Live Resin vs. Rosin: What’s the Difference?

The number of ways cannabis users can consume the product today is mind-boggling. As more and more states legalize marijuana for recreational use, innovative cannabis entrepreneurs have started to boldly go where no one has gone before. Thanks to these cutting-edge innovations, two cannabis products, resin and rosin concentrates, have become quite abundant. 

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It doesn’t end there, though. Many cannabis retailers have started selling live resin and rosin concentrates. But what’s the deal with these live concentrates? Are they worth the hefty price tags? Also, how much of a difference is there when comparing live resin vs. rosin concentrates? 

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We’ll answer all of these questions and provide additional basic information below so you can be a savvier, informed user.

What is Live Resin?

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Live resin is a cannabis concentrate that yields a relatively high THC content and preserves many of the plant’s original terpenes. 

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In the context of cannabis products, a concentrate is a substance that contains high amounts (or concentrations) of cannabinoids. Live resin provides a full-spectrum cannabis experience, affording users a well-rounded “high” and overall experience.

What does live resin concentrate look like?

Words that cannabis connoisseurs might use to describe live resin concentrate might include “sugary,” “syrupy,” or “oily,” and, sometimes, “waxy.” It’s usually dark yellow or amber in color, though some live resin products may be on the lighter side. Live rosin, on the other hand, often has a texture like cake frosting. 

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While resin and rosin provide similar experiences for users, they differ quite a bit in their extraction methods. 

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Resin concentrates come from cannabis flowers that have been exposed to butane, propane, or some other hydrocarbon solvent. These solvents grab THC and a few other cannabinoids for a highly concentrated product you can use for dabbing, vaping, and so many other applications. 

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Final live resin products do not contain any meaningful amount of these solvents, so you needn’t worry about ingesting harmful substances.

Are all resin products considered live resin?

No, every resin concentrate you come across is not necessarily live resin. Resin (and rosin, for that matter) becomes live when growers harvest the cannabis plant and immediately put it in a flash freezer to preserve its terpenes and aromatic compounds. Flash-frozen resin gets exposed to temperatures as low as –40 degrees Fahrenheit. 

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The flash freezing process stands in contrast to the curing, or drying, process that many growers use to prepare cannabis for human consumption. 

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Curing requires fewer resources and is less costly than keeping cannabis plants alive. The process, however, can cause the flowers to lose a lot of the terpenes and other natural compounds that give marijuana its richness enjoyed by so many users. 

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Cured resin manufacturers often add artificial flavoring to compensate, but many people prefer the all-natural taste and smell of their resin concentrates. 

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The good news? Cured resin products retain essentially the same THC levels you find in most live resin products.

What is Rosin?

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The journey from cannabis to live rosin starts the same way that cannabis transforms into live resin—with flash-freezing. The extraction process for rosin does not involve chemical solvents, though. 

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Rosin makers use pressure and heat to squeeze out the good stuff from the flash-frozen plants. These natural extraction methods are a little less efficient (and more costly) than solvent-based methods, but a lot of users still prefer concentrates that involve as few chemicals as possible.

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Like live resin, live rosin retains much of the original terpenes and natural compounds that contribute to the entourage effect. You can still make cured (non-live) rosin from cannabis plants, but the experience might not be as profound as what you’ll experience from live concentrates. 

Live Resin vs. Rosin: What’s the Difference?

For most casual concentrate users, the differences between live resin and live rosin products are negligible. The primary difference lies in the extraction methods. 

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While live resin benefits from a more efficient extraction process with hydrocarbon solvents, some users prefer strictly all-natural products. 

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Live resin products often have THC levels comparable to live rosin products; they may sometimes even be a little higher. Both live resin and live rosin concentrates retain terpenes and cannabinoids, thanks to the flash-freezing step of the extraction process. 

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Because live rosin benefits from an all-natural extraction process, though, it often contains even more terpenes than many live resin products.

Is rosin better for your lungs?

We don’t have much definitive evidence—none, if we’re being honest—that live or cured rosin is easier on the lungs than resin products. The conventional wisdom is that the further you get from chemical solvents, the better off you will be. 

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Again, though, resin products from reputable sellers do not contain a harmful amount of solvents or other harsh chemicals.

So, Which Is Better: Resin or Rosin?

That’s difficult to answer, as “better” can mean different things to different people. If you’re looking for an intense high, you might want to try resin. Resin is also usually less expensive than rosin, though prices heavily depend on brand and product type.

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If you want to experience the full spectrum of cannabis, you can’t really go wrong with either live resin or live rosin. THC alone can give you a one-dimensional high, for instance, and even cause anxiety. CBD, however, can tamp down those stressful feelings for a well-rounded cannabis experience.

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Using cured resin or rosin products means that you’ll probably miss out on a few neat terpenes and cannabinoids. They’ll still get you high, and at a lower cost, but only you can decide whether those tradeoffs are worth it.

Find Premium Live Resin and Rosin Products with The Green Dragon CBD

Perhaps you consider yourself a casual cannabis consumer and want to branch out (ba-dum-tss) into unexplored territory. Maybe you’ve tried some resin or rosin products and aren’t sure whether they’re really your thing. Wherever you are in your cannabis journey, The Green Dragon CBD can serve up the right product.

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Click here to look over our live resin products; we’ve got vape pens, carts, gummies, and a bunch more stuff with your name on them. We’re always around to answer your questions—don’t be shy!