One label you might have seen repeatedly at your local dispensary is probably “live resin.” Maybe you’re not sure how it differs from a standard vape cartridge, or maybe you’ve heard that the effects are “stronger” or “mind-blowing.” What exactly is going on inside of a live resin cartridge, and how is the substance inside different from other distillates on the vape shelf?

Why is live resin so distinct compared to other cartridges?
Compared to other cartridges, live resin doesn't have the highest THC potency. However, numbers aren't everything when it comes to getting the best experience for your money. THC distillate tends to have some of the highest potency on the market, but the distillation process it endures filters out a large amount of chemical impurities, including flavorful terpenes. Live resin is a concentrate in which recently harvested cannabis flower has been immediately flash-frozen and kept frozen throughout the extraction process, preserving the live cultures in the plant before extraction. While it doesn't have the highest THC potency, it does have a higher terpene content, stronger aroma, and ability to induce extra-heightened psychoactive effects. Furthermore, THC distillate is more easily available because it can be more cheaply manufactured from any unused parts of the plant that might otherwise be considered "throwaway." On the other hand, live resin focuses on incorporating the best qualities of the original plant through a very extensive preservation process.

What are terpenes?
​On a basic level, terpenes are aromatic oils responsible for the distinct smells that accompany various strains of cannabis. If a certain strain smells fruity and another smells savory, it's because of the difference in terpene types. Different variations may also promote different mental states, such as relaxation or heightened focus. In flower preparation, many of the terpenes are lost during the drying and curing processes. With higher terpene profiles in live resin, the extra-heightened psychoactive effects are delivered as a result of the terpenes interacting with THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids — "the entourage effect" — making live resin a glimmering pinnacle among other cartridges and concentrates. 

How to consume live resin?
There are a few ways to take live resin. The simplest method is to simply buy a live resin cartridge and use it with a vape pen. Another method is called "dabbing" — a special water pipe called a rig is used with another component called a nail (a flat bowl) that is preheated to somewhere between 315-400 degrees Fahrenheit with a gas-powered torch. Live resin is then dropped onto the nail, where it evaporates, and the vapor can be inhaled through the other end of the rig. One other method uses nectar collectors, which consolidate this process into just one device. All three methods involve vaporizing the live resin and inhaling the resulting vapors loaded with terpenes and cannabinoids. 

If you're looking for a reason to love live resin, do it for the terpenes — the richer aromas and preserved flavors that are less abundant in other forms of weed. Anything described as "pretty terpy" is sure to be a wild experience, both for your senses and for the resulting high. Here at Bento, we recommend trying the SFV OG and Wedding Crasher live resin cartridges.

Have you ever noticed that certain things interact differently on their own versus in the presence of others? For example, coffee by itself is bitter, but in the presence of cream and sugar it becomes a latte and takes on a completely new taste. The same concept applies to the various compounds found in marijuana — you get a full spectrum of medicinal benefits from all of the compounds working together, and they react differently in your body than they would as isolates. This effect, the “entourage effect,”  is most prevalent in live resin cannabis products.
 
When it comes to cannabis, there are many forms of concentrates, and they are all unique in the way they look and the effects they produce. For example, live resin is made from material that is flash-frozen almost immediately after it is cut from the plant, and while cannabinoids and terpenes are extracted, it remains consistently frozen. This technique preserves the living cultures in the plant until they are ready for extraction, which is where the name “live” resin comes from. When other types of cannabinoids and terpenes are preserved, it provides a boost in additional medicinal benefits, a well-known component of the entourage effect. The extra cannabinoids and terpenes are most heavily concentrated in the sticky resin found in the buds of marijuana.
 
Compared to other cartridges, live resin doesn't have the highest THC potency. However, numbers aren't everything when it comes to getting the best experience for your money. THC distillate tends to have some of the highest potency on the market, but the distillation process filters out a large number of chemical impurities, including flavorful terpenes. It’s like drinking lower-quality coffee with higher caffeine levels. While live resin doesn't have the highest THC potency, it does have a higher terpene content, stronger aroma, and ability to induce extra-heightened psychoactive effects. Furthermore, THC distillate is more easily available because it can be cheaply manufactured from any unused parts of the plant that might otherwise be considered "throwaway."

How to consume live resin? 
There are a few ways to take live resin. The simplest method is to buy a live resin cartridge and use it with a vape pen. Another method is called "dabbing" — a special water pipe called a rig is used with another component called a nail (a flat bowl) that is preheated to somewhere between 315-400 degrees Fahrenheit with a gas-powered torch. Live resin is then dropped onto the nail, where it evaporates, and the vapor can be inhaled through the other end of the rig. One other method uses nectar collectors, which consolidate this process into just one device. All three methods involve vaporizing the live resin and inhaling the resulting vapors loaded with terpenes and cannabinoids.
 
