CBD concentrates are popular because they offer all the benefits of CBD in a highly concentrated form. Live resin is one of the most popular CBD concentrates. What sets it apart from other hemp concentrates? How can you be sure you’re getting a quality product?
What is Hemp Live Resin?
Live resin is a concentrated type made using fresh, undeveloped hemp flowers. Concentrates are made by extracting cannabinoids and terpenes from the hemp material.
Live resin is a hydrocarbon extract with a heavy emphasis on terpenes. Terpenes are the smell and flavor compounds in the cannabis plant.
Live resin came to notoriety in the early 2010s when cultivators learned you could keep more of the mono terp profile of the flower (or living plant) by bucking and immediately extracting the essential oils rather than drying, curing, and trimming the way they had with traditional flower. This developed into the practice of “fresh frozen;” i.e., using the live flower to preserve the fresh state of its essential oils and terpenes.
The resulting extract not only contains the flavor and aroma profile of the live plant but is also stabilized through a vacuum to preserve the profile. This can come in various forms: sauce, butter, badder, shatter, or wax consistency.
How is Live Resin Made?
Hemp flowers are usually harvested, dried, and cured before they are used for making concentrates. But with live resin, the flowers are flash frozen immediately after harvest. This step preserves all the beneficial compounds in the plant, resulting in a more potent and flavorful concentrate. The removal of water also allows for a higher concentration of cannabinoids.
Live resin extraction has a different method from other concentrates. But the starting material is different. And that makes all the difference in the process.
How Does Live Resin Differ From Live Rosin?
At Akira Botanicals, we harvest our flower at peak ripeness and do a five-day dry at cool temps to preserve the monoterpenes while extracting most of the ‘water weight.’
This step preserves all the beneficial compounds in the plant, resulting in a more potent and flavorful concentrate. The removal of water also allows for a higher concentration of cannabinoids.
After five days, the flower is frozen until it undergoes a hydrocarbon extraction and is then put into a vacuum oven to purge any residuals. Both these steps involve specialized equipment and an artisan extractor to yield a quality product. The finished material then undergoes third-party testing to verify potency and purity.
What is the Purity of CBD Live Resin Extracts?
It’s a pure and potent concentrate. How do you know you’re getting quality CBD products? Check the lab results.
A high-quality extract comes with a comprehensive lab report to verify potency and purity. If the product is not properly purged, it can contain residual solvents.
If the flower is extracted and contains pesticides and/or heavy metals, these will show up in a ‘concentrated’ form in the final product. So, it’s important to know your farmer and their farming practices.
At Akira Botanicals we grow using beyond organic farming practices, meaning we spray nothing, ever. We also don’t use synthetic fertilizers and grow in clean, nutrient-rich living soil built up over many years.
What are the Effects of CBD Live Resin Extracts?
CBD live resin offers all the same benefits as other cannabinoids used as concentrates. But because it is a more potent form of CBD, the effects may be more pronounced. CBD offers many potential health benefits, including reducing inflammation, relieving pain, and reducing anxiety.
The latest cannabis research seems to confirm that the plant’s terpenes are responsible for that strain’s effects. Terpenes modulate the effect of the cannabinoids. If the cannabinoids are the vehicle, the terpenes are the driver. The effects of the live resin will be largely determined by the terpene makeup of the plant, rather than its taxonomy (indica/sativa).
Therefore, a live resin extract that is high in limonene will be associated with an uplifting, energetic effect, whereas one high in myrcene will be better known for that “couch lock” effect.
What are the Benefits of Live Resin?
Live resin concentrate contains a large amount of CBD. It also keeps all the beneficial terpenes from the plant. Terpenes are compounds that give hemp extracts their distinctive flavor profile and smell. Some specific benefits of terpenes include reducing inflammation, relieving pain, and reducing anxiety. They also have their own set of therapeutic benefits.
A high-terpene live resin lends itself to a synergistic effect with CBD, while vaporization allows for a quick onset time, providing immediate relief and a highly pleasurable experience. It culminates in an experience that is both medicinal and highly enjoyable.
By vaping at the right temperature, you can avoid inhaling harmful carcinogens in the form of smoke.
