Live Resin Carts VS Normal Carts: Which One Is Stronger?

Vaping cannabis oil is a discrete, convenient and effective way to get high. 

But there are a lot of vape carts to choose from, and understanding the difference between various vape carts can be confusing. 

What’s the difference between live resin carts vs normal vape carts, for example? Does one offer a better high than the other? Are live resin carts stronger? And what’s the best vape cart for your hard-earned buck? 

Keep reading to learn the differences between resin carts and normal vape carts.

Key Takeaways: Live Resin Cartridges VS Normal

• Live resin vape cartridges are made using fresh frozen cannabis flower, which helps preserve the natural terpene profile.
• The boosted terpene concentration in live resin gives it a better flavor compared to regular cartridges.
• Hemp-derived live resin will not get you high unless it is partnered with a THC Isomer or psychotropic cannabinoid e.g THCP.
• Live resin carts differ from regular carts in both flavor and potency.

What is a Hemp Vape Cart?

A hemp vape cartridge is a glass chamber that holds hemp-derived cannabis oil.

After the 2018 Farm Bill federally legalized industrial hemp and hemp-derived products, most companies began using hemp-derived cannabis oil. To qualify as hemp, this oil must have a delta 9 THC concentration of 0.3% or less to meet federal requirements.

Generally speaking, most companies use CBD extracts and terpenes as the main ingredients in their hemp vape cartridge. 

Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, a hemp vape cartridge can also contain less than 0.3% delta 9 THC.

Basically, a vape cartridge is a glass chamber typically made of glass that screws onto a vape pen, which contains an internal heating mechanism known as an atomizer. This heats up the oil to a vapor when the battery is charged and power is turned on.

What is a Live Resin Vape Cart?

A live resin cart is a type of pre-filled vape cart. The key difference between a live resin cart and a regular cart is in the extraction process.

Live resin is a form of cannabis concentrate derived from hemp or marijuana flower. 

Before the cannabis oil is extracted, the raw, fresh hemp material is frozen immediately when it’s fresh after the hemp or marijuana flower is harvested.

After the flower is frozen, live resin is extracted using similar extraction methods to other concentrates. 

CO2 extraction is typically considered ideal, as it tends to produce a cleaner concentrate than hydrocarbon extraction which uses solvents like propane and butane to pull cannabinoid and terpene-rich oil from the plant material. 

Live resin vape carts generally have a fuller flavor profile and a higher potency than regular vape carts. The heavy concentration of terpenes can also determine the intoxicating and therapeutic effects you might expect from a particular strain. 

Hemp-derived live resin contains the natural hemp-derived terpenes found in the original flower. Basically, this type of hemp cartridge is made with fresh frozen CBD flower that contains 0.3% or less delta 9 THC.

In other words, most hemp-derived live resin won’t get you high on its own. 

This is why hemp resin is often combined with another type of distillate or cannabis extract that can produce intoxicating effects. 

As a result, it’s not uncommon to see hemp-derived live resin carts that contain delta 8 THC or THCa liquid diamonds. 

These products are still completely legal nearly everywhere in the US, as long as the delta 9 THC concentration stays at 0.3% or less.

Related Read: Are Carts Bad For You?

Are Live Resin Carts Stronger Than Normal?

Live resin carts can be stronger than normal cartridges in some cases.

Realistically, the strength of a cartridge depends on the exact cannabinoid potency. 

A regular cart with high levels of a form of THC may feel stronger than a hemp-derived live resin CBD cartridge with low levels of THC, for example.

If cannabinoid potency of a live resin cart and normal cart is equal, the live resin cart will typically deliver stronger hits of flavor. 

Because hemp flower is frozen immediately after harvest to create live resin, more terpenes and trichomes are preserved throughout the process of extraction.

Therefore, when cannabinoid potency is equal across two carts, live resin carts may induce better, more intense psychoactive effects due to the high preservation of terpenes during extraction.

Because of the terpene preservation, live resin carts should also deliver stronger hits of flavor. The higher hemp-derived terpene concentration may also, in theory, lead to better synergistic effects.

Difference Between Live Resin And Regular Carts

The difference between live resin and regular cannabis vape carts primarily comes down to how the concentrate is extracted from the flower.

Regular cartridges are usually made up of some type of cannabis distillate, with terpenes reintroduced to the final product Terpenes in distillate carts can be derived from cannabis or other botanicals. 

The extraction method to produce live resin preserves the original terpene profile in the cannabis plants. Therefore, live resin derived from marijuana will contain the exact same cannabinoid as the flower and cause intoxication..

Live resin derived from marijuana typically has a high THC content, meaning its delta 9 concentration will be greater than 0.3%. 

Though this concentration makes it illegal in states that have not yet legalized recreational or medical marijuana, it’s a superb option for consumers in states that have.

In comparison, hemp-derived live resin will not get you high on its own. This type of concentrate will only get you high if there is an added distillate or concentration such as THCa, THC-O, delta 8 THC, or HHC.

Because the delta 9 THC levels in hemp-derived carts would not exceed 0.3%, hemp live resin carts with added distillate are a great option for those living in states without legal weed.

