Live Resin vs. Distillate Carts (5 Differences & 4 Similarities)

Distillate offers a purer THC experience with a potent high and no cannabis flavor, while live resin gives a full-spectrum cannabis experience. Let’s dive into my live resin vs. distillate cart comparison guide to further explore the differences, similarities, and effects of these cannabis concentrates. By the end, you should have all the information you need to pick the perfect product for your needs.

What Is a Cart?

A cart or cartridge is a container pre-filled with a cannabis oil or concentrate popularly known as vape juice or e-liquid. Within this context, the vape juice or cannabis concentrate can be live resin or distillate.

A live resin or distillate cart can come attached to a vape pen or vaporizer. You can also find refillable carts sold separately so you can switch out carts on your vaping device. The cart can be glass or plastic, and its primary purpose is to hold the concentrate or vaping liquid.

The vaping device draws liquid concentrate from the cart and heats it to generate vapor. You can then inhale the vapor via the device’s mouthpiece to get a hit of live resin or distillate. Compared to other methods of consuming live resin or distillate, vaping has a higher bioavailability, meaning you’ll feel its effects faster and more potently.

Since most distillate and live resin carts are portable, they provide a discrete and easy-to-carry way to enjoy cannabis. And now that you understand what a cart is, let’s delve into the meat of the live resin vs distillate cart debate.

What Is a Live Resin Cart?

A live resin cart is a container of syrupy cannabis gold that you attach to a vaping device. The live resin itself is a cannabis concentrate rich in all the cannabinoids and terpenes you can find in a whole cannabis plant. This means vaping live resin provides the same effects and flavors as consuming cannabis flower. However, live resin’s potency is far higher than that of cured and uncured weed, making resin a way stronger product.

The highest THC content you can find in most cannabis flower is 17-28%. A live resin cart, on the other hand, can have a THC content as high as 80-90%, but most products typically range between 60-80% THC.

Besides THC, which is the cannabinoid that causes psychoactive effects, live resin contains various other cannabinoids. The cannabinoid variety provides value by causing the entourage effect – cannabinoids and terpenes working together to enhance their effects.

How Is a Live Resin Cart Made?

Live resin’s cannabinoid and terpene richness is primarily due to its production process. While the specific production steps may vary between manufacturers, it generally involves the following:

• Flash-Freezing Cannabis Flower: Cannabis flower is flash-frozen immediately after harvesting to ensure minimal cannabinoid and terpene loss.
• Extraction: The frozen cannabis is then ground and mixed with solvents like butane or propane. The solvent dissolves the cannabis and extracts all of its valuable compounds, creating a thick cannabinoid-rich mixture.
• Purification: The cannabinoid-rich mixture then undergoes a filtration and purification process to remove the solvent and other impurities. The product at this point looks amber or golden with no visible impurities and feels sticky and waxy.
• Packaging: The manufacturer adds flavors to the concentrate or packages it as it is into vaping cartridges. You can then buy the cart and attach it to your vaping device to enjoy.

What Is a Distillate Cart?

A distillate cart is a vaping cartridge filled with a cannabis concentrate that contains only one cannabinoid, which may be CBD (cannabidiol) or THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). THC distillate is popular for its high THC levels and potency, and it’s the product our live resin vs. distillate cart comparison will focus on.

Unlike live resin, which has a THC content that caps at 90%, distillate cart’s THC content can be as high as 99%. THC distillate’s high THC content comes from its extensive refinement and purification process during manufacturing. It leaves hardly any room for terpenes and other cannabinoids, leading to a product with no entourage effect or discernible flavor.

However, due to its high THC content, a small dose of distillate is more than enough to cause mind-altering effects. So, when vaping a THC distillate cart, start slow and small to avoid consuming more than you can handle.

How Is Distillate Cart Made?

As I’ve mentioned, distillate cart’s manufacturing process creates a highly potent, pure THC product. Here are the general steps involved in making it.