What is the entourage effect?
When cannabis is smoked or vaped, hundreds of cannabinoids and terpenes present in the buds (or extract) — each possessing their own beneficial qualities — all interact with each other. The grouping of so many compounds creates an unusual synergy that changes each element’s effect, causing it to react differently in the presence of others. For example, when THC and CBD are both present in significant amounts, CBD will counteract the negative effects of anxiety or paranoia that accompany THC alone.
 
What are cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids are chemical compounds found in marijuana that each carry distinct medicinal qualities and interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system. While the cannabis plant contains over 100 types of cannabinoids, the two primary ones that the weed industry prioritizes are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC is known for its psychoactive properties and CBD is known to soothe pain and anxiety, but the other cannabinoids play a huge role in the entourage effect as well, as they each possess unique healing characteristics that are amplified when combined with the full spectrum of compounds that the marijuana plant has to offer.
 
What are terpenes?
Terpenes are aromatic oils responsible for the distinct smells that accompany various strains of cannabis. If a certain strain smells fruity and another smells savory, it's because of the difference in terpene types. Different variations may also promote different mental states, such as relaxation or heightened focus. In flower preparation, many of the terpenes are lost during the drying and curing processes. With higher terpene profiles in live resin, the extra-heightened psychoactive effects are delivered as a result of the terpenes interacting with THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids, making live resin a glimmering pinnacle among other cartridges and concentrates.

Here are a few terms to remember when shopping for cannabis products. Each term refers to the extraction process in which the cannabinoid is separated from the plant.

• Full-spectrum: In this extraction process, all cannabinoids are extracted and included, as well as any terpenes that are present.
• Broad-spectrum: In this extraction process, THC and other impurities are removed, but other non-THC cannabinoids and terpenes are included.
• Isolate: In this extraction process, only one cannabinoid is extracted and isolated.

If you’re looking to experience the entourage effect firsthand, check out some of our live resin products! We recommend the Bento live resin cartridges, available in Pineapple Legend, Wedding Crasher, or SFV OG, the Gelonade live resin cartridges by Kingpen, or the LA Kush Cake pods by Stiizy.

A lot of unorthodox workout trends have risen to popularity in the recent past. For example, goat yoga — yoga in which participants mingle with cute goats who use them like climbing playgrounds as they flow through various poses. Or paddleboat yoga, in which people practice yoga atop paddle boards in the water. On the more controversial side are activities such as ganja yoga and going to weed gyms.

Ganja Yoga
Ganja yoga is the practice of using cannabis before a yoga session to heighten one's experience. Marijuana and yoga go hand-in-hand for a lot of reasons. Yoga places heavy emphasis on mindfulness, mental connections, conscious breath, music, and being in the present moment. Smoking weed before yoga could help enhance all of these individual aspects. The relaxed state and clear-headedness that weed induces helps the user focus on mind-body connections and perform a mental inventory of their subtlest sensations and breathing rhythm. Furthermore, when time starts to slow down after taking cannabis, users can really immerse themselves in the music and savor each present moment. People who have participated in ganja yoga often reported feeling ultra-connected to their surroundings, as well as appreciative of everything their heightened senses picked up — including silence.

Weed Gym
When Power Plant Fitness opened, it was the first of its kind — a gym that blended cannabis with working out. Its motivation? To "integrate cannabis into one's daily routine of wellness," both before and after a workout, and dispel any negative stereotypes about the "evils" of marijuana. It even helps its members create weed-assisted fitness plans and offers a line of athletic edibles "for pre-workout focus and post-workout recovery." Given that a large percentage of cannabis users like to get high before working out for the sense of relaxation and focus that is induced, Power Plant Fitness targeted exactly that clientele with the intent of promoting more motivated, weed-friendly workouts.

However, you don't have to do ganja yoga or go to a weed gym to have a great weed workout. If you're looking for a different vibe while you exercise — a mood booster, less mental tension, or greater mind-body connection — try adding some cannabis to your routine! As always, stay mindful of dosage and the effects that weed has on your body if trying this for the first time.

Vape pens, the ultimate way to consume cannabis discreetly, are incredibly convenient for a number of reasons. They don't carry the same conspicuous odor as a joint, they can easily fit into pockets and bags, and instead of exhaling smoke, you exhale vapor. Standard vape pens have cartridges of cannabis oil that is vaporized upon use. Decarboxylation — the process in which the cannabinoids THC and CBD are activated through high heating — happens almost instantaneously when using a vape pen, either by pressing a small button or in other models, just by inhaling. 

What's going on under the surface of your vape pen? 
​Here are a few details on how such a small device helps deliver such a successful high. 

