What Is Distillate?
Distillate is a marijuana oil made by isolating a cannabinoid, usually THC or CBD, and separating it from the rest of the plant material. Especially pure distillates can offer close to 100% THC potency, which leaves little room for anything else. In other words, there are almost no terpenes in marijuana distillate. Terpenes are the essential oils that give cannabis strains their unique flavors and may also have their own outcomes.
What Is Live Resin?
Live resin is also a cannabis concentrate, but it’s made with different goals. Instead of containing the highest levels of cannabinoids possible, live resin normally contains 50% to 80% THC. The rest of this marijuana extract consists of a good deal of terpenes and flavonoids. High levels of terpenes make for a more flavorful experience, which appeals to some consumers. The terpenes in cannabis may also cause an entourage effect, which may be why different strains are known for different outcomes. So is live resin better than distillate?
Understanding Live Resin vs. Distillate
The question is, would you rather have more cannabinoids or more terpenes? Some medical marijuana patients love distillate because it’s almost flavorless and has some of the highest levels of THC available. On the other hand, some appreciate the authentic marijuana flavor of live resin and swear by the entourage effect.
The Extraction Process
Distillate extraction involves a good deal of heat, so the cannabinoids are decarboxylated in the process. That is, for example, THC is activated with heat. Live resin extraction happens at a much lower temperature. The raw plant material is flash frozen before the process, which takes place at cool temperatures to preserve terpenes.
Terpene and THC Content
The terpene and THC content level is one of the biggest differences between these two types of concentrates. Live resin is designed to have the highest terpene levels of just about any concentrate, while distillate has incredibly high THC levels and almost no terpenes.
The Smoking Experience
Because the cannabinoids in distillate have been decarboxylated, a medical marijuana patient can eat the concentrate or even administer it under the tongue. Because live resin has not been decarboxylated, it must be smoked or vaped to activate the THC. The distillate is almost flavorless, while live resin has a very authentic marijuana flavor.
