The Difference Between Live Rosin vs. Live Resin

• Live resin and live rosin both have a rich terpene profile. 
• They offer a more fragrant, flavorful cannabis experience. 
• Live resin is extracted using chemicals, so it is somewhat cheaper. 
• Live rosin is created using heat and pressure in small batches. 

Cannabis is undergoing a cultural shift — and so is the way we can consume and experience it! From edibles and tinctures to sticky vaporizable and dabbable concentrates, the captivating exploration of this potent plant has spiraled out in many different directions. 

What is the role of terpenes in the cannabis experience?

The surface of a live cannabis bud is covered with sticky, translucent glands called trichomes. This is where aromatic — and potentially therapeutic — compounds known as terpenes are produced, coming together in different combinations to create the distinct odor and flavor of a strain. [Source] 

Studies about cannabinoids and terpenes are in their infancy, though they do show potential as 

• Antimicrobials 
• Antivirals 
• Antidepressants 
• Pain relievers 
• Cancer fighters 

Cannabis processors have traditionally hung or machine-dried flowers, causing these temperature-sensitive compounds to degrade. [Source]  

Sadly, this takes away from the richness of your experience when you smoke the plant or its extracts. Such is not the case with live resins and rosins!  

What does live mean in cannabis products?

Thanks to the cannabis industry’s newfound freedom and resources, it found a way to retain more terpenes for a more full-bodied experience — flash-freezing buds before extracting their compounds! 

So, when you see “live” on a cannabis product label, it means its extracts are from fresh, terpene-rich flowers as opposed to cured cannabis or dried buds…creating a more fragrant, flavorful, full chemical profile. 

Comparing Live Resin vs Live Rosin

Live resin and rosin are front and center in this, stealing the spotlight as the most popular “live” cannabis products. Unless you are a cannabis connoisseur, though, you probably can’t spot the difference!  

Although they are only one letter apart, live resin and rosin are separate types of cannabis concentrate with completely different extraction processes.  

To pin down your preferred live product, it’s important to understand each of these.  

The live rosin extraction process is completely different from rosin extraction. Live resin is made by flash-freezing fresh cannabis flowers and then using hydrocarbon solvents (such as butane) to extract the resin.  

Live rosin, on the other hand, is made by using heat and pressure (via a rosin press) to turn the resin into a solventless concentrate. This process retains more terpenes, resulting in a more flavorful and aromatic product. 

The more you know, the more you can tailor your THC experience! 

What is live resin?

Live resin is a potent, high-profile marijuana concentrate with a robust terpene and cannabinoid profile. It is produced by flash-freezing fresh cannabis plant matter, extracting its compounds with chemical solvents, and pressing it into a final product.  

Making live resin is a meticulous process! 

• Fresh plant material undergoes a hydrocarbon extraction process in which chemical solvents are used to draw out its compounds. 
• Most producers use butane and propane to accomplish this, so they must then remove these harmful solvents through heat. 
• The cannabis extract is further refined and a vacuum recollects the solvent so it can be used for another batch. 

This extraction process initially yields a sticky yellow to brown liquid, but live resin can be found in many forms at your local dispensary! From glassy or buttery to crumbly or brittle, there’s a live resin for every preference. Some of its top sellers include live resin sauce, sugar, diamonds, and badder. 

After it is incorporated into these forms, it is ready to be vaped, dabbed, or added to a bowl or joint!  

Live resin’s full spectrum of terpenes, cannabinoids, and flavonoids make for a full-flavored, intense cannabis experience. 

What is Live Rosin? 

Live rosin is a highly concentrated extract that exhibits a more complete profile of fresh cannabis flower characteristics than most any other in its class. It is created without the use of chemical solvents, making it a sought-after alternative for people that want a strong, all-natural hit. 

Live rosin is created in small batches, requiring a lot of time and labor! 

• Buds are flash-frozen to preserve freshness and then washed in ice water, causing their trichome heads to separate. 
• After filtering out the flowers, these trichomes are freeze-dried and grated into a fine powder — cannabis kief! Conversely, some producers may also use bubble hash or high-quality buds. 
• The material is put into a rosin press, where a precise combination of heat and pressure draws out its cannabinoids and terpenes. 

