THC resin might be one of the most confusing products made from the cannabis plant. Especially if you’re a newcomer to trying to get the relief you need via marijuana.
The problem mainly arises because different people seem to be talking about different things when they mention cannabis resin:
Some people are referring to actual cannabis resin – the natural substance which the marijuana plant creates to protect and help propagate itself. This sticky, cannabinoid and terpene-packed stuff contains a great deal of the plant’s psychoactive THC, so it can be powerful stuff.
But when others mention resin, they do so with a sneer. That’s the nasty stuff that builds up if you don’t clean your smoking apparatus, they say.
So, who’s right? Is resin the most valuable part of the plant or the least valuable byproduct of smoking it? Does resin contain THC in large quantities or small?
This article has everything you need to know:
What is resin?
- Protects the plant against UV damage
- Helps the plant resist infections
- Repels certain insects and other creatures which might eat the plant
- Attracts certain insects which pollinate the plant
What does cannabis resin look like?
aroma.
Where is cannabis resin found?
What is THC?
Does resin have THC in it?
Does weed resin have THC in it? Yes, yes it does. Usually a lot of it. For this reason, it’s a good idea to start off with a relatively small dose if you haven’t used any potent forms of cannabis before – especially if you’re a newcomer.
Always, always read the label of any THC resin product you buy. No matter whether it’s your shiny new 1000 mg vape cartridge, a specific resin vape pen or generic THC carts, check out what’s inside.
For instance, if you buy a K.I.N.D. Resin product, you will be able to see precisely how pure the product is. You will discover that the resin was extracted from plants grown using natural, organic practices in American soil. As well as where the product was tested and packaged locally.
Is resin the same as live resin?
This is another slight complication to understanding what resin is and what it’s good for. Resin – whether it’s the natural plant byproduct, a high-quality extract created from the byproduct, or a dirty smoking byproduct is different from live resin.
Live resin takes what makes cannabis resin so good and improves upon it. Live resin is created from cannabis plant material which has been flash-frozen directly after harvesting. This ensures that this is a special cannabis product – one which contains all of the beneficial cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids and other components which are part of the original cannabis plant it was created from.
This means that live resin is usually one of the most sought-after cannabis products on the market, often clocking in high on any pricing spectrum – but also pretty high in cost-effectiveness, as usually won’t need much to get the relief you need.
How to use cannabis resin
If we’re talking about the high-quality extract made from the cannabinoid-rich, earthy, sticky substance created by the cannabis plant, there are several ways to use cannabis resin.
1) Hash
Hash is the classic compressed ball or brick of cannabis resin. Although hash is a term that can be used rather loosely in certain parts of the world, it really refers to the high-strength, compressed form of resin which can be:
- Used in pipes or hookahs
- Smoked
- Eaten (interesting fact: the word “assassin” appears to derive from a group called the “hashashin”, an order of what today we would indeed call “assassins” in the Middle East circa the 11th and 13th centuries. In popular culture, it’s often suggested that members of the order ate hash for motivation. However, this seems to have been a pejorative way of referring to the group used by its enemies. The word “hashashin” later had a use which meant someone was “noisy” or “disreputable”. The real “assassins” did not east hash, it seems.)
2) BHO (Butane Hash Oil)
Butane Hash Oil is made by using butane gas to separate the glands which produce the trichome resin from the main body of the plant. The resulting BHO looks a little like honey, being a viscous liquid which is golden-amber in color.
BHO is most commonly used in dabbing and is extremely pure and potent – even more so than hash itself. The only downside of the BHO production process is that the vulnerable terpenes in the original plant material can be destroyed by it.
3) Rosin
“Rosin” is not a spelling mistake. This cannabis product is so-called because it is made using the Rosin method.
Not a million miles away from BHO in form, Rosin is made using the eponymous process. The Rosin method relies on heat and pressure – ranging from DIY home methods to full-on industrial hydraulic presses – to extract the resin from the plant.
This has the result of preserving the terpenes which are often destroyed by the butane solvent when making BHO.
How to smoke THC resin
THC resin can be used in all sorts of ways. Smoking is definitely a popular one. But there are also a number of methods which different people seem to prefer:
1) Vaping
Vaping is one of the most popular ways to use cannabis resin. You can buy both vape pens and sizeable cartridges – 1000 mg is not an uncommon size because it combines quantity and quality in a format which is very cost-effective – containing THC resin.
The pre-filled vape cartridge does away with lots of the preparation work and equipment needed in other methods. This makes it one of the easiest ways for someone who hasn’t tried cannabis resin before to check it out. It also makes it stress-free and easy to establish the right dose for you.
2) In joints
Some people like to add BHO or other cannabis resin oils to their joints or another way they are planning to consume raw marijuana plant material. The resin adds something of an extra zing to the experience, adding potency as well as sometimes flavor depending on the type of product you are using.
3) Dabbing
Most people prefer to use a dab rig if they have cannabis resin in the form of BHO. It’s also the method often used by people attempting to essentially “recycle” the smoking byproduct type of resin from over-used smoking paraphernalia.
If you’re using the latter, you will need some fresh water at the bottom of your rig. Overall, using this type of resin isn’t really a great idea.
But for high-quality resin, dabbing is great.
What is THC resin good for?
As we’ve seen, for the cannabis plant, resin fulfills a whole range of functions. Resin helps the plant stay whole, healthy and reproduce.
But for people, the THC found in resin – again, we’re talking about the high-quality product version of resin here; the smoking byproduct version will contain very low levels of THC – is used for all sorts of reasons, including:
Stress and anxiety: many people swear by the effects produced by certain cannabis strains when it comes to helping them deal with their particular experience of stress or anxiety.
Muscular aches and pains: people around the world use THC to address even chronic pains and serious aches.
It’s worth noting here that the potency of a product like THC resin can lead to certain side-effects if you take it in doses which your body can’t handle. That’s why it’s always sensible to start with a small dose and gradually work up until you get the quality of relief that you’re looking for.
This is an important point. Because, while many people use THC to address conditions such as stress and anxiety, one of the side-effects of significant overuse can be more anxiety or even panic attacks.
It’s always worth consulting your doctor or healthcare specialist before you make any high-THC product a part of your treatment regimen. Plus, you should always start with a low dose and see how it affects you. A little cannabis resin can go a long way.
Why a 1000 mg cartridge might be your best bet
Once you’ve tried cannabis resin and established that it’s something that’s useful for getting the relief you need, it’s time to start thinking about things like cost-effectiveness.
For that, you can’t usually beat going a step or two above the smallest size of cartridge which you can get. A 1000 mg cartridge offers you something approaching the best value for money which a vape cart can offer.
Also, considering the potency of THC resin and how little most people are likely to need in any given sitting, it’s a size of product which can last you for a surprisingly long time into the future.
