How to Choose the Right Cannabis Vape Oil

Intro

Cannabis vaporizers, or “vapes,” are really popular among new users because they’re convenient, portable, and discreet. They don’t require any special skill, technique, or gear, and can last up to a year if cared for properly.

But not all vapes are created equal, and a low-quality vape can contain residual chemicals and heavy metals that are potentially harmful when inhaled.

The type and quality of oil in your vape (called “vape oil” or “vape juice”) is the most important factor in your vaping experience.

The type of oil you choose impacts your experience, flavor, potency, and even how healthy your vaping session is, so understanding the difference between vape oil types is critical to finding the right vape for you.

In this guide, I’ll break down the different types of cannabis vape oils, highlight their pros and cons, and help you decide which one best fits your needs.

What is Vape Oil?

Cannabis vape oil is a thick, sticky oil made by extracting compounds from the cannabis plant. The vape oil is put in a glass or plastic cartridge, attached to a battery that heats it and turns it to vapor, and then is inhaled.

The image below shows three common versions of cannabis vape cartridges and their batteries:

What are the Different Types of Vape Oil?

“Vape oil” is not just one thing. There are many types of vape oil, made in different ways with different chemical processes, resulting in major differences in quality and price.

Let’s walk through them:

1. Rosin / Live Rosin

I call Rosin the fine red wine of cannabis concentrates. It is the highest quality, most pure, most flavorful, and leads to the most nuanced high. It retains the broadest variety of cannabis compounds in the extraction process, which work together synergistically in what is known as the Entourage Effect. For these reasons, it’s also the most expensive.

Simply put, it is closest to whole plant cannabis, which I always recommend.

Rosin is a “solventless extract,” it uses temperature and pressure to extract cannabis compounds instead of chemical solvents like the other types of vape oil.

Solventless extracts are considered premier products because they are the most pure, and don’t contain any residual solvents. 

You may see the term “Live Rosin” at the dispensary instead of “Rosin.” They are essentially the same; Live Rosin uses cannabis plants that have been harvested and immediately flash frozen to preserve their compounds, and processed later. Rosin uses fresh plants. Much like flash-frozen vegetables are nearly as healthy as their fresh counterparts, live rosin is nearly equivalent to rosin.

2. Resin / Live Resin

I call Live Resin is the craft beer of cannabis concentrates – you start with the cannabis plant, mess around just a bit, and end up with a beautiful product. It’s slightly adulterated compared to pure plant Rosin, but still a complete, high quality product. 

Live Resin is made by using a solvent like Butane to extract the cannabis compounds into a concentrated oil. The solvent is then evaporated off, leaving a cannabis oil.

Live Resin retains more terpenes (the flavor compounds found in all plants, including cannabis) than most other vape oils, so it’s more flavorful than all but Rosin. Terpenes are not just there for flavor, they also contribute to how you feel, whether euphoric and energized or relaxed and sleepy.

If THC is the engine, terpenes are the steering wheel, so preserving terpenes is key to having the experience you want.

Just like “Live Rosin,” “Live Resin” uses flash-frozen flower that preserves all of the fresh goodness of the cannabis plant. Live Resin is sometimes called “Liquid Live Resin” or “LLR,” they are all the same. 

Resin has a flavorful taste and nuanced high, and is slightly less expensive than Rosin, making it great choice for beginners. 

3. CO2 Oil

CO2 Oil is similar to Resin and Live Resin, but it uses carbon dioxide, a clean and precise method, with no residual solvents. It’s the same process used to decaffeinate coffee and tea and extract essential oils from plants.

CO2 Oil retains many but not all cannabis compounds, which means its usually less flavorful terpenes than Rosin or Resin.

CO2 extraction is flexible enough to make other cannabis concentrates like wax, crumble, and shatter used in dabbing, but are beyond the scope of this article.

4. Distillate

If Rosin is red wine and Resin is craft beer, Distillate is a shot of rail vodka. It packs a punch on the cheap, but is less complex and less flavorful than the higher quality concentrates.

Distillate is the lowest quality because it is a THC-only extract; it doesn’t contain any of the other beneficial compounds of the cannabis plant like terpenes and minor cannabinoids. It has almost no flavor, and the high is more direct, but less nuanced.

Just as you wouldn’t give someone vodka to help them understand wine, I don’t give someone distillate when trying to introduce them to the wonders of cannabis. That said, it is the least expensive of vape oil types, so if budget is your primary concern distillate is the obvious choice.

5. CBD-only vapes

CBD-only vapes are a great choice for relief or relaxation if you want to avoid THC. 

They’re also convenient because they can be shipped right to your door.

CBD-only vapes come in the same range of options as THC cannabis vapes; rosin, live resin, distillate. 

When buying a CBD-only vape, it’s important to either buy it from a state licensed THC dispensary, or a high-quality, trusted brand online like Tonic or ExtractLabs that use good manufacturing practices and third-party lab testing.

The CBD market is almost completely unregulated, which means there are no rules and no oversight when it comes to which chemicals are used or how much residual solvents or fillers can be in the oil. That means your “healthy” CBD vape from your corner store may actually be more harmful than it seems.

Vape Oil Type Comparison Table

Putting it all together, I’ve created this handy table comparing what we’ve just learned about cannabis vape oil types:

Factors to Consider When Choosing Vape Oil

Which Vape Oil is the Best?

Using the alcohol comparison, Rosin wins as the highest quality, with resin and CO2 oil tied for second, and distillate in third.

Final Thoughts

The vape oil you choose has a massive impact on your cannabis vaping experience. Whether you’re after powerful THC hits, rich terpene flavors, or therapeutic CBD relaxation, understanding your options ensures you make the best possible decision.

Remember: your ideal vape oil is the one that matches your goals, budget, and preferences. Take your time exploring different options, track your experiences, and enjoy the journey.