Live resin. It’s become increasingly popular over the years, but why? Not only that, but what actually is it? If you’re in need of a guide to live resin, you’re in the right place.
If you’re interested in dabbling in the world of weed, or just want to know more about it, stick around.
We guarantee you will learn something interesting by the time you reach the end of this post.
What Is Live Resin?
Live resin is an extract from cannabis plants which contains cannabinoids such as THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol).
The process for making live resin involves heating and drying the plant matter until all of its moisture has been removed.
This produces a concentrate with a high concentration of active ingredients. Live resin is often used to make concentrates because it’s easier to inhale than whole flower cannabis.
In addition, many people enjoy the taste of live resin, so they use it as a way to add flavor to their edibles.
Not only is live resin favored for its uses, but also its potency. In some cases, live resin can exceed concentrations of 90% THC. That means that some live resin products contain enough THC to get users very stoned!
The Difference Between Live Resin And Regular Resin
When it comes to weed, the difference between life and regular resin is pretty clear-cut. Live resin is made from plants that are still alive, whereas regular resin is made from dried flowers.
While both types of resin have similar effects on the body, there are differences in how each one affects the user.
For example, while live resin tends to be thicker and heavier than regular resin, it does not always have a stronger smell.
How Is Live Resin Made – The Basic Introduction
To create live resin, cannabis plants are harvested, cut up, then heated and dried. They are then put through a process called “supercritical extraction” where the plant matter is heated under pressure.
When this happens, the compounds found in the plant are released into the supercritical state. These compounds are then filtered out using carbon dioxide at extremely low temperatures.
After being cooled back down, the supercritical extracts are condensed into live resin.
Supercritical Extraction
One of the most important aspects when creating live resin is supercritical extraction. This process is responsible for extracting the compounds from the plant material and turning them into live resin.
Supercritical extraction allows scientists to isolate specific compounds from the plant materials without altering other parts of the plant.
Once the compounds are isolated, they are extracted into liquid form, allowing for easy filtration and condensation.
A More In-Depth Look At How Live Resin Is Made
Regular and live resin are both made using a similar process, with a few key differences. Both products require a hydrocarbon solvent, such as butane, to gather the resin once it has been isolated.
The regular resin will then go through the standard process of drying and curing, but live resin does not go through this.
Instead of being dried and cured, live resin flowers will be harvested, then immediately flash-frozen. Both the solvent and the plant matter are kept at a very low temperature during the whole process.
While this doesn’t seem like a lot of work, the whole process requires the hands of well-trained technicians, and a lot of very expensive equipment.
The butane will slowly pass over the flash-frozen fresh flowers, dissolving the trichomes. This allows the terpenes and cannabinoids to bond with the solvent.
The process will eventually strip the flower of the resin, and leave behind only plant matter and traces of solvent.
Regular resin doesn’t require the use of industrial-grade tools, but does use butane. The regular resin plant matter is also not flash-frozen, so it takes a lot of work to create live resin.
Why Is Live Resin So Popular?
While live resin is certainly becoming more popular, it was once considered a bit taboo. But now, it’s become much more accepted among marijuana enthusiasts.
Many people believe that living cannabis plants provide a better experience than dead ones.
Additionally, live resin is less expensive than buying whole flowers, and it doesn’t require any extra steps to prepare. Some people even prefer live resin to normal resin because it tastes better.
The “live” part of this product’s name comes from the fact that the resin is sourced from “live”, or uncured plants. When the plants are “live”, they allow for better flavonoid, cannabinoid, and terpene retention.
Regular resin allows the cannabinoids to gradually degrade when they are exposed to the air and light for extended periods of time.
As a result, it actually loses a lot of the beneficial compounds before extraction even starts. This is not the case with live resin.
The Benefits Of Using Live Resin
While there are several benefits associated with using live resin, here are some of the most notable ones:
1. Easy To Use
One of the biggest reasons why people choose to use live resin is its ease of use. Because live resin can be easily smoked, it makes it easy to consume when you feel like doing so.
You don’t have to worry about getting your hands dirty or having to strain out any unwanted material. Simply light up and enjoy it.
2. High Concentration Of Active Ingredients
Another benefit of using live resin is that its concentrated nature gives users access to higher levels of active ingredients.
While whole flower cannabis contains trace amounts of these compounds, live resin typically contains large concentrations of them.
This allows users to consume less of the product at once, thereby lowering the risk of experiencing negative side effects.
3. Taste
Finally, one of the best things about live resin is how much people love the taste of it. When consumed properly, live resin provides a strong, pleasant aroma that lasts throughout the duration of your session.
This means that you won’t have to spend hours waiting for your body to adjust before you begin feeling the effects of the drug.
Resin Vs Rosin – What’s The Difference?
