Unfortunately, cannabis as a whole has been put in a negative light for decades. Since the war on drugs in the 70s, misconceptions have often been mistaken for fact.
The good news is society is starting to become wise to the wrongful vilification of this plant. But with the rise of concentrates, a whole new can of worms has been opened. So, is live resin dangerous?
This is one of the most popular extracts, and for good reason. It preserves the cannabis plant in its purest form so you can enjoy it how nature intended. But is live resin safe? There is a lot to unpack here, and we’ll get into all the nitty gritty details below.
Let’s make one thing clear, though. High-quality live resin that has been extracted with care and purged of any residual solvents is safe. Now, how you use it is another story.
Dabbing or vaping are two popular approaches, but if you’re worried about health and safety, there’s a better option: live resin gummies at Evn. We uphold strict quality standards and lab test all our products so you can shop with peace of mind!
What is Live Resin and How is it Made?
To understand the concerns surrounding live resin safety, you need a basic understanding of the concentrate itself. This is actually one of the most highly touted extracts for its rich flavor, aroma, and potency.
So, what exactly is it that sets it apart from other extracts? It comes down to how it’s extracted from the cannabis plant. Instead of drying and curing the cannabis for a few days or weeks like with other types of concentrate, the cultivator gets to work on the extraction process right away.
The flowers are flash-frozen at peak freshness to lock in the full range of beneficial compounds - cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. This is much different from typical distillate.
Then, solvents such as butane or propane are used to extract the resin while maintaining the integrity of the plant’s natural profile. These solvents are eventually purged from the product.
Basically, experts take the good stuff from the plant matter so you’re left with a pure, concentrated form of that specific strain. This way, you can enjoy the cannabis how nature intended - reaping the full benefits of the “entourage effect.”
Common Consumption Methods
With basic flower you’re limited just to smoking it - unless of course you want to go through the hassle of creating your own edibles. But there is a world of possibilities for how you consume live resin.
Dabbing
This is the most popular approach to consume live resin, and it’s likely why live resin gets a bit of a bad name. It looks kind of sketchy, if we’re being honest.
You use a dab rig, which is fairly similar to a bong, but with a twist. Instead of filling a bowl and using a lighter, you use a nail and a torch. You’d scoop a tiny bit of concentrate onto a tool after heating the nail (or banger) with a torch to the point it’s hundreds of degrees.
Then, you apply the live resin to the nail while inhaling on the rig. It’s incredibly intense, and not something we’d ever recommend to first-time users. This is where something like vaping would make more sense.
Vaping
Vaping live resin is a more discreet and portable option that still packs a serious punch. It also offers great flavor since it’s done at a much lower temperature than dabbing. This preserves the terpene profile.
Vaping is also way more convenient and can be taken on the go, which is clearly not an option with dabbing. However, vapes can really add up in price as you start to gain a tolerance. Some people find that vaping is a bad habit because of just how accessible it is, too.
Edibles
This is our preferred approach, especially for those who are worried about any potential live resin side effects or safety concerns. Live resin can be infused into gummies, chocolates, or baked goods and enjoyed as a tasty treat on the go or at home.
While the effects take longer to kick in - typically 30 minutes to 2 hours - edibles offer a longer-lasting, more gradual experience. Perhaps most importantly, though, you don’t have to worry about inhaling anything other than air into your lungs.
Flower Infusion
One final option that’s a bit more work is to top a bowl or roll a joint with live resin. Combining this concentrate with flower is something only the most experienced cannabis users should consider trying, as you can imagine.
Is Live Resin Dangerous?
Now that you’re a bit more up to speed, let’s cut to the chase. Is live resin dangerous? There are two lenses through which we want to unpack this question:
- Is live resin dangerous to create?
- Is live resin bad for you to consume?
Each is important to consider if you’re curious about trying live resin.
Is Live Resin Dangerous to Create?
Really, the biggest risks associated with live resin are during the extraction process. We touched on the solvents used earlier, and these can be very volatile and flammable. That’s why only experts should create live resin, and it should always be done in a controlled environment.
Professionals use closed-loop extraction systems designed to safely handle volatile gases and prevent harmful solvents from making their way into the final product. These experts also adhere to strict purging methods to remove any residual solvents from the live resin concentrate.
On the other hand, attempting to make live resin at home or purchasing untested products from an unreliable source can be dangerous - that is a fact.
Improper solvent handling during extraction can cause explosions or fires. Meanwhile, poorly purged concentrates may contain leftover chemicals, making them unsafe for consumption.
That being said, let’s look at the other side of the coin - is live resin bad for you to consume?
Is Live Resin Bad For You to Consume?
There are a few moving pieces here: 1) the specific live resin you’re consuming and 2) how you consume it. We’ve covered quite a bit of this already, but we’ll reiterate - purchasing high-quality live resin edibles from a trusted brand is not dangerous.
In fact, live resin is often preferred to other cannabis products for its more complete, full-spectrum experience. Remember, you’re getting all the terpenes and cannabinoids specific to that strain.