• Extraction: Grind up cannabis flower and mix it with solvents like ethanol or propane. The solvent will dissolve the flower and create a cannabinoid and terpene-rich extract.
• Winterization: Cool the extract to solidify unwanted compounds, such as fats, waxes, and lipids. You can then easily filter out and remove the solidified impurities.
• Distillation: Heat the winterized extract to activate its THCA content and turn it into THC. Without this step, the final distillate product will contain THCA, which can’t cause psychoactive effects unless heated. Heating will also evaporate solvents and remove unwanted cannabinoids.
• Purification: Further purification and refinement will get rid of other unwanted compounds, leaving behind only THC.
• Packaging: The final product should be a clear, flavorless, and highly potent liquid. Manufacturers can add flavors to this distillate product at this point or pour it as it is into vape cartridges.

Looking at the live resin vs. distillate cart manufacturing processes, several similarities are evident. But there’s also a hard-to-miss difference. While live resin’s manufacturing process aims to retain as many cannabinoids and terpenes as possible, distillate making seeks to retain only THC, eliminating most terpenes and other cannabinoids.

Live Resin vs. Distillate Cart Prices

This live resin vs. distillate cart comparison would be incomplete if I didn’t mention pricing. And the simple truth is that high purity THC distillate can be pricier than live resin, depending on the seller. For example, at NY Marijuana Dispensary, a gram of THC distillate goes for $23, while a gram of live resin is $20.

Then you have sellers like Canna Club Co. with reversed live resin vs. distillate cart prices. At Canna’s online dispensary, you can find one-gram live resin carts going for $45 and one-gram distillate carts sold for $35.

Live Resin vs. Distillate Cart: The Differences

Distillate gives a pure THC high and no cannabis flavor, while live resin offers a full-spectrum cannabis experience with rich flavors and effects. Below is a more in-depth breakdown of the differences between THC distillate and live resin carts:

1. Terpene and Cannabinoid Profile: Live resin contains all the same cannabinoids and terpenes as the cannabis plant it was made from. Distillate, on the other hand, contains high levels of THC and traces of terpenes and other cannabinoids. Terpenes give carts their cannabis-forward flavor, while the cannabinoids deliver therapeutic effects.
2. Flavor: Since a distillate cart contains only trace amounts of terpenes, its aroma and taste are mostly neutral when you vape it. However, you can find some distillate carts mixed with terpenes or other flavors post-production to make them less bland. Live resin carts, on the other hand, taste and smell strongly like the cannabis strain they were made from because of their terpene content.
3. Potency: Distillate typically contains 90-99% THC, while live resin rarely exceeds 90%. Despite the differences in THC content, both concentrates are highly potent, requiring only a small dose to get you as high as a kite.
4. Manufacturing Process: Live resin production focuses on retaining as much of the cannabis plant’s original cannabinoids and terpenes as possible. Distillate’s production, on the other hand, focuses on retaining only THC. This is evident in how live resin production uses lower temperatures to burn off solvents without damaging terpenes and cannabinoids. Since distillate production doesn’t have such concerns, it uses higher temperatures to purge solvents, terpenes, and more.
5. Effect: Distillate cart’s effect is a pure THC high without any terpenes or non-psychoactive compounds to balance it out. Live resin cart, on the other hand, does more than get you high. Since it contains other cannabinoids, resin provides a host of physical and mental benefits alongside psychoactive effects. This leads to the entourage effect and a more complex and balanced high when vaping live resin.

Live Resin vs. Distillate Cart: The Similarities

Let’s now delve into the obvious similarities between live resin vs. distillate cart.

1. Consumption Methods: Both live resin and THC distillate carts are available for different vaporizer types, including vape pens and pod systems. You simply plug your live resin or distillate cartridge into the vaping device, which then heats the concentrate and generates vapor for you to inhale.
2. Cannabis Concentrates: Live resin and distillate are both cannabis concentrates with high THC levels. Both products deliver potent psychoactive effects that exceed what regular cannabis flower can provide.
3. Flavor Options: You can find live resin and distillate carts mixed with flavors to enhance your vaping experience. For example, there are live resin and distillate carts with citrus and other fruity flavors.
4. Appearance: Outside of a cart, pure distillate and live resin have an amber to golden color. Both are viscous and syrupy, but live resin is typically more viscous due to its higher terpene content.