This results in an oily amber substance that is then refined into ready-to-smoke or vapeable products such as shatter, badder, wax, and taffy. These come in sticky, waxy, gloopy, buttery, or hard textures, making them easy to add to joints and bowls and great for dabbing!  

Regular rosin can be made at home, but many now prefer its “live” and professionally produced counterparts. Live rosins are cannabinoid and terpene-heavy, creating a richer, more aromatic experience. 

What’s The Difference Between Live Resin And Live Rosin?

When it comes to choosing live rosin vs live resin, it’s all a matter of preference! While these cannabis extracts may be similar, the processes that yield them are not. What sets them apart is the use of chemical vs. mechanical power — each resulting in specific pros and cons. 

• Are you health-conscious?Although all solvents are removed after the extraction process, live resin is technically not all-natural. This makes live rosin a more alluring option for those that prefer to consume “clean” products. 
• Are you money-conscious?Without the use of chemicals, the extraction of live rosin tends to be more time-consuming and labor-intensive, resulting in a higher price point! If you want to save money, live resin is typically the way to go. 

Similarities Of Live Resin And Rosin  

Sure, there are stark variations in their extraction processes… but live rosin and live resin aren’t all that different when they are ready for use! While their non-live counterparts are still great options for some, these two concentrates share a few powerful advantages. 

More effect per hit 

They each wield exceptionally high concentrations of THC, making it easy for those who have a high tolerance to feel strong effects. 

Theoretically safer inhalation methods 

These concentrates can be dabbed or vaporized, which could be safer than smoking out of a pipe or bong since they are heated to below combustion. 

A full entourage of flavors and compounds 

Live resin and live rosin are both flash-frozen to preserve more terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids than traditional methods! Experienced recreational and medical marijuana users claim that this results in a synergistic maximization of therapeutic properties known as the “entourage effect”.  

Live Rosin Vs. Live Resin: Summing Things Up 

Live resin and live rosin are some of the most potent, powerful, and flavorful cannabis products on the market. Since they are made from compounds that were extracted from fresh cannabis flowers, they offer a more full spectrum of terpenes — thus their flavors, aromas, and therapeutic benefits are believed to be second to none. 

Choosing to purchase cannabis rosin vs resin at the dispensary is a matter of preference and price point. Live resin is typically less expensive while still wielding the same benefits of live rosin, though live rosin is extracted without the use of chemical solvents, making it a “cleaner” choice. 

These two “live” concentrates offer a combination of potency, chemical richness, wide product selection, and the potential for safer inhalation that is currently unparalleled in the cannabis industry. Stock up on live resin or live rosin now and get ready for a richer cannabis experience! 

Sources:

• Livingston SJ, Quilichini TD, Booth JK, Wong DCJ, Rensing KH, Laflamme-Yonkman J, Castellarin SD, Bohlmann J, Page JE, Samuels AL. Cannabis glandular trichomes alter morphology and metabolite content during flower maturation. Plant J. 2020 Jan;101(1):37-56. doi: 10.1111/tpj.14516. Epub 2019 Oct 12. PMID: 31469934.
• Das PC, Vista AR, Tabil LG, Baik OD. Postharvest Operations of Cannabis and Their Effect on Cannabinoid Content: A Review. Bioengineering (Basel). 2022 Aug 3;9(8):364. doi: 10.3390/bioengineering9080364. PMID: 36004888; PMCID: PMC9404914.
• Tomko AM, Whynot EG, Ellis LD, Dupré DJ. Anti-Cancer Potential of Cannabinoids, Terpenes, and Flavonoids Present in Cannabis. Cancers (Basel). 2020 Jul 21;12(7):1985. doi: 10.3390/cancers12071985. PMID: 32708138; PMCID: PMC7409346.
• Erika Liktor-Busa, Attila Keresztes, Justin LaVigne, John M. Streicher and Tally M. Largent-Milnes Pharmacological Reviews October 1, 2021, 73 (4) 1269-1297; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1124/pharmrev.120.000046
• Chacon FT, Raup-Konsavage WM, Vrana KE, Kellogg JJ. Secondary Terpenes in Cannabis sativa L.: Synthesis and Synergy. Biomedicines. 2022 Dec 6;10(12):3142. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines10123142. PMID: 36551898; PMCID: PMC9775512.