Distillate weed or Cannabis distillates are a highly purified form of cannabis concentrates that are based on a single/isolated cannabinoid, mainly THC or CBD.
Made by what’s called “distillation,” they go through a meticulous process of extraction to remove all and any impurities from the end product including the plant matter and other compounds such as terpenes to produce a clear, odorless, and flavorless distillate or oil.
Being highly purified, distillates can maintain high THC levels of above 90% for an equally high potency and can be used in multiple ways including smoking, vaping, dabbing, and even in creating your favorite cannabis edibles.
As such, they are found in many forms depending on the type of cannabinoids they contain or their extraction process.
Apart from their isolated forms, distillates can also be found as broad-spectrum and full-spectrum products that contain a wider range of cannabinoids including THC, CBD, and other minor cannabinoids such as CBG, CBN, terpenes, and flavonoids.
That said, in this post, we will take a deeper look at everything you may need to know about distillates before using them.
Cannabis distillate is a type of concentrate that contains zero impurities and no trace of undesired substances including the raw plant material and other compounds like terpenes.
Made through a lengthy process of molecular distillation, they are considered one of the purest forms of cannabis containing only a specific cannabinoid like CBD or THC.
Regardless of the cannabinoid, distillate weed is usually quite dense with a gold or amber appearance and does not possess a strong aroma or taste either due to the absence of terpenes (the compounds that give plants including cannabis their rich flavor and smell).
How is Cannabis Distillate Made?
As the pinnacle of cannabis extracts, distillates are made by distilling purified extracts from raw plant material or flowers across several steps or stages.
To make sure that the distillate is as pure as it comes, the desired compound or cannabinoid is carefully extracted through a complex process of winterization, filtration, and decarboxylation. Let’s take a closer look.
1. Extraction
High-quality cannabis flowers or plant material is used to extract the desired compound through various means of extraction such as solvent-based, solventless, and CO2-based extraction.
2. Winterization
Winterization is carried out to remove any impurities including fats, lipids, and waxes from the extract. To obtain a cleaner and purer extract, it is mixed with ethanol and frozen for up to 24-48 hours.
3. Filtration
More filtration is done using a series of filters typically activated charcoal to remove any remaining impurities and particulates from the extract.
4. Distillation
Distillation is the main step that separates the desired cannabinoid from the extract and purifies it as well.
There are multiple methods to do that such as short-path distillation and thin-film distillation, but in essence, it is all about providing the right amount of heat to separate the cannabinoids based on their boiling points.
5. Decarboxylation
Similarly, the extract is heated at a specific temperature to activate the cannabinoids. E.g., THCA into active THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which gives it the desired psychoactive properties.
6. Final purification or processing
Additional distillation or crystallization may be carried out to achieve even higher purity and to ensure maximum potency.
7. Testing and packaging
Finally, the distillate is tested for potency, purity, and any residual solvents or other contaminants.
Once passed, it is packaged for sale or further processing into other products such as edibles, vapes, and tinctures.
Types of Cannabis Distillates
Cannabis distillates are commonly categorized based on their primary cannabinoid or how they are processed in the end.
As such, some of the major forms of distillate weed that you can find are:
1. THC Distillate
Also called “liquid gold,” THC distillates are a highly refined form of cannabis extracts that boast a very high concentration of THC (85-95%) for superior potency.
As such, they are best suited for vaping, dabbing, smoking, and making THC-rich edibles.
2. CBD Distillate
Contrary to THC, CBD or Cannabidiol is a non-psychoactive substance found in weed used largely for its therapeutic potential.
Based on isolated CBD, these distillates contain high levels of pure CBD between 80-90%, and are widely used in health-oriented products such as CBD oils, tinctures, edibles, and topicals for instant relief.
3. Full-spectrum Distillate
These distillates are non-isolated forms of cannabis that contain a full range of cannabinoids including THC, CBD, and other minor compounds.
Known for their “entourage effect,” full-spectrum distillates contain relatively lower amounts of THC compared to THC-only distillates.
4. Broad-spectrum Distillate
Similarly, broad-spectrum distillates also contain a wide range of cannabinoids but with no THC at all.
5. CBN Distillate
As a mildly psychoactive compound, CBN (cannabinol) is formed when THC ages or break downs into minor cannabinoids.
Rich in CBN, these distillates are used for sleep and relaxation.
6. CBG Distillate
Known as the mother of all cannabinoids, CBG (cannabigerol) is the parent cannabinoid from which other cannabinoids are formed.