Besides carts for vaping devices, you can get live resin and distillate for dabbing, ingesting, or making topical products. Dabbing and vaping have the highest bioavailability, but vaping is more convenient due to its portability and hassle-free setup.

Live Resin vs. Distillate Cart: The Pros and Cons

Let’s now look at live resin vs. distillate cart from the point of view of pros and cons.

Distillate Cart Pros

• Certainty: Since distillate carts have been purified to contain only THC, you know exactly what you’re putting into your body.
• High Potency: Distillate’s THC content of 90-99% guarantees a potent high, which may be more intense than the high from using live resin.
• Cost-Effective: Thanks to its high THC content and potency, you don’t need to vape an entire distillate cart to feel psychoactive effects. A little of the product goes a long way, letting you enjoy a cart for longer and delay buying a fresh one.
• Neutral Flavor: THC distillate’s lack of terpenes leads to a neutral flavor and aroma. This is highly desirable among canna-lovers who don’t like strong marijuana flavors.
• Discreet Use: The neutral smell of distillate means you can vape in public or private, and no one will know what you’re vaping by the smell.
• Convenience: Portable vape devices allow you to enjoy THC distillate on the go.

Distillate Cart Cons

• No Entourage Effect: Since distillate contains only THC, you won’t experience the entourage effect. You also won’t enjoy the health benefits of the terpenes and other cannabinoids missing from distillate.
• Risk of Overdose: Distillate’s high THC content puts you at risk of accidentally using more than you should. Taking too much THC can lead to side effects like anxiety, paranoia, impaired cognitive function, and nausea.
• Pricey: Top-shelf THC distillate can be pricier than other concentrates.
• Legality: Distillate THC carts aren’t legal in every state. It’s not even legal federally as at the time I wrote this piece. Breaching cannabis laws can lead to jail time and other legal consequences.

Live Resin Cart Pros

• Entourage Effect: Live resin contains the full spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes found in a cannabis plant. These compounds can work together to enhance each other’s effects, leading to the entourage effect.
• Full-Spectrum Profile: Live resin cart’s complete cannabinoid and terpene profile means you don’t just get THC’s intoxicating effects. You also get the therapeutic benefits of CBD and the many other cannabis compounds floating in the concentrate.
• High Potency: Live resin’s THC potency can be as high as 90%, ensuring you only need a little to experience your desired effects.
• Cost-Effective: Since you only need a small dose of live resin cart to experience your desired effects, a batch can last longer, saving you money over time.
• Robust Cannabis Flavor: If you enjoy the rich flavor of cannabis, you’ll love live resin’s high terpene content. The terpene content makes vapors from the cart smell and taste like the cannabis strain it was made from.

Live Resin Cart Cons

• Risk of Overdose: Live resin’s high THC content puts you at risk of accidentally using more than you should. Taking too much THC can lead to side effects like anxiety, paranoia, impaired cognitive function, and nausea.
• Legality: THC-rich live resin carts are illegal federally and in several states. Breaching local or federal cannabis laws can lead to jail time and other legal consequences.
• Potency Variation: The potency of a batch of live resin cart will depend on the cannabis strain used to make it. This can lead to different and unpredictable experiences each time you vape a fresh cart.
• Price: Top-shelf live resin cart is typically pricier than other cannabis concentrates.
• Taste and Smell: Some users find live resin’s robust cannabis flavor off-putting.

Distillate vs. Live Resin Cart Safety

In a live resin vs. distillate cart faceoff for safety, it’s a tie. Both products are safe if you use them in moderation. Consuming too much of either concentrate may lead to side effects, such as heart palpitations, nausea, anxiety, paranoia, and hallucinations. In short, a bad trip from consuming too much THC.

Avoid taking too high of a distillate or live resin cart dose by starting with a sip from your vape. If you don’t feel your desired effect after about five minutes, you can take another hit. This incremental dosing trick will help minimize the risk of vaping too much concentrate at once. Because once it’s in your body, all you can do is stay strong and ride out the side effects.

You should also only buy distillate and live resin carts from reputable dispensaries with track records of selling high-quality, lab-tested products. This minimizes the risk of consuming concentrates with harmful impurities and misleading labels.

