TThere are three main matrices when it comes to cannabis: plants, concentrates and infused products and each includes several sub categories. In this blog, we will take a look at 6 main categories for cannabis-based concentrate products.
Crude Oil is produced from extracted plant material using organic solvent, supercritical CO2, or heat and pressure. Crude can include all the acidic cannabinoids THCA, CBDA, and CBGA or the partial to total de-carboxylated cannabinoids CBD, CBG, and ∆9-THC. Crude can also include cannabinoid breakdown products such as CBN, CBC, and THCV.
Distillate is a distilled product derived from crude oil. The potency values typically result from 80-93% THC or CBD. Acidic cannabinoids do not appear in distillate due to the high heat and pressure during this process. However, breakdown products such as CBD, THCV, CBN, and CBC will usually be present.
CO2 Extracts are cannabis products ranging from 60%-80% THC or CBD, usually containing a higher concentration of terpenes. CO2 extracts are easily identified by their red-orange color.
Kief/Hash are considered cannabis extracts due to their high concentration of THC or CBD ~30%-50%. Kief and Hash are produced using the resinous trichomes from the cannabis plant.
Live Rosins/Shatters are cannabis extracts made using a solvent during a winterization process to extract only terpenes and cannabinoids, leaving behind any lipids, surfactants, or any other undesirable organic plant compounds. These products usually contain high concentrations of acidic cannabinoids, 60%-85%, with very little de-carboxylated compounds. Degradation cannabinoids are usually not present.
Diamonds are practically pure THCA crystals that gather in cannabis sauce. Diamonds are usually packaged with the associated strain’s “terp-sauce.” Diamonds consist of ~100% THCA, while the terp-sauce contains around 60%-90% THCA.
In the next blog, we will take a look at different matrices for infused products.