The modern world of cannabis is a vast and intricate landscape, with various products and extracts that cater to the diverse preferences of enthusiasts. Two popular extracts that equally spark curiosity and confusion are resin and rosin. These two extracts are similar but differ in extraction processes, which affect the quality and composition of the end-product.
So, what do you need to know about live rosin in California and how it differs from California resin? Keep reading as we shed light on the nuances that distinguish cannabis resin from cannabis rosin.

What are resin and live resin?
Resin is a complex term that’s used for a wide range of definitions across the cannabis community. For instance, “resin” can refer to the leftover-goo in glass bowls and pieces from sparking up resinous flower… Live resin can refer to a sellable product that’s widely sold on shelves in legal markets today.
In general, cannabis resin refers to the collection of resinous glands known as “trichomes” on the cannabis flowers. These tiny, crystal-like structures contain cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds that provide the plant’s unique effects.
Today, the production of cannabis resin has evolved with technological advancements. Solvent-based extraction methods that use solvents like butane or ethanol are commonly employed to separate trichomes from the plant material. The resulting resin can vary in texture, color, and potency, depending on factors like strain, cultivation practices, and the extraction process used.
Now, before we get into the distinct “rosin” definition, both resin and rosin can be referred to as “live.” The live definition refers to a specific way in which the flower that’s extracted is handled during harvest. Rather than drying and curing the flower “buds” as you normally would for inhalation purposes – the material is what’s known as “fresh frozen.”
This means, upon harvesting, the flower material is immediately frozen to capture its compounds at its peak of freshness.
Now, onto rosin
In contrast to cannabis resin, cannabis rosin is a relatively modern extraction technique that has gained popularity for its simplicity and the preservation of the plant’s natural compounds. Rosin is produced through a process that involves applying heat and pressure to cannabis flowers, kief, or hash, squeezing out a concentrated and potent resinous substance.
One of the key attractions of cannabis rosin is its solventless nature. Unlike other extraction methods that may involve the use of potentially harmful solvents, rosin extraction relies solely on heat and pressure. This appeals to consumers seeking a cleaner and purer cannabis concentrate.
The rosin extraction process typically involves using a specialized rosin press to apply controlled heat and pressure to the cannabis material. The result is a sticky and translucent resin that captures the essence of the original plant, including cannabinoids, terpenes, and other beneficial compounds. The versatility of rosin allows it to be consumed in various ways, such as dabbing, vaporizing, or adding it to edibles.

Distinguishing Factors in Resin vs Rosin
To better understand the most important distinguishing factors between resin and rosin, use the guide below.
Extraction Process
- Cannabis resin is often extracted using solvent-based methods, which can involve the use of butane or ethanol.
- Cannabis rosin, on the other hand, is produced through a solventless process relying on heat and pressure to extract the resinous oil from the plant material.
Purity and Potency
- Cannabis resin may contain residual solvents, and its potency can vary based on the extraction process and the quality of the starting material.
- Cannabis rosin is often considered a purer concentrate as it is free from residual solvents. The use of heat and pressure in the extraction process helps preserve the full spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes, resulting in a more flavorful and potent product.
Texture and Appearance
- Cannabis resin can vary in texture, appearing as a soft, pliable substance or a harder, more brittle material. It often has a dark color, ranging from brown to black.
- Cannabis rosin is typically sticky and translucent, with a sap-like consistency. It can range in color from light amber to golden, depending on factors such as the strain and extraction parameters.
The clean weed movement
Statistics show that consumers are shifting towards rosin and solventless products. One contributing factor could be education and awareness of residual solvents and moving towards more “clean” weed like clean food, beauty products, etc. Regardless of reasoning, here’s what cannapreneurs and current brands should know about the most recent rosin and solventless sales overall:
- In mature markets, like Colorado and California, rosin vape cartridges went from a ~4% share of sales in Q4 2020 to a ~14% share in Q4 2022.
- According to BDSA data, across all tracked markets (AZ, CA, CO, FL, IL, MA, MD, MI, MO, NV, NJ, NY, OR, and PA), solventless products made up 16% of monthly dabbable dollar sales in January 2023.
- The biggest solventless subcategory from the same data was rosin, making up 14% of dollar dabbable sales in January 2023.
- Oregon saw 390% sales growth in the rosin category from May 2019 to May 2020, according to BDSA’s state sales report.
As the industry continues to innovate, consumers can anticipate even more nuanced products, each telling a story of the plant’s evolution and the diverse preferences of those who embrace it. If you’re a current brand looking to deliver on the latest preferences of clean-weed and rosin, white label and private label manufacturing of solventless rosin can help you tap into markets or expand your product collection seamlessly and cost-effectively.
My Green Network serves as southern California’s premier cannabis manufacturing facility. Where we do the manufacturing, and you have the time and resources to grow your brand. Join industry leading brands like Tyson 2.0, West Coast Cure, Oui’d Confections, Minerva, and more and become a MyGN partner today!