Lastly, don’t attempt making live resin or distillate carts at home. The solvents used in the manufacturing process are highly volatile, and a small mistake can lead to burns, explosions, and exposure to toxic fumes.

Top-Rated Live Resin Carts

Live resin vs. distillate cart quality significantly depends on the maker. Here are some of the best live resin cart makers and the features that set them apart from the rest.

Gage

• Quality: Gage is known for its high-quality live resin, often praised for its purity and rich terpene profiles. Another brand with comparable market-leading quality and potency is Haze X Mudd Brothers.
• Flavor: Users report a fruity and earthy flavor profile that enhances the overall experience.
• Potency: Typically ranges from 70% to 90% THC, appealing to those seeking strong effects.
• Packaging: Well-designed and user-friendly packaging, ensuring the product remains fresh.
• User Experience: Generally positive feedback regarding the consistency and effectiveness of the carts.

Exhale

• Quality: Exhale focuses on premium products made from organic cannabis, ensuring a clean experience.
• Flavor: Offers a natural and smooth flavor that many users find appealing.
• Potency: THC content usually falls between 70% and 85%, making it suitable for both novice and experienced users.
• Packaging: Simple yet effective packaging that highlights the product’s organic nature.
• User Experience: Positive reviews emphasize the smoothness of the hits and effectiveness.

Haze X Mudd Brothers

• Quality: Known for high-quality live resin with unique blends that stand out in the market.
• Flavor: Users have noted a more pronounced aroma compared to other brands; flavors like Tahoe Cream and GG4 are particularly well-received.
• Potency: Potency levels are competitive, ranging from 75% to 90% THC.
• Packaging: Haze takes the lead in attractive packaging with its black ceramic tips. It also offers well-sealed cartridges that maintain freshness.
• User Experience: Many users report a quick onset of effects and good overall experiences; however, some have mentioned variability in product performance.

Budpop

• Quality: Budpop offers good quality at a more affordable price point compared to most competitors.
• Flavor: Sweet and fruity flavors are common, appealing to those who prefer a sweeter profile.
• Potency: THC levels generally range from 70% to 80%, making it accessible for casual users.
• Packaging: Simple packaging that is easy to open but may lack some premium features found in other brands.
• User Experience: Feedback is generally positive, with users appreciating the value for money.

Binoid

• Quality: Binoid is recognized for its high-quality live resin carts that often contain diverse cannabinoid profiles.
• Flavor: Offers a wide variety of flavors which cater to different preferences; users appreciate the unique options available.
• Potency: THC content typically ranges from 70% to 85%, similar to other brands in this category.
• Packaging: Attractive packaging that emphasizes the brand’s focus on quality and variety.
• User Experience: Users enjoy the diverse flavor options and report consistent effects.

Top-Rated Distillate Carts

This live resin vs. distillate cart comparison guide would be incomplete if it didn’t also share the top distillate makers. My top picks include Bloom Farms, Kurvana ASCND, Raw Garden, Heavy Hitters, and JustCBD.

Bloom Farms

• Quality: Offers a mix of live resin and distillate options. The live resin is generally considered stronger.
• Flavor: Flavor can vary significantly; live resin options tend to taste better than distillate.
• Potency: THC levels range from 70% to 85%, with some products being more potent.
• Packaging: Uses CCELL cartridges known for efficiency.
• User Experience: Generally positive but can be inconsistent across different cartridges.

Kurvana ASCND

• Quality: Known for high-quality distillate with a focus on purity.
• Flavor: Offers rich, complex flavors that appeal to connoisseurs.
• Potency: THC levels typically range from 80% to 90%.
• Packaging: Sleek and modern design that enhances user experience.
• User Experience: Highly rated for consistency in flavor and effects.

Raw Garden

• Quality: Focuses on pure cannabis extracts with no additives or fillers. Their Refined Live Resin is well-regarded.
• Flavor: Known for pure cannabis flavors, often highlighted as one of the best in the market.
• Potency: Usually between 80% and 90% THC.
• Packaging: Eco-friendly design and extraction processes that don’t compromise on purity.
• User Experience: Trusted by many users; strong performance and flavor consistency.

