Cannabis Edibles | Distillate vs. Full-Spectrum Oil
Choosing the ideal cannabis edible is a journey that often starts with the stomach. With so many options to pick from, buying a legal weed treat today can feel akin to browsing an entire grocery store. From beverages and trail mix to trusty standbys like chocolate and gummies, nearly all the edibles you’ll find today are infused with one of two forms of cannabis oil.
We refer to cannabis oil derived using solvents and other chemical processes as distillate. By contrast, full-spectrum oil is the catchall term for infusion methods that retain additional cannabinoids, terpenes, and plant matter.
There is no right or wrong when it comes to preference.
Some consumers prefer full spectrum for its “entourage effect” properties (more on that below), while others appreciate distillate’s ability to strip out all everything but pure THC molecules, ensuring a product’s taste comes solely from its other ingredients. For those attempting precise dosing regiments, distillate is also popular simply because it contains no “unknowns” in the form of non-THC cannabis matter. Gummies made from distillate are also a great option for those who want to enjoy a delicious gummy without the weedy taste. For those users our OG line of PLUS Gummies are a perfect match.
Conversely, full-spectrum oil is a broad term. It could refer to weed derived by means of a cannabutter, where buds are soaked in butter for an extended period to create an infusion. After the plant matter is strained out, the remaining butter is ready to be added the recipe of your choice. As it bakes/cooks, a process known as decarboxylation will play out, activating the THC before it is eventually consumed.
Another option — the result of heat being applied to compressed plant matter — will yield what’s known as rosin. Like cannabutter, the rosin process will retain the full complement of a cannabis strain’s cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. That’s of great interest for consumers who subscribe to the entourage effect, which contends that all aspects of the cannabis plant work best in synergy with one another.
The idea relies on scientific findings showing that the inclusion of said terpenes, minor cannabinoids, etc. can inform the ways in which our bodies respond to and even process the veritable stars of the show: THC and CBD. Here at PLUS, we’ve attempted to elevate things to another level with our PLUS Strains line, which combines full spectrum oil with strain-specific, real fruit ingredients and terpenes.
The result are signature offerings like Pineapple Express, Grandaddy Purple, and Lemon Jack: a trio of fruit-forward tributes to a few of our favorite strains. We feel the results are certainly worth the effort, but to be fair, it should be acknowledged that full spectrum oil edibles are, overall, far more labor-intensive to produce than their distillate peers.
The reason is a simple matter of what each process requires. With distillate, the chemical processes allow for a more efficient, faster, and often cheaper order of operations when compared with cannabutter or rosin, which both involve more steps, more individual oversight, and a longer timeline to complete.
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