Cannabis resin

Cannabis resin is both a sticky, insoluble organic compound secreted by Cannabis Sativa L. plants and the tarry residue that accumulates in pipes, bongs and other glassware after numerous cannabis burning sessions.

Some people may also use the term resin to designate the live resin, a solvent-based concentrate made from fresh cannabis plants. But product labels always specify the live resin in this case.

Cannabis plant resin

You've probably noticed the tiny hairs that cover the cannabis plant, creating a crystalline sheen and a sticky sensation. These glandular hairs are called trichomes. These trichomes are held together by resin, which contains the cannabinoids, terpenes and other compounds for which the cannabis plant is known. You can think of weed resin as the substance that holds all the compounds produced by the trichomes together on the trichome head.

Cannabis produces resin mainly to deter parasites. The resin is bitter and contains specific terpenes that repel certain parasites. Linalool, for example, is a common terpene in cannabis, used as an ingredient in insecticides for its anti-parasitic properties. Resin also protects the plant from overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays, and helps it maintain optimum surface moisture levels to prevent drying out.

How is the resin collected from the Cannabis plant?

Cannabis resin can be harvested in several different ways, each giving different results in terms of texture.

Hashish

The hashish is a solvent-free cannabis concentrate made from grass resin or trichome glands. Hashish-making is an ancient art that dates back thousands of years. It involves sifting a cannabis plant to harvest the resin glands, then compressing these glands under gentle heat.

Charas

The charas is made by rubbing the still-growing cannabis plant by hand, then rolling the collected resin into small balls.

Dry Sift

The dry sift is the resin separated from the cannabis by a sieve. The dry sieve can be pressed and heated to create hashish, sprinkled in a seal or a bong, or used in edibles.

Advantages of resin collection

There are a number of’uses of cannabis resin, some more effective than others. When you separate the resin from the cannabis plant, you essentially collect all the desirable compounds from the plant. Concentrates made from the resin glands are inherently more potent than the flower, which explains the meteoric rise of concentrates on the cannabis market.

If properly protected from the elements - heat, humidity, light and air - the plant's resin can have a long shelf life. Resin also naturally protects its own cannabinoids from oxygen, especially when pressed into hashish, causing it to darken. This dark brown color and opacity protects the active compounds from UV rays, extending the product's shelf life.