“The mention of hashish leads me to speak about this plant, on which much has been written for several years now and on which ­ there remains much to say.” – Le désert et le Soudan (1853) from The African Roots of Cannabis by Chris Duvall

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of terms used to describe various Cannabis extracts or concentrates. Essentially, concentrates and extracts are a form of hashish – a type of cannabis product that has likely been consumed for centuries if not millennia. The focus of this article will be on the difference between rosin and resin, and why these terms are often preceded by the word “live”, such as “Live Resin” or “Live Rosin.”

The most important terms to focus on for this article are resin and rosin. The term “live” is largely used as a marketing term to convey the freshness of the plant material, to imply that certain steps were taken to preserve the integrity of the plant material. Some procedures that are deemed “live”, include freezing fresh plant material to maintain many bioactive compounds on the plant. The intent is to indicate that steps have been taken to preserve many of the delicate, and tasty terpenes and flavonoids, which are easily and typically lost during storage, curing, and processing steps.

Different Extraction Procedures Create Different Products

Whether or not you are using extremely fresh plant material, the extraction method and subsequent processing can all greatly affect the ratios and amounts of cannabinoids and terpenes. That is, the specific steps related to extraction and concentrate preparation affect potency, flavor, color, and other factors that determine what is ultimately experienced from an extract in a vape cartridge. For example, terpenes are quite sensitive to heat and a harshly heated decarboxylation step prior to extraction ensures a final product nearly devoid of terpenes, and natural flavor. Each extraction method has strengths and weaknesses, ultimately it is up to you, the consumer, the decide which is superior for your health outcomes.

Resin or Live Resin

The term resin typically refers to a concentrate product that requires a hydrocarbon solvent (typically butane or propane) to be used in the distillation exaction process.  Hydrocarbon extracts (like butane hash oil [BHO]) can maintain certain terpene profiles and are known for a unique taste or flavor. The rising popularity of butane-based cannabis concentrates, such as hash oil, wax, budder, and shatter, can be attributed to several compelling factors. These include their high potency, with THC levels often surpassing 80%, compared to the 15% found in top-tier raw Cannabis. Furthermore, their use in vape pens and their potential to offer a purified, more concentrated form of THC and other cannabinoids make them increasingly favored. Concentrates like butane hash oil (BHO) could be considered a less risky option compared to traditional smoking, as they lack plant matter that combusts during consumption, reducing exposure to harmful byproducts – however they are much more potent than smoked cannabis flowers. The butane extraction process is known to kill microbial contaminants like bacteria, mold, and fungi found in cannabis material, though it may not remove all residues of these organisms, or any pesticides present on the plant material, which could become concentrated in the final product.

Butane is widely preferred by cannabis processors for several reasons: it is cost-effective, readily available, and the associated extraction equipment is relatively affordable. This method involves using butane as a solvent to extract the essential compounds—cannabinoids and terpenes—from cannabis, followed by the evaporation of the solvent, leaving behind the desired resin. This resin can then be further processed into various concentrate forms. Despite its popularity and cost-efficiency, butane extraction is best left to professionals due to the highly explosive nature of butane. It necessitates stringent safety measures, including conducting extractions in well-ventilated or specially designed areas to prevent the accumulation of flammable butane gas. The inherent risks associated with butane’s volatility, including the potential for explosion upon contact with a spark or flame, underscore the importance of caution and the avoidance of potential ignition sources such as smoking, static electricity, or mobile phones during the extraction process.

Rosin or Live Rosin

Rosin generally refers to extracts that are made with a heated press, the material used in the heated press can be flower material or products made with a solventless system such as dry sifting or sieving that is done by manually or mechanically rubbing material on a screen. One exception to the term solventless, is that rosin can be made from a cold-water extracted product, many do not consider water in the definition of a harsher solvent, such as butane or propane. Basically, cannabis flowers, or machine/macerated or cold-water extracted cannabis products are placed between heated plates and pressure is applied.

Water acts as a natural filter, removing water-soluble components like chlorophyll and certain pigments from cannabis, while effectively extracting terpenes, crucial for the aroma and flavor of the product. Despite sometimes having a subtler taste, rosin’s potency should not be underestimated; it can rival that of resin, albeit with a distinctive profile of flavors and active compounds.

Globally, the cold-water extraction techniques, are a favored approach for crafting extract products. This method utilizes water to efficiently harvest trichomes from cannabis trimmings, leaves, and flowers, resulting in a kief-like substance. This can either be enjoyed in its loose form or compressed into ancient-style hash or rosin. Commercial systems are available to streamline the cold-water extraction process, enhancing its precision and popularity. Additionally, DIY methods with household equipment have offered accessibility to this method on wider scale and less risky than using flammable gases, such as butane.  However, the longstanding preference forsolventless extracts is now being challenged by solvent-based concentrates like wax, shatter, budder, and oil. This shift has spurred rosin producers to refine their craft, leading to the creation of “solventless” wax variants that appeal to consumers wary of solvent (e.g., butane) residues. The safety profile of rosin, which is free from explosive risks and harmful chemicalals, adds to its appeal and enduring popularity among producers and consumers.

Conclusion

The cannabis concentrates of ancient times, known as hashish or hash, were simple processes yielding complex mixtures. These ancient cannabis products were often made by hand or foot, sometimes in a ritualistic fashion. Much has changed in today’s world regarding how cannabis extracts or concentrates are made and consumed. For example, the ancient Greeks and Romans gathered in tents to throw cannabis and hash onto hot coals to inhale the aroma as a group, a process known as fumigation. Perhaps such behavior is ongoing today but is infrequently reported.

The quality and potency of concentrates, such as resin or rosin, is dependent on several factors including the quality of the plant material from which it was made. There is a fair amount of scientific information about cannabis extraction techniques and the concentrate products they product. For example, a research team operating in Italy, followed six different extraction methods and analyzed the results of both innovative and established techniques. Rosin and resin-type processes can make products with similar potency but seem to differ mostly in how efficiently they capture different terpenes and flavor compounds. In terms of both cannabinoids and terpenes, the authors of the above study claim the best results were from the ancient method of “direct maceration extraction” in olive oil.