There are numerous forms in which cannabis extracts and concentrates can be found. Live resin is a relatively new concentrate type that is extracted immediately after harvest from fresh, frozen cannabis. Since live resin retains the terpenes of the plant to provide a complex, flavorful, and potent experience, it is becoming a more and more popular concentrate among cannabis users. Are you considering adding cannabis to your current medical regimen? Obtaining an online medical card will allow you to legally possess, consume, and purchase marijuana from state-licensed dispensaries.
What Is Live Resin?
A type of cannabis concentrate called live resin was developed to maintain the distinct flavor and scent of fresh marijuana plants. Since the concentrate is made from freshly frozen cannabis, it is regarded as “live.” This is not the same as cured resin, which is made from dried marijuana. Using dry ice or a cryogenic freezing machine, cannabis is flash frozen, also known as “fresh frozen,” at subcritical temperatures to initiate the process. After that, the plant is sprayed with a solvent (like butane or propane) and then pressed. Because it omits the drying and curing stages that are typical of many conventional cannabis extracts, this extraction method is distinct. Cannabis’s trichomes are exposed to heat, oxygen, and light for a prolonged amount of time during the curing process, which may reduce the plant’s terpene content. Terpenes, along with other volatile (quickly degraded) cannabis compounds, are found on trichomes and contribute to the distinct flavor, aroma, and therapeutic profile of cannabis plants. In fact, research has shown that during the drying and curing process, cannabis can lose up to 55% of its terpene content. Multiple handling sessions are necessary for drying marijuana, which can harm the trichomes. Bypassing these processes and freezing the plant right away after harvest, flavor and potency are preserved. The finished product can then be extracted. Live resin is pliable, sticky, and comes in a variety of yellow shades, from dark to light. You can add live resin to cannabis cartridges for vape pens or package it in jars.
Live Resin vs. Live Rosin
This is where things might become a little unclear. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, live rosin is not the same as live resin, despite their striking similarities in terms of names, appearances, effects, and flavors. Instead of being dried and cured, the plant matter used to make both products is freshly frozen. The two are different in that live rosin is made without the use of a solvent, whereas live resin is made by blending fresh, frozen cannabis with a chemical solvent before pressing it. Although using solvents expedites the extraction process, it necessitates an extra step. Since chemical solvents can be harmful if consumed, they must be removed from the extract. Reputable producers of live resin adhere to stringent quality control guidelines to guarantee that the finished product is free of leftover solvents. Live rosin is thought to be a more pure and natural cannabis product. It is made using a procedure that includes high pressure, heat, and water. The drawback is that the process of making live rosin requires more time and energy. For example, the smaller-batch rosin method yields about two pounds per hour; in contrast, the extraction process used for live resin yields about forty pounds per hour. Furthermore, live rosin products are usually more expensive than live resin products. The flavor, aroma, and potency of both cannabis concentrates are extremely similar, aside from manufacturing differences.
How Do You Use Live Resin?
The majority of cannabis users dab their live resin. If you intend to dab, the concentrate can be very sticky, so you’ll need a dab tool to handle it. A dab rig, torch, and nail are also needed for dabbing. To fully appreciate the variety of flavors and aromas, dabbers should inhale slowly. While dabbing at a higher temperature produces stronger effects, dabbing at a lower temperature (400–500 °F) helps preserve the terpene profile. A dab pen, sometimes referred to as a wax pen or vaporizer, can also be used to vape live resin. Be aware that dab pens are made specifically to heat cannabis concentrates; they are not the same as vape pens. Using a special tool, live resin is inserted into the dab pen’s oven to be used. Occasionally, live resin is available as a disposable cartridge that fits into a vaping apparatus. For an even stronger hit, you can also add some live resin to a bowl or joint. Regardless of how you plan to use it, keep live resin cold to preserve its consistency and quality. Live resin will become runny if stored in a heated environment. You can speak with an MMJ card doctor for more information on how to use live resin; they will help you use it safely and determine whether it’s appropriate for you to use in your particular circumstance.
Benefits of Live Resin
Live resin is prized by cannabis enthusiasts for its superior quality, intense flavor, and potency. Additionally, live resin has a wide range of special benefits.
1. Preserves Therapeutic Cannabis Compounds
To begin with, this particular strain of cannabis concentrate has a much stronger flavor and aroma than other extracts. Live resin is preferred by those who value the complex terpene flavor profile of cannabis because it preserves the distinct flavor and aroma of each plant. The extraction method is yet another important advantage of live resin, as we have discussed. The trichomes, which contain terpenes and cannabinoids, are protected when the drying process is skipped. These compounds contain the majority of the therapeutic benefits of cannabis, and protecting them with a less aggressive extraction method yields a product with greater potency. It’s also important to remember that researchers propose that the entourage effect—a phenomenon in which terpenes, cannabinoids, and other cannabis compounds interact to balance the effects of the plant—may exist. Maintaining greater concentrations of these phytocompounds might strengthen this special effect.
2. Efficient and Cost-effective
A very economical and efficient production method is using live resin. Unlike other extraction methods that call for drying, curing, and trimming cannabis flowers, live resin is made by harvesting and freezing cannabis plants. The advantageous compounds are then extracted using a solvent. Producers can produce a premium concentrate at a competitive price by using live resin.
Potential Risks and Side Effects
Live resin has many benefits, but it also carries some possible risks. Chemical solvents are needed for the production process; these solvents must be completely removed from the extract before ingestion. Reputable producers take great care to ensure that live resin concentrates are free of any chemical residue, but less reliable vendors in black markets might not adequately filter their extracts. Make sure the brand’s products are free of residual solvents by examining their third-party lab tests and only buying live resin from licensed operators. The high THC concentrations in live resin extracts are another thing to be cautious about. These marijuana concentrates can have a 65–95% THC content. This provides an incredibly strong, prolonged high. If this is your first experience with live resin extracts, proceed with caution and read these beginner’s tips.
