Live resin has only recently become a popular option among the most discerning recreational and medicinal users of cannabis.
This high-end product is almost always far more aromatic and flavorful than other types of cannabis concentrate – as well as being far more potent thanks to something called the entourage effect.
The standard high quality of live resin means it often comes in at a higher price point than other concentrates. This is exacerbated by the fact that creating a given quantity of live resin requires more cannabis plant than any other cannabis concentrate.
This higher price point combined with the unarguably higher quality often means owners need to figure out how to store live resin and how long they can do it for.
Here’s everything you need to know about exactly that:
What is live resin?
A type of concentrated cannabis, live resin is designed to retain all of the complex flavors and aromas found in the particular cannabis plant it is made from. This means it occupies a space at the high end of both the quality and price spectra of available cannabis concentrates.
Most methods of producing cannabis concentrates use heat. They also usually involve drying or curing the plant. Unfortunately, heat has a detrimental – if not outright destructive – effect on the relatively fragile phytonutrients and terpenes found in cannabis. These organic compounds are responsible for giving the plant its unique smells and flavors. Terpenes do the same for numerous other plant and even inspect species.
Instead of heat, live resin concentrate is created via a process of flash freezing. Only then is the chosen solvent passed through the material and extracted. This means live resin:
- Retains its flavor profile – all of the organic compounds found in the plant are still present in the final concentrate, meaning it still has all the unique flavors and scent of the original strain. This makes live resin something of a connoisseur’s choice among cannabis fans and medicinal patients alike.
- Requires heat – live resin needs to be heated in order to have any beneficial effect. This is because the chemical decarboxylation process – responsible for turning the non-activated versions of cannabinoids such as THC and CBD found in the plant into the active versions which have beneficial effects – requires heat.
- Has greater potency – the entourage effect – created when all of the different terpenes, phytonutrients, cannabinoids and other compounds found in the cannabis plant work together at the same time – results in live resin being far more potent than its stated level of THC, for example, would suggest.
What is full spectrum live resin?
Live resin is sometimes accompanied by the terms “full plant” or “full spectrum” live resin. This refers to the fact that all of the original plant is flash-frozen and used in the concentrate creation process.
However, not all live resin is necessarily a “full spectrum” product. Nor is this exclusively a live resin characteristic. For example, kief is a full spectrum concentrate. Yet it also uses curing as part of the creation process – one of the defining factors of a live resin, of course, is that it doesn’t.
What does live resin look like?
Live resin’s appearance largely depends on the strain of cannabis used to create it. It can vary widely in form, consistency and color.
One thing which all types of live resin tend to have in common – especially when compared with other types of cannabis concentrate – is that they will be more liquid, or at least very malleable.
This is because of the far greater quantities of terpenes – which are essential oils, don’t forget – found in it by comparison with other concentrates.
How do you take live resin? What form does it come in?
The two most popular ways of taking live resin are through dabbing and via vaporizers or vape pens.
The concentrate itself is available in various consistencies either in a pre-filled cartridge or in a container that’s ready to be used to fill a re-fillable cartridge or to be used in a dabbing rig.
Here’s a little more about what both methods entail:
1) Dabs
Dabbing is one of the most popular ways to consume live resin.
It is also one of the more complex, as it requires a small amount of equipment and knowledge in order to do. If you were planning to dab some live resin, you would need:
- A dab rig (essentially a type of water pipe)
- A nail (a flat bowl which can withstand high temperatures)
- A dabber (for live resin, dabbers recommend a dabber with a spoon-headed tip rather than a flat)
The process involves heating the nail to a specific temperature. This set temperature is even more important for live resin than for other concentrates. This is because of the danger of destroying the delicate terpenes which so much effort has been used to preserve.
However, live resin also requires a set amount of heat to begin the decarboxylation process and activate the beneficial cannabinoids in the concentrate. The usual target is around 315 degrees Fahrenheit (157 degrees Celsius). Though there is leeway to go above this (up to around 400 degrees Fahrenheit or 204 degrees Celsius), imprecision here can risk destroying your precious live resin.
As soon as the correct temperature has been achieved, the dabber is used to deposit the live resin on the nail. The heat of the nail vaporizes the concentrate. The vapor can then be inhaled through the water pipe rig.
