence base is stronger: the trials tested one defined substance.

Isolates are the comparison against which the entourage effect argument is made — the claim being that the mixture outperforms the purified compound.

Frequently asked questions

What does isolate mean?

A single cannabinoid purified from everything else in the plant.

Sources and further reading

Every factual statement on this page is drawn from the following public sources. Links open in a new tab and are not affiliated with Flora House.

  1. NICE guideline NG144: Cannabis-based medicinal products
  2. NHS: Medical cannabis (and cannabis oils)
  3. MHRA: The supply, manufacture, importation and distribution of unlicensed cannabis-based products for medicinal use

Patient guide · Written by the Flora House editorial team · Last reviewed: 8 September 2026