Cannabis Concentrates for Beginners: Solventless vs. Solvent-Based Extracts

Cannabis extracts can be broken down into two main categories.

Solventless and Solvent-Based.

Solvent-based extracts can include:
1. Solvent Extracts: Use solvents like CO2, butane, propane, or ethanol to dissolve and separate the active ingredients from the plant.
Then, the active ingredients are separated from the solvent leaving behind a high-THC concentrate. These concentrates can also contain trace amounts of solvents used to create them. If you buy from a dispensary, they are legally required to test below a certain level of acceptable trace solvents.
2. Solvent-Free Extracts: Start the same way as solvent extracts but go through a more rigorous distillation process that removes any trace solvents remaining.

You might see most people refer to oil concentrates by their consistency, for example: shatter, budder, wax, live resin, or distillate. The same extraction method can produce different consistencies so that just comes down to preference.

-Pros of solvent-based extracts.
Cheaper.
More accessible.

-Cons of solvent-based extracts.
Health concerns with inhaling trace amounts of solvents.
Dangerous to make yourself.

The other category is solventless extracts.

Solventless Extracts use mechanical extraction methods rather than solvents in order to separate and extract the active ingredients from the plant. There are many ways to achieve this but the main thing they have in common is that the end product consists of nothing but cannabis materials and has never come in contact with any solvents.

Out of all the solventless products on the market, kief, bubble hash, and rosin are perhaps the most accessible options at dispensaries today. Bubble hash also is one of the best products to use when pressing high-quality rosin.
Solventless products are also legal to create at home if you live in a legal state. In fact, home rosin presses are gaining popularity, allowing consumers to create their own rosin without using a flat iron.

Rosin also stands out for its ability to mimic virtually any product on the market, even solvent-based ones!
From rosin sauce to rosin budder to live rosin to non-solvent THC-A and rosin crystals/diamonds, rosin can replicate and provide more options for consumers.

Pros of solventless extracts:
No risk of inhaling solvents.
Ability to make at home.
Arguably better flavor profile.

Cons of solventless extracts:
Harder to find.
Considerably more expensive.

In conclusion, what you choose is personal preference and generally based on your health preferences, budget, or availability.

If you have any questions that you want answers to, drop them in the comments below and there's a good chance we'll make a video out of it!

We want to thank PurePressure for helping make this tutorial possible. They have the industry leading Solventless equipment and their YouTube channel is packed with amazing information on everything solventless concentrates.
Check them out here:    / @gopurepressure  

Go check out Matt and all the amazing content he's been putting out and will be releasing in the future on Cottonmouth Media. He's working on some big things so make sure you don't miss out.
Check out his channel right here:    / @cottonmouthmedia  

0:00 Intro
0:18 Cottonmouth Media
0:36 Solventless and Solvent-Based Extracts
0:56 Solvent-Based Extracts Include
1:34 Solvent-free Extracts
2:07 Pros to Solvent-Based Extracts
2:15 Cons to Solvent-Based Extracts
2:36 Solventless Extracts
3:29 Pros to Solventless Extracts
3:50 Cons to Solventless Extracts
4:12 Conclusion
4:36 Like & Subscribe Budsbie
4:50 Like & Subscribe Cottonmouth Media
4:52 Outro