With high CBG concentrations in their purest form, CBG distillates are often used for relief from pain and inflammation without getting high.
7. Delta-8 THC Distillate
Delta-8 THC is a less potent form of THC, aka Delta-9 THC, and thus comes with milder psychoactive effects than the latter.
With up to 90% delta-8-THC, these distillates offer a slightly lighter hit than traditional THC, making them perfect for occasional and casual users.
8. THCV Distillate
THCV is a rare cannabinoid that boosts energy and keeps the appetite in check to avoid unnecessary munching. As such, THCV distillates are sometimes used in weight loss supplements and energy boosters.
Benefits of Cannabis Distillates
Along with all the health benefits that marijuana is known for, Cannabis distillates offer multiple practical advantages over other forms of weed.
Some of the most important include:
1. High potency and purity
As one of the purest forms of cannabis, distillates can maintain a very high concentration of desired cannabinoids, be it THC or CBD. Which allows for stronger and longer-lasting effects with even the lightest doses.
2. Discretion
Being odorless and pure also makes them quite discreet as they do not emit a peculiar smell or a lot of vapor or smoke.
3. Versatility
Distillate weed can be used in various ways like vaping, dabbing, making edibles, adding to flowers and smokeables, and incorporating into tinctures and topicals.
4. Longer shelf life
The lack of organic compounds and plant matter (such as wax and fat) further gives them a longer shelf life compared to other cannabis products.
5. Faster onset of effects
Due to their high purity and strength, cannabis distillates tend to deliver the desired effects much faster than other concentrates regardless of how you consume them.
How to Use Cannabis Distillates
As versatile as they are, cannabis distillates can be used in more ways than you can imagine.
From vaping to dabbing to smoking, they can be easily added to any weed product or your preferred medium of consumption whether edibles, beverages, topicals, or even medical-oriented products such as capsules, inhalers, and tinctures.
Just make sure to stick to lower doses of distillates when using them regardless of the medium as they may be already too high on their potency or THC levels.
To further keep their purity intact, make sure to store your precious distillates in proper conditions like a cold and dark place away from direct sunlight and weather fluctuations.
Comparison between Cannabis Distillate and Other Cannabis Products
Cannabis distillates differ greatly from other cannabis products, especially in their purity and taste.
For instance, they are often more potent, and effective, and do not have the peculiar stench that could be sometimes unbearable for others around you.
When compared to other common weed products such as flowers and concentrates, they offer a much finer and consistent experience due to the absence of the plant’s original terpenes, flavonoids, and other raw materials.
Plus they are easier to customize and can be added to any weed product out there unlike dry buds and resinous extracts.
Due to all these advantages and a longer life span, cannabis distillates are generally a bit more expensive than other concentrates with similar potency.
However, in recent times, it has become quite easier to find them as is the case with other cannabis products.
The Future of Cannabis Distillates
As promising as it looks, the future of Cannabis distillates depends on several factors such as:
• Customization to target specific effects like relaxation, focus, creativity, etc.
• Medical potential/ applications such as precise dosing and diagnosis of specific medical conditions.
• Mainstream acceptance can further increase the use of distillates in common products such as food, beverages, and cosmetics.
• Extraction processes must be more efficient and precise to obtain the desired purity and concentration of useful cannabinoids.
• Quality compliance is required to ensure high-quality and authentic cannabis distillates.
• Delivery methods such as patches, aerosols, or metered-dose inhalers or vaporizers can allow users to administer their doses more precisely and accurately.
• Cost reduction is perhaps the key challenge for the weed distillation industry to make it more accessible to those in need, especially medicinal pot users.
Conclusion
Cannabis distillates are considered the purest form of weed that there is and for all the good reasons!
Apart from their unmatched purity levels, they also maintain a high potency of the desired compounds be it THC for the high or CBD for its medicinal effects.
With zero impurities including the raw plant matter or organic compounds such as terpenes and flavonoids, distillate weed is usually entirely odorless, flavorless, and clean which also allows them to have a longer shelf life than most other products.
Plus they can be used in a variety of ways including smoking, dabbing, vaping, and even eating and drinking.
As far as their medicinal uses are concerned, cannabis distillates allow for more precise dosing or administration of the content and can be used in many health-oriented products such as capsules, topicals, inhales, tinctures, and so on.
All-in-all, if you’re looking for an isolated cannabinoid in its purest form, a cannabis distillate could be your best bet.