But, methods like dabbing and vaping carry more risk, most notably when it comes to respiratory health. Sure, you have to be careful about burns with dabbing - but the real issue comes from putting your lungs under such strain on a regular basis.
Even if you aren’t sensitive to inhaling vapor or smoke, these consumption methods could lead to coughing, lung irritation, or, in rare cases, longer-term respiratory issues. This is why we can’t stress enough that edibles are a better alternative.
Potential Live Resin Side Effects
Even though it’s not inherently dangerous, there are a few live resin side effects you should be wary of. This is true of any cannabis product and is not exclusive to live resin. Potential concerns include:
- Dry Mouth (Cottonmouth): The most notorious side effect of cannabis usage. It occurs because THC affects saliva production. While it’s more of an annoyance than a serious health concern, staying hydrated can help minimize the discomfort.
- Red Eyes: This is the other most common, temporary effect of THC consumption. Like dry mouth, it’s relatively harmless and can be reduced by staying hydrated or using eye drops.
- Dizziness or Lightheadedness: Because live resin is so potent, it’s easy to overconsume, leading to these uncomfortable feelings. They’re more common when dabbing or vaping, but can occur with edibles as well.
- Anxiety or Paranoia: Some users, especially those sensitive to THC, feel increased anxiety or paranoia. Like with dizziness/lightheadedness, this tends to happen when you take too much, so pace yourself and start slow if you’re new to cannabis in general or a specific product.
- Rapid Heart Rate: While this is usually temporary and harmless, feeling your heart rate kick up can certainly be unsettling. If this happens to you, it's a good idea to take a break and relax until the sensation passes.
- Coughing and Throat Irritation (for Vaping or Dabbing): This is especially common with dabbing, but it happens with vaping too. Again, it’s easily avoided by sticking with edibles.
For what it’s worth, all of these live resin side effects are either avoidable or more of a discomfort than an adverse reaction. That being said, we’ll share a few tips on how you can safely enjoy live resin below.
Tips on Staying Safe While Enjoying Live Resin
Live resin, like concentrates and cannabis in general, have been wrongfully vilified. It can be perfectly safe when used as directed in moderation. Here is some advice on keeping yourself safe while enjoying all that live resin has to offer.
Stick With Edibles
The best thing you can do is steer clear of any consumption method that puts smoke or vapor in your lungs. Live resin gummies or other edibles offer the same potent effects and full-spectrum experience without the risks these are known for.
That means no concerns about lung health, no coughing, no throat irritation, no bad breath - just a smooth, enjoyable high that lasts far longer than dabbing/vaping.
Just remember, the effects of edibles take longer to kick in, so always start with a small dose and wait at least 60-90 minutes before consuming more. We’ll talk more about this in a moment.
Choose Reputable Products From a Trusted Brand
Not all live resin is created equal, whether it’s left in its concentrate form or infused into gummies. You need to do your due diligence and make sure you’re getting a pure, potent product free of any harmful residual solvents or additives.
This is easier said than done, but your search ends here at Evn, where you’ll discover not just live resin gummies but also live rosin gummies if you’re still stressing about the presence of solvents. You don’t have to worry, though, as we lab test all our products for you to enjoy peace of mind.
Our gummies are crafted from traceable ingredients and we uphold strong relationships with our farmers so that we can stay in the loop and ensure they’re doing things to our standards. We make our gummies from a single strain for the most true-to-plant experience.
You can find a range of hybrid gummies, indica gummies, and sativa gummies depending on your goals. Browse our catalog and try them all - we can’t wait to hear which is your favorite!
Start Low, Go Slow, Ramp Up With Time
Remember that live resin is more potent than regular cannabis flower, so you should take your time finding the sweet spot where you feel the effects you crave without overdoing it.
Our rule of thumb is to take less than you think you need the first time around. This might be 5mg or as little as 2.5mg. Our gummies come in 10mg serving sizes so you can cut them up however you see fit.
You can always enjoy more if you don’t feel the way you’d like, but you can never go back and take less if paranoia kicks in after overdoing it! Less is more, as you don’t want to build up a crazy tolerance anyhow.
Proper Storage and Handling
While it won’t necessarily make it “dangerous” to consume, improper storage will definitely impact the taste and effects of your gummies.
So, make sure you store it in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. This will help maintain its potency and prevent any changes in flavor or consistency.
From a safety perspective, you should also make sure the products are out of reach of children or pets, as this opens up a whole different can of worms.
Parting Thoughts on Live Resin Danger
So, is live resin dangerous? Hopefully, this overview has helped clear up some of the misconceptions you might have about this concentrate.
Sure, there are risks in production - which is why you need to leave it to the experts who have the equipment and know-how to keep things safe. You should also stick with gummies over dabbing or vaping to protect your lungs.
But as long as you shop with a trusted brand like Evn and use the gummies as directed, you have nothing to stress about. In fact, the most enjoyable cannabis experience awaits in every gummy.
So, don’t compromise on safety or quality shop our live resin gummies and enjoy the benefits of premium cannabis concentrates with confidence today!