A lot of people still get confused with the difference between resin and rosin. With how similar the names are, we don’t blame you. To clarify, both resin and rosin can come from “live” or cured cannabis.
Both are also created using the same liquid secretion that is full of trichomes. The difference between the two comes in that rosin’s extraction process is very simple.
This is especially the case when compared to the process needed for live resin.
When it comes to rosin’s extraction process, no chemical, even butane, is required. Instead of using chemicals, the manufacturers (as well as anyone who does it themselves), will use heat and pressure.
The combination of heat and pressure squeeze the resin from the flower or other plant product, which is then named rosin.
Using Live Resin – What Is It Like?
The Potency
Since live resin can reach potencies of over 90% THC, you might expect that you can get baked in half the time. While this isn’t untrue, aren’t you wondering why?
It isn’t just because of the THC level. When it comes to getting high and experiencing the effects of cannabis, there’s a lot more that goes into it.
In fact, the cannabinoids and terpenes present will have a huge effect on both the nature and intensity of the high you experience.
This is because of what’s known as the “entourage effect” – the other compounds in cannabis work together to either improve or reduce the effects of a chemovar.
Live resin can reach high levels of THC, all the while retaining terpenes and cannabinoids. The combination of the three cannot be matched in any other kind of resin, making live resin incredibly potent.
The Effects
Live resin can affect people in different ways, much like anything. The different profiles created by the terpenes and cannabinoids present means that different strains have different things to offer, too.
Live resin is known for producing a long-lasting high, and a powerful one at that. The experience you have will be determined by the various compounds present.
You might have a high that is relaxing, uplifting, or something in between.
If you’re looking for some potential effects you might experience, they include the following:
Energy
Enhanced appetite
Increased focus
Distorted perception (including visual and auditory)
A sense of euphoria
Drowsiness
Dizziness
The Flavor
Once again, the compounds present will determine the flavor profile of live resin. Flavors can change, so there’s no real way to determine what it will taste like if you don’t know anything about it.
However, you might expect resins with different terpenes to have distinct flavors. Let’s take a look at two popular terpenes below:
Pinene – as the name suggests, a pinene is responsible for giving the pine its wonderful aroma. You can expect a live resin will of pinenes to have a pine flavor, or something that is earthy and woody.
Limonene – as you can imagine, this is the terpene found in citrus fruit. You can expect a live resin full of limonene to have a taste that resembles a delicious lemony or other citrus profile.
Using Live Resin
Unfortunately, a simple pipe or bong won’t do the job when it comes to live resin. You need some special equipment if you want to use it. Let’s take a look at how you can use live resin below.
Dabbing
This common method involves the use of a water pipe known as a “dab ring”.
This piece of equipment is different to a long, but looks the same to anyone without experience. A butane torch is needed instead of an electric lighter.
Dab Pen
This device looks like a regular vaporizer, and they work the same way, but live resin can be added into the chamber. These pieces of equipment are more suitable for beginners.
Vaping
These are essentially the same thing as mentioned above, but you may be able to buy live resin in pre-filled cartridges from vendors.
You could also get disposable vape pens, which hold a tank and battery in the same unit. When it gets empty, you can just throw it away.
Mixing With Flower
You could simply mix the resin with some dry herb and pack a bowl. You just put the resin on top of the bowl and use it as you usually would.
Something To Know
Take It Easy
Be cautious when first trying out live resin. Because of how powerful it is, always give yourself time to decide if you’ve had enough. Follow the role of “start low and go slow” – it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
The Health Risks
Not a lot is known about the potential health risks of using live resin, so just take it easy.
It’s important to limit yourself, and take note of whether you notice any symptoms appearing after you start using it. Seek medical attention if you feel like something isn’t right.
There’s always the risk of developing lung issues when smoking or dabbing anything, so take care of yourself.
Where You Can Get it
If you’re looking to get live resin, companies such as BLOOM offer it. The company is based in California, and has a range of unique strains you can try, including:
Slurricane (88% THC)
Blueberry Cake (90% THC)
Orange Creamsicle (90% THC)
Jet Fuel (90% THC)
Final Thoughts
Live resin is great, but you need to be careful with it. It’s potent, and takes time and energy to produce. If you’re thinking of trying live resin, be sure to take it slow and listen to your body.
Also, it’s worth noting that if you are not in a State or country that allows the use of such products, don’t use them.
Hello, my name is Tom Bowler and I have been interested in the studies of cannabis for years. My brother and I have been testing out different strains and smoking techniques since we were in our early 20s, so we have some knowledge to impart on anyone willing to listen.
This website is a safe space for people genuinely interested in cannabis to learn in a judgment-free zone. We’ll look at the different ways it can be smoked, rolling techniques, strains, and much more.
So, stay a while and get acquainted with the world of cannabis - it’s not as dark and scary as the rest of the internet would have you believe.