2) Live resin vape
On the other end of the complexity spectrum from dabbing are live resin vape cartridges. Using these is simple:
- All you need to do is choose your favored brand of high-quality live resin cart
- Attach it to your vaporizer or vape pen
- Activate and inhale
It’s that simple. The cartridge contains the live resin and the pen or vape handles producing the precisely correct temperature necessary to vaporize your live resin and activate the cannabinoids without destroying the terpenes and damaging the flavors.
The ease of use makes live resin cartridges highly desirable. The only thing to watch out for is the difference in quality which is possible between live resin carts. Although live resin products occupy the highest ranges when it comes to the quality of cannabis concentrates you can buy, not all live resin is created equal:
For example, K.I.N.D. live resin is made from plants homegrown in American soil. It is wholly organic and natural – with no cutting agents used in the production process – in order to create a clean, fresh cannabis experience. One in which you can actually tell the strains of cannabis used to create the various carts apart because almost all of the terpenes have been retained.
However, many products of this kind may be labeled live resin yet not have the same quality as something like the K.I.N.D. version. It’s always worth taking the time to read the label and investigate where the cannabis you are vaping is grown and how the concentrated version was produced.
How to store live resin concentrate
Because so much care was taken to safeguard the terpenes and other flavorful, aromatic and beneficial compounds during the productions process, storing your live resin concentrate is a vital factor to consider after purchase.
This is also often a concern for many users and medical marijuana patients because a little bit of live resin can go a long way. The usual high potency of the concentrate combined with the power of the entourage effect ensures that the overwhelming majority of users only require a small amount of live resin to be vaporized in order to achieve a powerful effect.
When you remember that K.I.N.D. live resin comes in at a minimum 70% THC already, that can often be an impressive effect indeed.
Altogether, this means that you may need a safe way to store your live resin concentrate for a long period of time. In order to do so, you’ll be looking to create an environment which is:
- Dark – keeping your live resin away from the light is a good way to prevent it from breaking down for the longest period of time. A sealed, opaque, lightproof container will help prevent terpene degradation and evaporation.
- Cool – the same is true of heat. A cold room can be sufficient to keep your live resin at a temperature which will ensure it won’t break down, though a refrigerator is far more preferable.
- Dry – moisture is another of live resin’s natural enemies. This concentrate has a natural consistency which you will want to help it remain at.
- Airtight – store your live resin in an airtight container. As soon as you’ve used a little of your concentrate, be sure to seal it up tight again as soon as possible.
An ideal live resin storage container will be made of glass or silicone and most likely kept safely in a fridge between uses. Given these conditions, live resin can last for months or even a year or more before it starts to degrade seriously.
Live resin concentrate storage questions
Do live resin carts smell when stored?
Live resin carts are sealed so that they have zero detectable aroma when not in use.
Do live resin carts smell when used?
Live resin carts and vape pens combined are one of the most subtle ways to use cannabis concentrates. It’s likely that even a very terpene-rich live resin will leave only a small amount of odor. This might linger for around 5-10 minutes after exhalation.
The fast reduction in detectable odor is largely because the particles in the vapor are exactly that – vaporized – instead of being solid. This means that there are no solid particles to get trapped on surfaces. The vapor quickly dissipates in the atmosphere.
This can be reduced even further if there are seriously concerned about odor detection. Options such as candles, dryer sheets and even devices such as “smokemates” can reduce this smell to effectively nothing.
How much does live resin cost?
On any general scale of pre-filled hash oil cartridges for sale or THC oil for sale, live resin will be at the top end when it comes to cost. It’s easy to understand why:
Not only are the wonderful aromatic qualities of the original plant retained, the potency of live resin ensures it is a great option to have in your toolkit if you suffer from a condition which means you often need fast-acting relief from your medical marijuana.
It’s also important to note that the extraction process used to create live resin results in yields of lower quantities in comparison with other methods.
Most live resin for sale will clock in at around $60 to $80 per gram for a low-end or standard quality version. Higher quality options reach around $100 per gram and up at time of writing. In general, it’s worth noting that you may expect to pay more – because, when it comes to live resin’s quality, flavor profile, aroma and natural potency, you are getting so much more.
