Not all edibles are created equally. The types of extracts that are used and their quality can alter your experience significantly, changing the potency, price point, and even the taste of your gummies. For consumers who prefer a truly flavorful edible experience, live resin gummies are especially popular. In this guide, you’ll learn more about what live resin gummies are, how they’re made, and how they differ from regular edibles.
What Are Live Resin Gummies?
Live resin gummies are made with live resin, a type of cannabis extract made using freshly harvested or fresh-frozen cannabis flower. Using fresh flower allows extractors to capture the plant’s peak levels of cannabinoids and terpenes. The result is a gummy with higher levels of terpenes and a broader spectrum of minor cannabinoids, which can influence both the flavor and effects of the gummy.
What Are Regular Cannabis Gummies?
The most common cannabis-infused gummies you’ll encounter in a dispensary are made with distillate, virtually pure, isolated THC that’s separated from broader spectrum extracts like butane hash oil (BHO).
For the most part, this means you’ll only get THC in these gummies, perhaps sometimes with a small amount of CBD. You’ll generally miss out on terpenes altogether (unless the manufacturer adds them back in separately) and minor cannabinoids like Cannabigerol (CBG), Cannabinol (CBN), and Cannabichromene (CBC).
Key Differences Between Live Resin and Regular Gummies
Potency
As far as THC content goes, New Jersey caps the potency of edibles at 10 mg THC per piece and 100 mg THC per package, so live resin gummies and regular gummies will generally have the same THC content. Still, you might feel a more intense or complex high after eating live resin gummies. This is because of the broader spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes, which work together in a process known as the entourage effect to produce a more nuanced experience.
Flavor profiles
Live resin gummies are typically more aromatic and smell more like weed or weed flower, thanks to the presence of cannabis terpenes in the extract. Live resin gummies also tend to taste more classically “like weed.”
Regular gummies typically smell and taste like the flavoring of the gummy, oftentimes berries, citrus, grapes, or other fruits. Since the terpenes from the cannabis flower aren’t preserved in the extraction, regular gummies may have added terpenes in the ingredients as well.
Price point
Live resin products, including live resin gummies, typically cost more than regular cannabis-infused gummies do because of the extra cost of extracting live resin. Since the fresh flower used to produce live resin is higher quality, it generally costs more. Additionally, the process to extract this flower is more tightly controlled to ensure the quality of the final product. As a result, regular gummies tend to be less expensive.
When to Choose Live Resin Gummies vs. Regular Gummies
When Live Resin Gummies Are Better
Live resin gummies offer a more aromatically complex and potent cannabis experience. Live resin gummies are the better choice if you:
- Enjoy intense THC experiences or have a high tolerance
- Prioritize robust terpene profiles and flavors
- Want a broad spectrum of minor cannabinoids
When to Choose Regular Gummies
Choose regular cannabis-infused gummies when you:
- When you prioritize a low price
- If you prefer gummy flavors to terpenes
- When you only want THC and CBD
Trying Live Resin Gummies For The First Time?
Low and slow to start
Don’t jump into eating an entire gummy right away. Cut the gummy in half or in quarters to reduce the dosage and understand how it affects you. Also, keep in mind that a high from edibles can last between six and eight hours. By starting with a lower dose, you set yourself up to have a better experience rather than an overwhelming one.
Setting and Atmosphere
Where and when you take the gummy is nearly as important as how much THC you take. Your cannabis experience can rely heavily on set and setting—the environment you’re in, how comfortable you feel, and the people you’re with.
Don’t take a new gummy for the first time and head out on the town. If you do, you may find yourself overwhelmed and overstimulated. Instead, try a new edible in a safe and comfortable environment, like your living room or the home of a trusted friend. Being in a safe and controlled environment can help you adjust as the high sets in, especially if you’re new to edibles.
Experiment Mindfully
Be conscious about your cannabis experimentation and set yourself up for success. Consider your goals before consuming and then pay attention to how you feel after. Did your experience line up with your goals? If not, you may want to consider a different dosage or product.
Live Resin vs. Regular Gummies: Making The Right Choice For You
Both live resin and regular cannabis gummies can deliver an enjoyable, uplifting experience, and you likely won’t go wrong either way you choose. Many consumers enjoy both and choose one or the other based on the experience they want to have—we recommend trying both and seeing which you prefer. If you still have questions about live resin gummies, stop into Queen City today and chat with one of our budtenders to find out more about whether they’re right for you.
