While you’ve probably heard of live resin carts by now… do you know what sets them apart? Let’s dive into the new world of vaping, with a quick guide to live resin carts and just why they’re trending.
The power of flower
First thing’s first – to understand the ‘live resin’ difference, you’ve got to understand how cannabis flower transforms into extracts. The sticky-icky crystals found on marijuana buds known as trichomes, contain beneficial cannabinoids like THC and CBD. Along with a variety of terpenes.
The cannabinoids obviously deliver the psychoactive or soothing effects found in individual strains. While terpenes are the aromatic centers of the flower. Not only do they provide the cravable tastes and scents of the weed we love the most, but terps also onset their own individual effects too.
Using a solvent and high-tech equipment, the beneficial oils of the plant are extracted and processed into common concentrates. But, there’s one key difference in the processing of live resin vs distillate and other concentrates that can be vaped or dabbed. No worries, we’ll get to that next…
…to understand the ‘live resin’ difference, you’ve got to understand how cannabis flower transforms into extracts.
Fresh frozen
If you’ve ever walked into a room or field where cannabis plants were ready to be harvested…you know the pungent and fresh aroma, the plants exude. If you haven’t…it’s just like opening up a fresh bag of nugs, and getting the first whiff.
What sets live resin apart, is the capturing of the plant’s freshness immediately at the point of harvest. While flower for sale is normally dried, and cured, that’s not the case for live resin carts. This is the most pivotal difference in live resin vs. distillate and other concentrates. At the peak of maturity, the entire plant, sugar leaves and all, is harvested and immediately frozen.
What sets live resin apart, is the capturing of the plant’s freshness immediately at the point of harvest.
This flash freezing of fresh material is said to withhold the natural essence of the plant at its highest levels. Potency and flavor, included. Because terpenes typically degrade over the drying and curing process, it’s a method that ensures live resin delivers the most pure and pungent tastes. In fact, one study showed that curing buds can reduce the amount of terpenes by 31%.
Taste for trends
So, if you’ve never tried a live resin cart just imagine amplifying the taste of your favorite bud, by about 30%. The increased flavor of live resin carts are the #1 reason they are trending among cannabis consumers across the country. Especially among seasoned smokers, who have an additional appreciation for the natural taste of the plant.
Before live-resin carts took off in popularity, terpene infused distillates were a number one choice for vaping. Most goods were marketed as ‘refined live resin’ which technically, doesn’t even exist. Many of these ‘live resin’ products just infused terpenes to create a faux version of the real thing. By definition, Live Resin carts like URSA’s Live Resin Carts don’t need additional refinement. They’re at their purest, without.
Other vape carts brands also used extra additives like Vitamin E acetate to craft or mimick a certain viscosity. Since then, we’ve learned that this made a number of vape cartridges unsafe altogether. Which leads us to our next reason for trending – live resin is 100% safe for vaping purposes. Processors like URSA, are capable of naturally achieving a live resin consistency with true color that’s exceptional on looks, alone. See for yourself with URSA’s current live-resin collection, here. Meaning there’s no Vitamin E acetate in URSA’s live resin carts and no need for artificial flavoring due to the intense flavors of the fresh terpene profile.
Live Resin carts like URSA’s Live Resin Carts don’t need additional refinement. They’re at their purest, without.
When puffing on a live-resin cart, you’re inhaling only the vapor of that sticky-icky material from fresh frozen plants. The live resin extraction process allows URSA to essentially capture the strain’s original aroma – meaning you taste the weed, more so than with any other method. That’s why many refer to live-resin as the purest of concentrates.
An entourage of effects
Last but not least, the entourage of effects that live-resin can provide is trending amongst medical and recreational users alike. Other cartridges using distillate contain isolated percentages of CBD, THC and sometimes other cannabinoids. Conversely, live-resin contains phytonutrients, flavonoids, the full cannabinoid spectrum and terpenes, too. Research is showing that when combined, these compounds intensify each other’s effects. This is often referred to as an ‘entourage effect’ by experts in cannabis research.
So, looking at live resin vs. distillate, a distillate cart might show higher percentages of CBD or THC, a live-resin cart is capable of providing amplified effects even with lesser percentages of cannabinoids, overall.
So, looking at live resin vs. distillate, a distillate cart might show higher percentages of CBD or THC, a live-resin cart is capable of providing amplified effects even with lesser percentages of cannabinoids, overall.
Be wary of knock-offs
When anything is classified as a ‘luxury’ or ‘premium’ good, there’s bound to be knock-offs. Unfortunately, the same is true for live-resin carts. Because the industry has no regulations on product terms, any brand is able to label their carts as ‘live” or ‘live-resin’, even if it’s not. Most knock-offs are a refined distillate that is just cut with ‘live resin terps’. If you are going to spend the extra money, only buy carts that clearly state they are 100% live-resin.
If you are going to spend the extra money, only buy carts that clearly state they are 100% live-resin.
So, we took the matter into our own hands and coined our own term – Live Resin Carts. The brand’s proprietary title for the newly launched live resin carts, which are guaranteed distillate-free, 100% live resin every time.
A lively high
Now that you know the key differences in live-resin versus distillate and other concentrates, you can see why the premium product is trending for top-shelf status. From pungent terpene flavors, to amplified potency…live-resin is proving to be the best of the best. If you’re looking for a more flavorful, lively and potently pungent high…URSA’s got your back. Check out our fresh selection of live resin cartridges for sale, and dabbable goods.