The high-terpene content of the live resin extract allows for a greater effectiveness than an extract that focuses primarily on cannabinoid content, such as CBD isolate. This is because of the ‘Entourage Effect’ of full-spectrum concentrates.
What is the Shelf Life of Extracts?
Live resin has a shorter shelf life than other CBD concentrates. It’s made with fresh, undried hemp plant flowers. Once created, use it within six months. After that, the potency and flavor of the product may degrade.
How to Use Live Resin Extracts?
Live resin was developed for pleasurable vaporization. The high-terpene content both brings enormous flavor and makes the extract sensitive to heat, making low temp vaporization preferable. This can be done with an E-rig, classic water pipe with a high-quality quartz banger, vaporizer, or one of our Akira Botanical vape cartridges.
*To preserve the flavor, do not heat above 500 degrees and heat the extract from cold to hot.
You can also combine live resin with flower by topping a bowl or sprinkling some in with your joints.
Dab It
Dabbing is a vaporization method that uses a dab rig. A rig is like a bong but has a few key differences. First, rigs have a glass dome instead of a bowl. The dome holds the fresh plant resin, which is then heated to produce vapor.
Second, these use a nail instead of a bowl. The nail is made of metal, ceramic, or quartz and is heated to vaporize the CBD concentrate. Start heating the nail with a butane torch for dabbing CBD live resin.
Once the nail is hot enough, use a dab tool to place the concentrate on the nail. Inhale the vapor through the dab rig.
If you’re new to dabbing, start with a small amount of CBD dabs. The effects of dabbing can be intense, so it’s best to start slow.
Use a Concentrate Vape Pen
You can also use it in a vape pen. Place the concentrate in the vape pen chamber and inhale the vapor. Make sure you choose a vape pen compatible with live resin extracts.
Smoke Dabs With Flower
Some people like to mix it with hemp flower in a pipe or joint and smoke it. This is a great way to enjoy the benefits of CBD and terpenes. Simply add it to your favorite hemp flower and smoke it as you usually would. You mix CBD live resins with premium hemp flowers to get the best of both worlds.
Make Edibles
Concentrates also make incredible edibles. The edible may be more potent than other edibles because of the higher concentration of CBD. You can use full-spectrum CBD live resin to make your own hemp butter or flower-infused cooking oil. Simply add the desired amount of live resin to your favorite recipe. Start with a small amount and increase as needed. Keep in mind that the potent effects of edibles can take up to two hours to kick in.
What Are the Side Effects of Concentrates?
Live resin is safe for most people. The side effects are typically mild. They are more likely to occur when taking higher doses. Start with a small amount and increase as needed.
How Long Does Live CBD Resin Take to Work?
The effects of resin can vary depending on how you use it. When smoked or vaporized, the effects are almost immediate. Full-spectrum edibles can take up to two hours to kick in.
How Long Do the Effects of Live CBD Resin Last?
The effects of live resin can last for several hours. The exact duration depends on your use, body weight, and other factors. Smoking and vaping have the shortest duration, lasting a little more than an hour. Edibles take longer to work but last about four to six hours.
Are CBD Concentrates Legal?
Yes, live CBD resin is legal in the United States if it contains less than 0.3% THC. This trace amount of THC is not enough to produce psychoactive effects. However, live CBD resin is not legal in all localities. Check your local laws before buying or using live CBD resin.
WHY IS AKIRA BOTANICALS THE BEST SOURCE FOR CBD LIVE RESIN?
The genetics at Akira Botanicals are selected for unique, high-terpene profiles to provide a pleasurable vaping experience for the user. We maintain quality control at every step of the process to ensure terpene retention in the final product.
All of our concentrates come from flowers grown organically in living soil on our farm in the Appalachian Mountains. Our microclimate is that of the temperate rainforest with late-night temperature swings and a host of insects to keep the plants on their toes.
The plant produces terpenes as a defense mechanism against pests. Just the right amount of stress in the right environment will produce the terpiest buds. Fire in, Fire out.
Buy Akira Botanicals CBD live resin and experience the rich terpene content.