Heavy Hitters

• Quality: High-quality distillate known for its potency.
• Flavor: Bold flavors that are intense and impactful.
• Potency: THC levels also range from 80% to 90%, making them a favorite among experienced users.
• Packaging: Sturdy and visually appealing packaging that stands out on shelves.
• User Experience: Popular among users looking for strong effects; generally well-reviewed.

JustCBD

• Quality: More focused on CBD products but does offer distillate carts.
• Flavor: Typically sweeter and fruitier compared to other brands.
• Potency: THC levels are lower, ranging from 60% to 80%, which may not appeal to those seeking high potency.
• Packaging: Standard packaging without standout features.
• User Experience: Mixed reviews; while some appreciate the CBD focus, others find it less effective for high THC needs.

Live Resin vs. Distillate Cart: Which Cart Should You Choose?

You’ve reached the end of our live resin vs. distillate cart comparison guide and are likely leaning toward one of these concentrates. Just remember that both live resin and distillate carts have high THC contents that make them highly potent cannabis concentrates. However, while distillate contains only THC, live resin contains all the goodies you can find in a cannabis plant.

Also, live resin has a cannabis-forward flavor, while distillate carts don’t. So, if you want a potent high alongside other cannabis health benefits, go for a live resin cart. But if you want a pure THC experience, distillate carts win. Learn more about other cannabis concentrates in our live resin vs. live rosin article.

Live Resin vs. Distillate Cart FAQs

Here are answers to some popular questions regarding live resin vs. distillate cart:

Is live resin better than distillate?

Live resin is better than distillate if you want a concentrate that provides a robust cannabis experience. It smells and tastes like cannabis, and contains almost every cannabinoid and terpene you can find in marijuana flower. Live resin’s THC content is also high enough to provide psychoactive effects that are comparable to distillate’s.

Live resin vs. distillate which gets you higher?

The high from distillate may be more pronounced and intensely felt than that of live resin. Unlike live resin, distillate doesn’t contain the mix of cannabinoids and terpenes needed to balance out the psychoactive effects of its high THC content.

Are there other names for THC distillate?

Other names for THC distillate are:

• THC oil
• Cannabis distillate
• Pure THC
• THC concentrate
• Refined THC
• THC extract
• High-potency THC oil

Other names for live resin

Other names for live resin include:

• Live resin extract
• Fresh-frozen resin
• Live terpene extract
• Cannabis live resin
• Live resin concentrate
• Live resin oil
• Live hash resin

What is the difference between live resin and distillate?

Live resin contains a full spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes, providing a richer flavor and more complex effects. Distillate, on the other hand, is highly refined, typically containing only THC and hardly any flavor.

Why does live resin taste different from distillate?

Live resin smells and tastes strongly like cannabis because it retains a high level of terpenes during production. Distillate, on the other hand, is purged of terpenes during production, leading to it being mostly scentless and tasteless.

Is live resin stronger than distillate?

Distillate has a higher THC content, but its high THC content doesn’t guarantee a more potent psychoactive effect. Alongside a strong high that may exceed distillate’s, live resin provides a broader range of effects due to its full cannabinoid and terpene profile. Also, the intensity of the high from live resin can vary depending on individual tolerance and the specific strain used

Can you use live resin in the same way as distillate?

Yes, you can use live resin and distillate in many of the same ways, including dabbing, vaping, mixing with flower in blunts, and making edibles and topical products.

Which is better for edibles: live resin or distillate?

Live resin edibles are better if you want a full cannabinoid experience and don’t mind the taste of cannabis. But if you want THC-rich edibles without a pronounced cannabis flavor, distillate is the best choice.

Does live resin last longer than distillate?

A live resin cart can lose some of its potency over time as its cannabinoids and terpenes degrade. Distillate carts, on the other hand, can retain the same level of potency for longer.

What are the benefits of using live resin vs. distillate?

Live resin offers the benefits of a full-spectrum experience, including a richer flavor and more complex effects. Distillate provides a high THC potency with a neutral taste, making it versatile for different uses.

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