What Is Cannabis Resin?

Cannabis resin is a byproduct of the cannabis plant and has many uses. Resin is a sticky substance, considered the crown jewel of the cannabis plant, containing high content to provide the effects associated with cannabis. You may prefer smoking bud, although quality resin is a versatile product that can be consumed in various ways. Even if you have a tolerance to smoking pot, you should be careful when consuming resin and start slow and low; do not overdo it.

You can use cannabis resin to supplement other substances like edibles, to create hash, you can consume it by itself by vaping or dabbing.

What Makes Up Cannabis Resin?

The cannabis plant produces trichomes, and in nature, the sticky substance is what protects the plant against insects, infections, and UV damage. Resin acts like a protectant barrier as part of the plant’s immune system to help ensure the survival of the plant. Cannabis Resin also contains terpenes, which produce the aroma to attract insects required for pollination, necessary for the plant’s survival. Resin has a sticky, luscious consistency similar to tree sap, although instead of consisting of mostly sugars like sap, resin consists of flavonoids and terpenes found in cannabis trichomes. This makes it very aromatic and fragrant with rich, earthy overtones.

Resin is produced by all types of cannabis strains, although the unpollinated female plants produce the greatest amounts of resin. It is typically a golden, amber color, which is what it looks like when originally extracted from the plant, and then will change color due to temperature changes or exposure to oxygen. Resin that has a greenish tint may indicate that it was not correctly filtered from the buds.

Types of Resin

You might think that resin is the ashy, tarry substance that accumulates in your bowl after smoking for a while. While this is also called resin, it is not pure, live resin. Tarry resin found as an after  product from smoking can be referred to as “pipe resin” and is something that we recommend not consuming. Smoking this is known as a resin hit. This combusted resin will contain a low content level and will provide a very harsh hit that will most likely make you cough, will taste awful, and might actually make you feel sick.

While you might be tempted to roll this tarry substance in a ball and smoke it, if it’s all you’ve got left, consume it at your own risk. It’s already been burned, is full of carbon and ash, and is mostly depleted of content level. Don’t confuse pipe resin with live resin.

The following types of resin are the most popular and sweet variations of resin byproduct:

• Live resin
• Hash
• Butane hash oil (BHO)
• Rosin
• CO2 oil

3.1 Live Cannabis Resin

Live resin is a specific cannabis concentrate, a favorite among cannabis connoisseurs, that is considered to be one of the highest-quality resins for dabbing. Live resin is made from freshly harvested plants that are immediately frozen, which preserves the terpenes. Flash freezing skips the drying and curing process and preserves the delicate terpene profile and cannabis compounds. The flash-freezing method retains the essential oils, full flavor, and aroma of freshly harvested sugar leaves and buds while not using stems and larger leaves.

Cannabis flower that is subjected to drying and curing and other types of processing causes many of the essential oils to be lost when the plant loses moisture and chlorophyll. Processing with ultra-cold temperatures maintains the cannabis compounds without annihilating the aromatic properties. The delicate process of flash freezing is a favorite method among cannabis enthusiasts and makes live resin stand out from other types of concentrates.

Other methods of resin production include applying pressure, which can be done at home in a rudimentary method, or reputable sellers utilize lab equipment and technicians to press the buds hydraulically to produce resin.

3.1.1 Difference between Live Resin and Other Dabs

The main difference between live resin and other types of concentrates is the method of flash freezing used to produce live resin. Other concentrates such as rosin, wax, and shatter are typically made from dried and cured plant material and include stems and larger leaves. This differs from live resin, which is made exclusively from sugar leaves and fresh buds.

Makers of live resin meticulously select the freshest material to create resin with a much richer aroma and flavor than other types of concentrates and dabs. Live resin has a more malleable and smoother form and is richer in color as the essential oils are preserved and captured in live resin extract.

3.1.2 Storing Live Cannabis Resin

Live resin should be stored in an airtight container that blocks UV light in a cool and dark place such as a refrigerator. Silicone or glass storage containers are best for storing live resin, and the silicone is a little easier to scrape the concentrate from the sides.

3.1.3 How to Dab Live Cannabis Resin

Live resin is typically consumed by dabbing, or users can top off a bowl or joint with some resin or vape with a nectar collector. Whichever method you choose, you won’t be disappointed with the high-class, extraordinary quality live resin concentrate.

3.2 Hash

Hash is produced by compressing cannabis trichomes from resin into a brick or a ball, which originated in Central Asia. Hash is usually smoked in hookahs, pipes, joints, or mixed with herbs. Consuming hash provides a quick absorption method of content level and can help with insomnia, nausea, and pain.

3.3 Butane Hash Oil

Butane Hash Oil, also known as BHO or honey oil, has a beautiful amber, golden color that resembles honey. It provides fast and strong effects and is one of the most popular methods to consume cannabis resin. BHO is created by using butane, a hydrocarbon, flammable gas, which separates the trichomes from the plant. It produces a golden, pure resin that is a quality hash, although, during the process, many terpenes are destroyed.

3.4 Rosin

Rosin is also produced from cannabis resin and is similar to BHO, except that it is produced with heat and pressure and without the use of solvents. This method allows for the full extraction of oil from the plant and preserves most of the terpenes. Rosin can be produced with a home method of placing the nugs in a piece of parchment paper and using a hair straightener to flatten it for a quick and easy method of extraction. A hydraulic press is used for a more professional method of extraction to create rosin, although these presses can be somewhat expensive.

3.5 CO2 Oil

CO2 oil is also called CO2 hash oil or CO2 cannabis oil and is made with a method that uses carbon dioxide to extract the cannabis plant compounds. The method of extracting CO2 oil requires expertise and expensive equipment.

How to Smoke Cannabis Resin

How you smoke resin depends on the type of resin product you have. You can easily find resin and hash oil in premade cartridges and vape pens. If you aren’t into carts, you can use a dab rig to smoke the more honey like varieties of resin. If you have a thicker resin or a resin that is more like a fine powder, you can add it to the bowl of a bong or sprinkle it in a joint. You can also gently heat resin with a candle warmer to spread it on joints and blunts to coat them with keif.

Is Resin Edible?

Edibles are a very popular form of consuming cannabis products, and you might be wondering if you can eat resin. Most forms of resin will not produce a high if eaten. You have to decarboxylate resin in order for it to produce psychoactive effects. Consuming raw cannabis will not produce psychoactive effects. It is especially unwise to attempt to eat pipe resin, the black, tarry substance at the bottom of your pipe. This can include live bacteria or solvents and can make you feel sick.

Cannabis resin is highly concentrated, so be aware of your tolerance levels and determine the appropriate amount before consuming. Cannabis resin is a high-quality, high-potent product where a little goes a long way. The best resin is produced from the best quality of plants, which only come from high-quality cannabis seeds.

The Seed Cellar offers the best quality cannabis seeds online, as well as a brick-and-mortar store in Michigan where we provide exceptional customer service. Always start your grow with stellar seeds to produce trichome-rich buds best used for producing resin. Check out The Seed Cellar for a wide selection of quality seeds for growing frosty buds best for making your own hash or resin products.