Green Box Guide To Vapes
A Brief Introduction:
Vaping has become one of the most popular consumption methods due to the convenience and potency that this method provides. When cannabis was first legalized it was slim pickings when it came to vape carts. Thankfully, as the market has expanded – so have our choices.
The first thing you want to ask yourself when purchasing a vape cartridge is WHAT IS IN MY VAPE CARTRIDGE?
Currently, you can find vape cartridges and Pax Pods that are filled with either…
- Distillate
- C02
- Sauce+
- Live Resin
What is Distillate?
Distillate is created through a process called distillation and results in a tasteless, odorless, and isolated compound – typically THC or CBD. Distillate Carts are typically going to be the least expensive option when it comes to purchasing vape carts.
The reason behind this is that when making distillate, the starting material (the flower) doesn’t matter because this process strips the cannabis of all terpenes, flavonoids and cannabinoids and leaves just an isolated compound – typically THC or CBD. This means flower that is very old, mostly trim, shake, etc. can be used and you will still be left with a product that is exactly the same as if it had been made with top shelf A bud flowers. Essentially, distillate is made with all the flower that you wouldn’t want to smoke.
Another thing to be aware of when purchasing a distillate cartridge is the presence of “botanical terpenes” (referred to as fake terpenes by many in the industry). As mentioned earlier, Distillate is tasteless and odorless – because of this, vape companies will reintroduce either “botanical terpenes” or “Cannabis-Derived terpenes”. Botanical Terpenes are responsible for the fruity flavors found in many carts such as bubble gum, cotton candy, and lemonade. While these may taste great to some, Botanical Terpenes have not been approved for combustion so consume at your own risk. Cannabis Derived Terpenes are terpenes extracted from cannabis and will result in flavor that is going to be closer to how the strain actually smells.
Distillate is ideal for those working with a budget and who just want to get high. Think of distillate as the Coors Light of Vapes – very affordable and it gets the job done. For those seeking something a little higher quality, please read on.
What is C02 Oil?
C02 is considered one of the safest and most sustainable extraction methods. Unlike distillate, C02 oil can contain a broad spectrum of cannabinoids, including THC, CBD, and CBG, as well as natural cannabis terpenes. Due to this, users typically feel more pronounced effects from C02 oil than they do from distillate. In terms of pricing, C02 is right in the middle, cheaper than liquid live resin, but more expensive than distillate
C02 Oil is ideal for those seeking strain-specific effects and that have slightly more of a budget to work with.
What is Sauce+?
Sauce+ is a combination of high purity THC distillate infused with single-origin cannabis-derived High Terpene Full Spectrum Extract or HTFSE for short. The synergistic effect of cannabis-derived terpenes is shown to regulate and potentially enhance the physiological effects of cannabis. Due to that – many enjoy sauce+ cartridges.
Sauce+ is ideal for those seeking both potency and flavor without breaking the bank.
What is Live Resin?
This is for all the quality seekers and cannabis connoisseurs out there. Live resin is made using freshly-frozen cannabis and results in an extract that possesses very high levels of terpenes. Live resin allows you to enjoy cannabis flowers in full bloom. In order to make high-quality live resin, high-quality cannabis is required. Due to this, the process of creating live resin requires extensive planning from both the producer and processor, and as a result – these are typically the most expensive vape option.
Live Resin cartridges are ideal for those who value quality above all else. Yes, you will have to pay a little more – but in this person’s opinion, the quality is definitely worth the price.
What Should I Choose?
Well, the answer is different for everyone. Typically you get what you pay for and vape carts are no different. If you’re on a very tight budget you may be limited to just distillate carts. If you’ve had distillate before and have a few extra bucks maybe it’s time to step up and try a C02 cart? If you consider yourself a connoisseur we would definitely recommend the liquid live resin carts.
Not subscribed to Green Box yet? Sign up now!
