How to Make Live Resin From Fresh Buds

Live resin is one of the many cannabis concentrates you’ll find in dispensaries. These unique cannabis-infused products are quickly rising to the top of the charts among some users, especially those who enjoy dabbing and vaping. 

Live resin probably isn’t the most popular concentrate out there. Many people enjoy live resin concentrates because they typically contain a full-spectrum of cannabinoids, unlike some other concentrates. This category of cannabis-infused products continues to grow. It includes wax, budder, shatter, live resin, and kief, just to name a few. The most significant difference between live resin and other cannabis concentrates is where they originate. Live resin comes from flowers that were flash-frozen, sometimes with dry ice, while they were damp. Freezing all the water weight allows the cannabinoids and terpenes to freeze with the flower. When you alter cannabis buds when they’re dry, you can damage or destroy many of the cannabinoids and compounds in the flower.

What Are Cannabis Concentrates? 

Cannabis concentrates are the result of processing cannabis flower into a highly concentrated form, separating the raw plant matter and other impurities and then leaving only the desired elements of the flower behind. What you end up with is a potent cannabis product with as much as 80% THC concentration or more. 

There are two categories of cannabis concentrates. Those categories include solvent-based and non-solvent-based. Solventless processes usually rely only on pressure, heat, or cold to separate the concentrates. If you use a solvent-based process, that involves washing the cannabis flower with either butane or carbon dioxide in a very controlled environment.

Due to the concentrated nature, these products offer a higher potency, quicker onset of effect, and broader consumption methods compared to consuming the flower in its raw form.

What Is Live Resin? 

Live resin is a cannabis concentrate that is quickly rising in the ranks as a favourite go-to of vapers and dabbers alike.  Sporting a healthy dose of cannabinoids and brimming with the flavourful terpenes sought after by connoisseurs, live resin has become an instant favourite of those who use concentrated cannabis products. 

Live resin is distinct from other resins and concentrates due to the unique nature of its extraction process.  While many different methods may use the processed or cured flower, live resin uses freshly picked buds that you deep freeze using either liquid nitrogen or dry ice. During the normal harvesting, drying, and curing process, you lose more than half of the terpenes. The method of drying the cannabis flower creates a less flavourful concentrate that also lacks the complex aromas and natural smells that many have grown to enjoy.  Freezing the buds as close to harvest as possible preserves the terpenes and prevents them from escaping before the extraction process can even begin.

How to Make Live Resin

You typically extract live resin in much the same way as butane hash oil (BHO). The most common process uses butane as a solvent to separate the trichomes from the rest of the cannabis plant. Live resin starts with flash-frozen cannabis buds. Freezing the cannabis flowers protects more of the terpenes, trichomes, and compounds. Preserving those parts of the cannabis flower means they end up in the final live resin product. That’s what sets live resin apart from other cannabis concentrates on the market. This process leaves behind a more pure concentrate that includes a full-spectrum of cannabinoids, compounds, and terpenes. 

The best way to make live resin is by using a closed-loop extractor. This device will run you about $10,000 or more, which is another reason why you should leave this to the pros. The extractor has several different chambers, including one for the butane and another for the cannabis flower. The butane is added to the proper compartment, and then it passes through a set of chambers until it reaches the cannabis. When it arrives, the butane gets to work, separating the trichomes, terpenes, and cannabinoids from the rest of the cannabis plant matter. The butane and cannabis mixture moves through another chamber that removes excess material before moving into the extractor’s final area. Once the mixture gets there, the solvent is removed through a heating process, which is where this method becomes dangerous. 

Butane is highly flammable, and adding any heat source to a butane mix can present serious risks.  It’s a good idea to leave this process up to the experts, especially if you don’t feel safe using solvents. Another thing about live resin is the extraction process works best if it begins immediately after the plant’s cutting. That’s why you may find better products out there than what you can create at home. 

How to Use Live Resin

You don’t have to use live resin in its current state. Live resin can easily be turned into other cannabis concentrates, including shatter, wax, and sauce. The most common way to use live resin is with a dab rig, a dab pen, or a vape pen. There are dozens of live resin vape oils available. Thanks to the wide terpene profile in live resin, you’ll likely have no problem finding unique and delicious flavours of live resin vape oil to try. 

Dabbing live resin is perhaps the most common method of using these cannabis concentrates. Dabbing requires using a dab rig, which uses a handheld torch to heat the nail to the desired temperature. Dab rigs are tricky devices if you aren’t familiar with them, so if you’re trying live resin or other cannabis concentrates for the first time, you may need a little help from your friends. 

Closing Thoughts

Live resin comes with a complete terpene profile, which is unique among cannabis concentrates. If you’re looking for a cannabis experience that offers a full flavour and aroma experience, live resin is the way to go. These products pack a powerful THC punch, as well. Making these concentrates requires butane, so the best advice is to buy these from a reputable dispensary instead of attempting to make live resin on your own.