5 Things You Need to Know Before Vaping Live Resin

The wonderful world of cannabis has long been talking about live resin. It is, however, relatively new in the hemp space. You may have noticed “live resin” popping up on alternative cannabinoids products left and right. Is the hype around live resin justified? Enthusiasts would say yes. 

Given how rapidly the hemp industry is evolving, it’s understandable to have questions. What is live resin, exactly? What is the process to make live resin? Are there differences between live resin vs rosin vs distillate? You’re in luck, as you’ll find all the answers here. Knowledge is your greatest power when faced with several brands and products to choose from. So keep reading to learn 5 things you absolutely must know about live resin.

1. What is Live Resin?

If you’re familiar with vaping or dabbing cannabis, you’ve likely heard about concentrates like shatter, wax, budder, diamonds and honey. With so many options available, it’s easy to get confused . So we’ll start from the beginning, by answering the question: what is live resin? Live resin is a type of concentrate, but it’s not quite like many others. 

Firstly, it is a full-spectrum concentrate. Well, what the heck does that mean? A full-spectrum concentrate is when a concentrate’s cannabinoids and terpene profiles are very similar to the plant’s when it was alive. Hence the “live” in live resin. How is this possible? It’s all in the process. 

Live resin is made from fresh, frozen bud, unlike many other concentrates. This is done to trap more of the terpenes of the plant itself. What are terpenes? Terpenes are oils cannabis plants secrete that give each strain its unique smell and taste. Live resin having more terpenes would certainly explain its robust flavors and aromas. YUM. 

Related Article: "How To Use Live Resin Disposable Carts: A Complete Guide"

2. What Are The Benefits of Live Resin?

According to Leafwell, when making live resin, the original plant's terpenes are preserved. As a result, it's said that live resin has a higher terpene concentration. In addition to the terpenes, depending on extraction method and overall composition, the original cannabinoids can also be preserved and make live resin more potent. Live resin can be a way for consumers to enjoy hemp and cannabis in a tasty manner.

3. How Is Live Resin Made? 

Now that you know what live resin is and its possible benefits, your next question may be: what’s the difference between live resin vs rosin vs distillate. Before we delve into that, let's take a step back and go into how live resin is made.

Harvesting 

• The cannabis or hemp plant is harvested at peak ripeness. 

No Drying and Curing Here

• Typically the next steps for other concentrates are drying and curing; however that's not the case when making live resin. These steps are where degradation happens. Degradation is the natural process where the cannabis plant begins to decay. It begins immediately after harvesting the buds. This is when a significant amount of terpene loss occurs, which the next step helps avoid.

Freezing

• After harvesting, the plant materials (sugar leaves and flower buds) are immediately flash frozen. as Cannabis And Glass puts it "Flash freezing the cannabis stops all metabolic processes while retaining all plant components." The idea is to preserve the freshness of the plant and stop the degradation that usually happens. This is what sets live resin apart from most other concentrates.

Extraction

• The next step is extraction. To maximize terpene content, chilled solvent is pushed through the plant material to extract THC, CBD, other cannabinoids, and terpenes. 

Distillation

• The final step is distillation. The extracted solution is then purified to remove wax and any other impurities. The result is a pure product of the highest quality, free of harmful chemicals and heavy metals.

*While we all love a good DIY project, please note that Mellow Fellow’s in house lab uses the most up-to-date, advanced laboratory equipment. We do not recommend or endorse this process for DIY use. For everyone’s safety, we follow commercial safety protocols. We safely produced our oils and have them 3rd party tested for purity. Check out our lab results here.*

4. Live Resin vs Rosin vs Distillate: What’s The Difference?

Another common question when it comes to live resin is: What is the difference between live resin, live rosin, and distillate? 

Live Resin vs Live Rosin

Live resin and live rosin are both full spectrum concentrates. They are extracted from frozen cannabis buds, so their terpene and cannabinoid profiles are similar to the original plant. The difference lies in their extraction methods. Live resin extraction occurs at low temperatures, while live rosin utilizes heat and pressure.

Live Resin vs Distillate 

You can easily find distillates in cartridges, disposable vapes, and edibles like gummies. According to Weedmaps, distillate “is one of the most common cannabis concentrates on the market today.” While it takes fresh, frozen bud to make live resin, distillate is made from dried, cured cannabis. Extraction occurs at high temperatures. After extraction, distillates do not retain any terpenes. They’re typically added back in afterward.

5.  Is Live Resin Right For You?

It’s safe to assume that by now you’re wondering if live resin is right for you. Well, that depends. As flavorful as live resin is, it can also be very potent. If you are a frequent cannabis consumer, live resin could be a great option for vaping or dabbing. However, keep in mind that due to the nature of its processing, live resin can tend to be on the steeper pricing end. 

On the other hand, if you aren't as experienced, there are other options for you. Delta 8 and other cannabinoids have been reported to provide similar but milder effects as THC (Delta 9). You could use alternative cannabinoid products containing live resin like our Delta 8, Delta 10, HHC, and premium blend disposable vapes and cartridges. 

Final Thoughts

Live resin can be a great way to enjoy hemp and cannabis products with as much flavor as possible. Now that you’re well versed in what live resin is, how it’s made, and even the differences between live resin vs rosin vs distillate, you’re ready to dive right in. However, be wary of companies who are riding the live resin wave while not keeping quality and your safety in mind. All of Mellow Fellow’s inhalable products contain are made with high quality premium oils, just look at our lab results. Our trusted PhD chemists curate all disposables, cartridges etc. with your safety, care, and enjoyable experience in mind. Be sure to check out our new premium blend diamonds, especially if you’re looking for an intensely flavor-packed dabbing experience. Stay Mellow. 

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