Live Resin: What Is It, and Why Is It So Awesome?

Cannabis is being used more around the world, whether it be for recreational or medicinal purposes. In the past, people used to use cannabis secretly and hide it away. But now, it is widely accepted, and the cannabis industry has grown by leaps and bounds as a result. There are several new methods of consumption, including shatter, wax, and live resin concentrate.

About Live Resin

Live resin is a concentrate, the same as shatter or wax is. However, it has more terpenes in it than other cannabis products. You might be wondering what terpenes are. These are oils that come from the cannabis plant and give each strain a unique smell and taste. The terpenes come from the same glands that make the CBD and THC. There are more than 100 terpenes, and each one is unique and offers different effects. Some of the most common ones include:

• Myrcene
• Beta-Pinene
• Alpha-Pinene
• Delta 3 Carene
• Terpineol
• Alpha Bisabolol
• Limonene
• Caryophyllene
• Linalool
• Eucalyptol

Each one may offer different medicinal benefits for you. Whether you have cancer, nausea, anxiety, or another condition, you may be able to alleviate your symptoms by using terpenes.

Live resin basically comes from the whole cannabis plant instead of bits of decarboxylated plant material. The reason that it is called live resin is that it comes from the live plant. Because the product comes from the plant without being decarboxylated, the terpene profile of the concentrate is more accurate to the original plant. This means that you might have better flavours and aromas coming from it, as well as stronger effects.

Is It Similar to Other Concentrates?

You should know that live resin is made in the same way that other concentrates are, including wax and shatter. A solvent will go through that plant material to remove the CBD, terpenes, and THC. Usually, butane is used, which is why you might see a concentrate called butane hash oil. But this is not the only solvent that is commonly used. Sometimes, isopropyl alcohol or carbon dioxide are used. 

What makes live resin similar to the other concentrates is that it is high in THC, especially compared to smoking the flower. While the plant material may have only around 25 percent THC, there might be around 80 to 90 percent THC in live resin. 

You should remember that the point of getting live resin is not to get a higher level of THC. In fact, with some live resins, you might get a lower amount of THC than with traditional concentrates. The idea behind live resins is that the terpenes have been preserved and will not be lost with the decarbing process.

Concentrates vs. Live Resin

The main difference between regular concentrates and live resin is the level of terpenes. With live resin, you can get a higher level of terpenes. In fact, you may get as much as five times more terpenes in live resin than in other concentrates. Although there is less product, you will end up getting more flavour. 

With a decarboxylated product, you will get a more pungent scent since there are not as many terpenes in it. When the plant is frozen right after being cut, the terpenes can be preserved and prevented from evaporating. Then, the plant can be processed at a colder temperature and the terpenes will be preserved and get in the resin.

This can be better for you since you are getting more of what the whole plant had in it. Some people compare this to being the difference between fresh and dried fruit. You’re getting fruit either way, but fresh fruit usually offers more nutrients, similarly to the way that live resin offers more terpenes. A live resin will help you to get the cannabis the way that nature intended. 

The Terpene Profile

The terpenes that you will find in live resin will depend on the strain that was used to extract it. They will depend on the plant’s terpene profile. This means that the resin from a Sour Diesel strain will be a lot different than one that comes from Cherry OG. Even in the same strain, there are differences in the terpene profiles. One batch of a strain will give you a different terpene profile than the same strain with a different batch.

The Texture

You can find many different forms of live resin, including hard, soft, and others. You might find such viscosities as:

• Butter
• Sap
• Shatter
• Jelly 

The terpenes are chemicals, meaning they can have a fairly large impact on the viscosity of your resin. But a company can also alter the live resin after making it. For instance, you can find a more liquid resin, but it is often harder to transport and store. A manufacturer might whip the product until it becomes a butter, which is easier to handle. Since the extraction process is harder, you might notice that live resins tend to cost a bit more.

Is Live Resin Worth It?

The answer to this question will depend on what you like to have. Remember that the extraction process does not give you as much product as with a regular process, so it will cost you more money. But you will be getting a more accurate and complete product that reflects the natural cannabis plant when you get a live resin. 

You might find that this cost will be worthwhile for you. During a regular extraction, you will lose many terpenes, but the ones you get in a live resin may help you have something that you have never before experienced. The best way to find out is to try it.

Closing Thoughts

Remember that when you use live resin, you are not just getting a product that has more CBD or THC in it. You are also getting a fresher product than what you can find elsewhere. That may make it more appealing to you. The best way to find out if you will like live resin concentrate is to try it out for yourself.