Which Kind of Vape Cartridge is best for Me?
By Rachel Hantula, customer & product manager
Which Kind of Vape Cartridge is Best for Me?
How do I choose?
In the world of vape cartridges, there are so many options!
Live resin! Distillate! Full spectrum CO2 oil!
What does it all mean? What kind of cartridge do I actually want?
Much like when choosing a vape battery, it will depend on an individual’s personal preference.
(click below to learn more about choosing a vape battery that works well for you)
Live resin extraction/High terpene extractions:
Cartridges filled with live resin extracts are supremely tasty! If flavor is what you’re searching for, look no further than a live resin variety.
Live resins are extracted from flower that was freshly frozen upon harvest. This retains much of the original terpene profile that can be lost during the curing process of dried buds. Not only do these preserved terpenes provide flavor, they also interact synergistically with the cannabinoids to produce a more nuanced effect than some extracts with lower terpene profiles.
For example, myrcene (the most prominently found terpene in cannabis) has been thought to increase the absorption of cannabinoids across the blood-brain barrier, making the THC absorption more efficient! This plays into the entourage effect which we discussed in our latest blog outlining CBD and why it works best with THC!
Hot tip: If you prefer a live resin or high terpene extact, ask your budtender if you might need a special battery. Some vapes with a high terpene content are very viscous and require a battery with a button to power through that thick, juicy, terpalicious oil
Some examples of live resin or high terpene extract vapes we recommend at Hashtag would be available from Dabstract, Techniq, Avitas, Lazy Bee Gardens or Puffin Farms!
CO2 extractions
Cartridges containing CO2 oil extractions will be one of the most “full spectrum” varieties of extraction styles. This is due to the gaseous chemical used to extract.
As opposed to live resin extractions, which are typically performed using hydrocarbon gases (such as butane/propane etc), CO2 extractions use CO2! Due to its chemical composition and structure as a molecule, CO2 is capable of pulling more compounds from cannabis than most other substances used to extract. With these types of extracts you may see a greater spectrum of variance in the cannabinoid, terpene and flavonoid profiles due to CO2’s specific ability.
With a more full spectrum extract, you can experience more nuanced and directed effects as opposed to a more intense but directionless experience/high. With all the additional cannabinoids & terpenes CO2 is able to pull during extraction, this type of extract can also pull more plant matter from cannabis. This is the reason we typically see CO2 extracts a little darker in color than others.
There is nothing wrong with being darker in color, and many prefer this extraction style if they are searching for a product that can produce specific desired effects!
Hashtag carries some amazing options for CO2 vapes: Heylo, Raven Grass & Mfused!
Distillates
Distillates are not for the faint of heart. These are the most potent cannabis extract you can try in a vape cartridge. The goal of distillation is typically to purify the substance until only cannabinoids (usually THC) remain.
The result of distillation is high THC/cannabinoid content and very little of anything else. Distillates are typically flavorless unless a company chooses to reintroduce terpenes after extraction, which many do. This is how distillate cartridges are able to be “strain specific” since they are stripped of everything else that really gives a certain strain its associated effects it may be known for.
As a result, people typically find distillate vape cartridges to be the most powerful variety. They also tend to be smoother on the inhale as there aren’t as many terpenes or as much plant matter, fats, lipids, or waxes in the concentrate.
Hashtag has quite the selection of distillate vape cartridges. We recommend checking out Arson, Millennium Extracts, Sticky Frog or Peak Supply!
Don’t know which you’d prefer?
If you’re not quite sure which kind of cartridge you’d like to try, Mfused offers one of each variety an affordable price! Select either a high terpene extract from their Techniq line or from their Mfused line, either a distillate or CO2 extract variety! Mfused has even crafted up a fun graphic (see below) to describe the differences in effects between their diffierent product types, which is absolutely applicable in choosing a cartridge style from any company!
At the end of the day, we understand there are many options to choose from, and it might be overwhelming. That’s why we are here to help and answer any and all of your questions. Visit us at either location today for more information on the various styles of vape cartridges we have available!
And don’t forget…
Peak Supply distillate vapes and dabable concentrates are on sale this week!
Take 20% off all Peak Supply and Mad Dog 420 distillate vape cartridges and concentrates now through Monday 08.16.21!