Benefits Of Live Resin Cartridges

Live resin carts have numerous benefits that set them apart from other types of weed cartridges. 

Whether they’re hemp-derived or cannabis-derived, these vape carts boast unrivaled flavor and a boosted terpene concentration.

Unrivaled Flavor

One fundamental difference between live resin carts and other concentrates is the potent flavor of live resin, which preserves the natural terpene profile of the flower.

As a result, you’ll not only experience an enhanced flavor profile, you’ll find live resin typically contains a cleaner, more unique flavor compared to normal carts.

Boosted Terpene Concentration

Regular vape carts are generally made using cannabis that’s been dried and cured. 

And while there’s nothing “wrong” with this, dried and cured cannabis doesn’t contain the same terpene concentration of fresh frozen flower. 

Because live resin is made from fresh frozen cannabis flower, the natural terpene profile in the flower is preserved. Partnered with THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids, these terpenes can boost the resulting effects. 

Because it’s packed with terpenes preserved from the trichomes of the flower, live resin oil tends to be thick and dark, ultimately resulting in thicker vape clouds.

The Entourage

When it’s derived from cannabis or partnered with distillate, live resin can induce a better, more balanced high including more intense psychoactive effects and deep therapeutic benefits.

This balanced high is due to a theory called the entourage effect, a widely-accepted theory that suggests cannabis compounds like cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids work synergistically to produce stronger, more balanced effects.

The entourage effect induced within live resin vape carts may result in a more potent high than other forms of cannabis concentrates, like distillate cartridges–even those that, in theory, contain more THC.

On the shelves, these types of carts are labeled as “full spectrum.” 

Compared to isolated cannabinoid products, full spectrum products include a robust terpene profile and all the natural cannabinoids from the flower.

Is Live Resin Solvent Free?

No, live resin is not solvent-free.

After the fresh cannabis flower is flash-frozen, live resin is typically extracted using CO2 or hydrocarbon extraction methods that use solvents such as butane or propane to pull cannabinoids and terpenes from plant material.  

Though CO2 and hydrocarbon extraction methods are excellent for preserving terpenes in the cannabis oil, they do require the use of solvents.

The only type of cannabis cartridge that is solvent free is live rosin. 

Live rosin carts are made by applying high heat and pressure to fresh buds, hash, or kief to release the cannabis oil from the plant.

Unlike live resin, there are no solvents used in the live rosin extraction method. 

This is why live rosin carts are popular with health-conscious cannabis consumers, as they’re often hailed as a more all-natural alternative to other types of cartridges.

Which Is Best For You?

Now that you know all there is to know about the difference between cartridges, you can make an educated decision about which specific type of cartridge is best for you.

When shopping for a cannabis oil vape cart, consider factors like flavor, potency, extraction method, and price point.

Live resin carts have a number of benefits. 

Because of the extraction method used in the creation of this type of cannabis oil, this type of cartridge has the best, most prominent flavor on the market. If an enhanced flavor profile is your thing, live resin is where it’s at. 

Also, thanks to the preservation of the flower’s terpenes and cannabinoids, this type of cartridge typically induces a better, more well-rounded high because these components work synergistically together.

Because they’re a specialty product, however, live resin carts are typically more expensive than regular cartridges. 

If you’re looking to get high on a budget, regular distillate carts may be the best choice. Both will get you high, but you’ll ultimately pay for a higher quality high when purchasing live resin.

Ultimately, live resin sets itself apart from regular cartridges in both potency and more flavor. 

Thanks to the preservation of terpenes, trichomes, and other cannabis compounds throughout the extraction process, these carts are some of the most sought-after cartridges on the market.

They’re not only more flavorful than regular cartridges, but they can induce a well-balanced–and all-around better high. 

The only downside is that these specialty cartridges are a little pricier than the normal vape cart.

When shopping for the best cartridge for your needs, consider if you value the benefits of live resin enough to fork over a little more cash. 

Ultimately, it could be worth it for a more flavorful hit and a stronger, well-rounded high. 

On the other hand, if you’re looking for a more natural alternative, ask your dispensary about live rosin cartridges, as live rosin is the only type of cannabis oil that is not extracted with chemical solvents. 

Keep in mind though, that live rosin tends to be more expensive than live resin.

Wrapping Up: Live Resin VS Regular Vape Cartridges

Thanks to key differences in the extraction process, live resin vape carts set themselves apart from other cartridges in both flavor and potency. 

Because natural terpenes and trichomes are preserved in the fresh frozen cannabis flower used to create live resin, this type of concentrate can also induce a better, more well-rounded high.

Honestly, live resin carts are some of the most sought-after cartridges on the market by experienced cannabis consumers. 

At the end of the day, live resin carts are considered superior to regular vape carts. They’re not only more flavorful than regular cartridges, but they can induce a well-balanced high. 

The only drawback is that live resin carts are a little pricier than the average cart.

When shopping for the best cartridge for your needs, consider if you value the benefits of live resin enough to fork over a little more cash. 

Ultimately, a more flavorful hit, thicker vape clouds and a stronger, well-rounded high may be worth every extra penny.