RSO VS. THC DISTILLATE – FULL SPECTRUM EXTRACT USER’S GUIDE

What’s the diference between RSO and THC Distillate? Let’s check it out!

The cannabis scene is growing in leaps and bounds at the moment, and with all this growth, we see a lot of new innovation. All this innovation is 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 which is full spectrum, it means that you’re getting all the cannabinoids, essential oils, flavonoids, and terpenes from the plant material.

It’s believed that by combining all these different elements, you can promote the ‘entourage effect’ where each element works together with the other to boost the effects of each. Rather than just focus on the cannabinoid THC, you also include all the other cannabinoids which 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 process and 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, with many companies actually adding artificial flavoring and aroma into the product to make you think that you’re vaping a ‘cannabis’ product.

WHAT IS RSO?

Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) is a full spectrum cannabis oil product that was developed by and named after Rick Simpson, a medical marijuana activist 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 encouraged people to create their own cannabis extracts at home.

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 straight forward process compared to 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 let with a highly refined and potent product.

When you are making isolates, you need to isolate the target compound, in this case, THC. There are various steps that 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 let. The next step is known as decarboxylation, where the cannabinoids are heated to the desired temperature to activate their full effects. 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 different ways that you can consume both RSO and also distillates. The most common method is to turn them into an edible or capsule. You can put an exceedingly small and measured dose into a capsule and take it orally. Other people often create their own edibles such as candy, cookies, or cakes and consume them that way

Another method that’s gaining popularity is to consume them using a dab rig. However, it’s recommended that you start of with a small amount and gradually increase how much you dab until you find a comfortable level that suits you.

What you choose is ultimately up to you. There are advantages and disadvantages to both full spectrum extracts and distillates. As the cannabis culture across the country continues to grow and demand from consumers increases, we’re going to see a lot more innovation in the cannabis market, and it’s definitely worth getting excited about