RSO VS. THC DISTILLATE – FULL SPECTRUM EXTRACT USER’S GUIDE
What’s the difference between RSO and THC Distillate? Let’s check it out!
Innovations are leading to a variety of new products hitting the shelves of dispensaries and cannabis companies across the country. It’s no surprise that consumers have a lot of questions about things like RSO and THC distillate.
In the following article, we’re going to take a closer look at what full spectrum extract is, why it’s important, and what its effects are. We’ll also look at RSO, different extraction methods, different processes, and the best way to consume them.
WHAT IS FULL SPECTRUM EXTRACT AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
There is no doubt that you’re going to encounter the term ‘full spectrum’ when you start looking at concentrates, but what does full spectrum mean? When you purchase any cannabis product that is full spectrum, it means that you’re getting all the cannabinoids, essential oils, flavonoids, and terpenes from the plant material.
Full spectrum products include a range of cannabinoids and terpenes that interact together, often referred to as the “entourage effect.” Rather than focusing on the cannabinoid THC, you also include all the other cannabinoids that naturally occur in the plant. Although the amounts of other cannabinoids are much smaller than the dominant cannabinoid THC, they all work together
WHAT IS THC DISTILLATE?
Unlike full spectrum cannabis products, THC distillate has had all other compounds stripped away during the manufacturing process. All the essential oils, terpenes, plant material, flavonoids, and other cannabinoids have been removed, leaving only the primary cannabinoid, THC
When you buy vape liquids, edibles, and concentrates, the main ingredient is usually THC distillate because it’s completely flavorless, odorless, and tasteless. This makes it great for these products.
WHAT IS RSO?
Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) is a full spectrum cannabis oil product that was developed by and named after Rick Simpson, a cannabis advocate from Canada. Many of the early RSO oils were different than other extracts because they contain extremely high amounts of THC.
RSO is also known as full extract cannabis oil because it’s a full spectrum cannabis oil that contains all the elements of the cannabis plant that we spoke of above. As a cannabis advocate, Rick Simpson never sold cannabis products but was known for promoting cannabis use and awareness.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PREMIUM METHODS USED TO CREATE CANNABIS DISTILLATES AND ISOLATES?
To create cannabis isolates and distillates, you first need to extract the different compounds from the cannabis plant itself. Creating cannabis distillates is a more straightforward process compared to creating cannabis isolates as there are fewer steps involved. Cannabis distillates have largely borrowed the process from other manufacturing techniques used to create plant distillates such as perfumes, essential oils, and cooking oils.
The most common method to create cannabis distillates is known as short path distillation. As the name suggests, it involves creating a distillate using the shortest path possible between two vessels, utilizing precise temperature control and alcohol. The plant material is fed into a large vessel, where heat and vacuum are used to pull the vapor into a secondary vessel, where it’s condensed back into a liquid form. The process can be repeated multiple times until you are left with a highly refined and potent product.
When you are making isolates, you need to isolate the target compound, in this case, THC. Various steps must be taken to separate it from all the other plant materials and compounds. The first step in the process is to separate the cannabinoids from the plant material using CO extraction or solvents. This removes the cannabinoids from the plant material but still brings some other compounds with it.
The next step in the process is known as winterization. This is where a solvent is used to strip all the leftover compounds until only the cannabinoid is left. The next step is known as decarboxylation, where the cannabinoids are heated to the desired temperature to activate them. The final step in the process is short path distillation, where the material is purified and refined into the end product.
HOW TO CONSUME RSO AND DISTILLATES
There are a variety of ways you can consume both RSO and distillates. These extracts are commonly found in pre-formulated products like capsules, edibles, and tinctures, making them easy to use without additional preparation.
What you choose is ultimately up to you.
As cannabis continues to evolve, understanding the differences between formats like full spectrum extracts, distillates, and RSO can help you make more informed product choices.
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