These days, there are so many options when picking out a cartridge that sometimes it can be overwhelming to decide which one is the best for you.

I have written this blog to help you narrow down which cartridge might be the best option for the experience that you are looking for--but first, let me introduce myself. My name is Keivan, and I have been in the cannabis industry for four years and have been an Assistant Manager at Hashtag for the past two.

I buy cartridges often and help guide folks through the process of picking one out in stores on a regular basis.

Cartridges are one of the most popular ways to consume cannabis. Not only are they discreet, but they are also effective and produce a strong high with no mess and little to no smell. If you have tried cartridges in the past, you probably have had good experiences with some, and possibly bad or just not memorable experiences with others. I’m here to explain the different types of extraction methods and hardware that companies use to create these cartridges to help you get a better understanding of what the differences are between the options that you have.

When buying a cartridge from a company, you want to consider a few things. Firstly,  what was the flower that was used to create this concentrate, and what quality was that flower? 

Secondly, what grower did it come from, and what sort of pesticides or other practices might’ve been used during the growing process? 

Lastly, you want to be looking at the extraction process. Is this a distillate, live resin, rosin or a CO2 cartridge? Getting to know these different types of extraction methods can be key in deciphering which cartridge is the best for you.

Let me break down a couple of the different extraction methods to give you a better understanding of what goes into creating concentrated oil out of cannabis.

Cannabis Distillate:

Distillate is essentially a process in which the goal is to extract purely just the THC out of the plant and nothing else. These extracts often have very, very high THC levels, typically ranging from 85 to 95%, and produce a very (in my opinion) short-lived but potent high. While distillate can be effective and a favorite among some consumers for these reasons, others feel that because it only has THC and low levels of other cannabinoids that it lacks the ‘fullness’ that smoking cannabis typically delivers. Some heavy consumers aren't able to get the desired effect from a distillate cartridge and look for other extraction methods instead.

Cannabis CO2:

For many, CO2 is the number one choice when it comes to picking a cartridge. The companies that make CO2 cartridges often do so with high quality starting material. CO2 is often considered the best of both worlds when it comes to extraction methods. CO2 does a really good job of isolating certain cannabinoids and terpenes, while also being considered cleaner than BHO, which is a solvent often used to make distillate oils.

Cannabis Live resin:

This extraction method is my personal favorite and often what I look for when purchasing a cartridge. Live resin is a thicker oil made from freshly harvested flowers that are flash frozen at the time of harvest in order to keep vital cannabinoids and terpenes intact.  Live resin is often a full spectrum concentrate because they contain most of the same cannabinoids and terpene profiles that the flower did at the time of harvest, therefore giving the consumer an experience that is closer to the experience of smoking flower.  I personally feel like I get a tastier, longer lasting and better high when consuming Live Resins, and that's why I prefer this extraction method over any other!

Cannabis Rosin:

Rosin is a completely solventless extraction method using temperature & pressure to squish and squeeze out all that oily resin from the plant’s resin glands. Rosin is one of the nicest and often most expensive forms of cannabis oil due to its high quality and lack of harmful chemical solvents. “Live Rosin “ is rosin that was made with flowers that were frozen at the time of harvest to maximize the smell, taste and potency of the oil. 

Now that you know a little more about the different extraction methods used, you might be starting to understand why there is such a wide range of prices and options to choose from.

While distillate vapes might have really high THC levels, they might often be priced at the lowest end of the spectrum, while some Rosin and Live resin cartridges with lower THC levels are often more expensive because of the extraction method and presence of other cannabinoids and terpenes. This is why it can be helpful to not shop based on THC numbers but instead by grower & extraction method.

Another thing I wanted to mention is Hardware. Most cartridges come in standard stainless steel cartridges. Recently some higher end brands like Heylo & Puffin Farms have been producing ceramic cartridges. I highly recommend trying one if you come across a ceramic cartridge because they really help enhance the flavor of the oil and elevate your smoking experience entirely!

All of this information can be overwhelming, and that's why I recommend thinking about what you really want out of a cartridge.

Something affordable with a high THC number? Or maybe something a little more high end with more abundance of other cannabinoids and terpenes? Or possibly something in the middle like a CO2 cartridge? Considering the brand, the starting material, extraction method, and hardware are all important factors in finding the best option for you.

If you want a recommendation, feel free to come into any of our stores and chat with our budtenders about our cartridges!