unraveling the potency: an in-depth guide to cannabis distillate

How much do you know about the different cannabis concentrates in the cannabis industry? There are several dozen different types of concentrates out there and they are all unique in their way. More recently, cannabis distillate has gained a lot of popularity because of the potency that it is known for. And it’s not just potent, it’s also versatile.

But what does that even mean? Cannabis distillate is a unique creation that isolates particles to create a specific effect from the cannabis plant. In this in-depth guide, we’re going to explore the intricacies of this concentrate through production, processing, potency, usage, and more. Check it out below!

so, what is cannabis distillate?

You’re going to understand this guide much better if we talk about just what exactly cannabis distillate is first. This concentrate is called distillate because it goes through a very intricate distillation process designed to isolate chosen cannabinoids from the plant matter. Rather than pulling out all of the elements of the cannabis plant, it chooses something specific to focus on.

And here’s the thing. One producer may isolate THC every time, while another producer may isolate CBD or cannabidiol cannabinoids instead. This is just one of those things about versatility that we mentioned before.

What makes distillate so unique from everything else out there? The majority of concentrates can be purified significantly, but they focus on maintaining multiple aspects of the marijuana plant together. Things like live resin and cured resin are great in their way. The distinction between products like that as opposed to distillate is they provide a well-rounded cannabis experience rather than a specified and focused experience.

During the distillation process, the combination is refined multiple times in different steps. It starts with extraction, goes through a winterization, filtration, and decarboxylation process, and then it’s distilled and probably fractionally distilled from quality producers.

Instead of maintaining a full spectrum of terpene profiles and cannabinoid profiles, it chooses a specific compound, like THC, and works to isolate that compound for a highly potent effect.

That compound is highly concentrated, has hardly any other elements with it after distillation, and is also incredibly pure. This is what makes it stand apart from every other product or concentrate out there. It’s potent and versatile and you can choose your isolated compound based on your needs. THC isn’t the only one, they can also isolate CBD for medical marijuana users. Pretty neat if you ask us.

cannabis distillate production process

So how does it work? Distillate goes through a very detailed process. We touched on this above, but we want to take a closer look here.

Extraction

Winterization

Decarboxylation

Distillation and fractional distillation

Let’s break it down more.

extraction

The first step is extraction. This is the first step for just about any type of cannabis concentrate you might decide to try. Somehow, those cannabis oils have to be extracted from the plant itself. This means extracting all of the cannabinoids and terpenes from the cannabis plant material. Most of the time the plant has been dried and cured, but some solutions flash-freeze the plant and then extract it without drying it.

The majority of producers use solvent-based extraction methods, however some out there use a solventless extraction process. It typically depends on what the desired results are for the concentrate.

Even with extraction, you need specific tools for extracting correctly. With the right tools and machines, you can extract and return any residual solvent to a separate container so that it is removed from your final product. This helps achieve purity from the final mix.

At this point in the process, the terpenes and cannabinoids are all still together in a crude mixture.

winterization

Winterization is the step that is going to start to separate the desired isolated cannabinoid from the rest of the mix. In winterization, the entire crude extract is frozen. The freezing times may vary, but it can be frozen for up to twenty-four hours. It needs to be frozen for at least a few hours for the full effects.

The point of winterization is to help with isolation. When the freezing process happens, it causes things like fats and other contaminants to coagulate and separate from the rest of the mix. Those coagulated materials are part of what you will want to eliminate to achieve distilled cannabis in the end. After winterization, you will filter out those materials. Again, this is best done with specialized equipment.

decarboxylation

Decarboxylation uses heat to help remove carbon dioxide from your remaining mixture. The point is to activate the chemical compound that you chose to isolate.

For example, if you are isolating THC then the decarboxylation process will heat the oil to the temperature it requires to activate THC. This is not the end step of the THC distillate process. However, it is a crucial step that cannot be skipped because it prepares that isolated compound to provide the desired effects when you use your distillate product.

To be honest, some people decarb their product long after receiving it because it helps with activation. If we’re being honest, using a vaping device or dab pen for your THC distillate is a similar concept because it heats the materials to activate it and vaporize it.

But if you’re going to use your oil for something like a tincture or cannabis edible, this step prepares the compound for its effects no matter your usage. It’s a vital step.

distillation and fractional distillation

Finally, you’ve isolated the important parts and removed the extra compounds of the cannabis flower that you don’t want for this particular concentrate. Now, it’s time to finish by distilling the oil. This is done using vacuum pressure, which further separates the mixture to isolate the single cannabinoid concentration that you have chosen.

It is the distillation step that creates the purest form that is highly potent. Many producers will distill their oil multiple times, which is called fractional distillation. The point of this is to further purify and refine the oil to create an incredible THC distillate.

let’s talk potency

Some people feel that the term potency just refers to getting high. This is a misinformed assumption. Is that what some people want from their high potency? Sure. However, what they don’t account for is that high potency can also refer to cannabinoids besides just THC. CBD can be potent too. It’s all about the focus of that particular cannabinoid.

When we say that distilled cannabis products are highly potent, it refers to the cannabinoid that was isolated during the distillation process. It can be isolated to provide medicinal benefits or it can be isolated to provide psychoactive effects. These are not always the same.

Typically speaking, the purity of this product is what makes it so potent. With the isolation of the chosen compound, the final cannabis distillate will be at least 90% focused on that compound. Some of them could be 99%, which is an incredible result from distillation!

But this high potency and predictability of the potency makes dosing and usage easier for most people too.

what about usage?

Cannabis distillate can be used in a lot of ways. It’s one of the most versatile cannabis products on the market. Here are some of the common uses:

Vaping

Dabbing

Orally

Oil or tincture

Of course, each of these is different too.

With vaping, you’re going to use concentrated oil in a vaping device. The device heats the oil to turn it into a vapor. You then inhale that vapor through your mouthpiece. Inhaling the vapor allows you to feel the effects of doing so. Because of the potency, one to two inhales are typically plenty to last for quite a bit of time. People like vaping because it’s discreet and convenient.

Dabbing is similar to vaping but may make the results even more potent than a vape cartridge. With this method, a small amount of product is heated on a surface and then inhaled using a water pipe. Some dab devices are similar to vape pens, but many are much larger too.

You can ingest distillate orally if you like. It’s best to do this by putting it in a beverage or an edible food product. It takes very little to go a long way with these methods. Some people also just dose with a drop orally rather than messing with the beverage or food. Edibles make it easy to enjoy and they provide lasting results.

Finally, an oil or a tincture is a great choice too. These have their benefits and the same potency details apply. This is not as popular for this particular concentrate.

conclusion

Cannabis distillate is a highly potent form of cannabis concentrate that is also versatile. Cannabis consumers can create the experience they want to enjoy with this product, but they must understand what the potency means to ensure they don’t overconsume by mistake.

Medicinal and recreational cannabis users can all benefit from this product in their ways and it’s a highly pure solution.

Experience the difference with high-quality cannabis concentrate products. Explore our selections today!