The Mouthpiece
The mouthpiece is located at the front end of a vape pen and is the part through which you inhale. Mouthpieces can be made from glass, silicone, or plastic, and are available in several shapes and variations. A mouthpiece is also sometimes called a "drip tip," because vape juices would drip through it in older models of vape tanks. The name "drip tip" still remained even after the introduction of non-dripper vape tanks.

The Tank/Cartridge
This is the part of the pen that holds the cannabis oil. Although the names are relatively the same, a tank is usually an empty compartment with a marked fill-line that can be filled with oil manually, while a cartridge is a compartment that is already filled with oil by a cannabis manufacturer and then inserted into the pen.

The Atomizer
The atomizer is a small heating unit that turns the oil to vapor droplets and activates the THC or CBD in the process. The most common types of atomizers are cotton wick, quartz, and ceramic. The ceramic version is the most resilient of the three because it retains heat well and holds up to higher voltages. Quartz atomizers are also pretty reliable but don't retain heat at the same level as the ceramic versions. Cotton wick atomizers are the most sensitive, as they are prone to overheating and burning at higher voltages, and need to be replaced more frequently than ceramic or quartz ones.

The Activation Trigger 
A vape pen can either be activated with a power button or with a sensor that turns the device on when you inhale. Button-activated pens usually have a safety catch that requires you to click five times in a row to turn on the device, which helps prevent accidental activation. You can also adjust temperatures with the button.

The Battery
The battery takes up most of the vape pen's total volume. It is usually a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. It can be charged through a charger that screws onto the back end of the pen and has a USB port. Your device can be easily charged by a computer, in the car, or anywhere else with a convenient outlet and USB adapter.

The next time you use a vape pen, your understanding of the whole process will be much deeper, and you might even find yourself appreciating the small details you'd never noticed before in your vaping experience.
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​Since our discussion on health issues and THC vapes, many within the Bento Family have asked for updates. Two major news stories we would like to discuss is on the Center of Disease Control’s (CDC) adjusted stance of THC vape cartridges and the results from a test conducted on 18 THC vape cartridges in the California market. 

​The CDC issued a press release at the end of September explaining how unregulated THC cartridges may be the common factor. Of the 514 patients suffering from vape related illnesses, around 77% used THC products with or without nicotine based products. Since the study, there have been 805 confirmed lung related injuries from 46 states.

​Cannabis is either legal, illegal or allow for some medical use in these states. Cases stemming from a fully legal state like Illinois and a completely illegal state such as Wisconsin note virtually all THC vape products were purchased from “informal sources such as friends, family members, illicit dealers, or off the street.” Products bought off the street can be extremely dangerous due to their unregulated and untested nature. 

NBC News conducted a test on 18 THC cartridges from legal and illegal dispensaries in California. 13 samples came back testing positive for Vitamin E (click this link for a more in-depth look into Vitamin E and how it affects your body), and 10 contain myclobutanil. Myclobutanil is a fungicide, that turns into hydrogen cyanide when ignited. All of these samples were purchased from the black market.
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Three cartridges were purchased from legal shops and they came back negative for heavy metals, pesticides or residual solvents. The three brands are Select, Orchid Essentials, and Tikun. 

​We, at Bento, pride ourselves in providing our customers with high quality, tested, and safe products. We do not sell products that have not been tested by laboratories. The tests conducted look for similar things such as heavy metals, pesticides, residual solvents, etc. As the test shows, Select does not contain any of the harmful ingredients that black market cartridges have. Because we want our Bento Family to consume safely and affordably, a $119 for 3 full gram Select cartridge deal will go live on our menu. If you have any questions please feel free to comment below or email peter@bentodelivery.com to further the conversation.

This week’s discussion stems from a conversation we had following the release of our second ever weekly discussion. With reports coming from over half of the USA, vape related illnesses and deaths are sweeping the nation. While the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has yet to state a conclusive cause, there is a common link between samples collected from those are/were affected and their use of THC vape cartridges. Please not these health issues and deaths are appearing in other vape related products outside of the cannabis industry. 

​Because we’re a cannabis company, we want to focus on what officials have found in samples of the victims’ THC vape products. The link is vitamin E acetate. Vitamin E acetate is commonly used in every day products like lotion. Some black market producers use honey cut as a thickener in cartridges to give off the appearance of a higher quality product. These producers trick unsuspecting consumers in thinking the gold colored liquid is safe to inhale in the liquid format.

The thickener has serious, life threatening effects on our respiratory system. Symptoms from hospitalized patients include coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, fever, and weight loss. A serious, life-threatening condition called acute respiratory distress syndrome could be developed where fluid fills up one’s lungs. As a result, preventing oxygen from flowing through the body. Death has resulted in some cases.

Luckily the California legal market requires testing of all cannabis products from licensed labs. Legal companies such as Bento Delivery receive a Certificates of Analysis (COA) for every product we sell. Therefore, making it nearly impossible for legal companies to sell products with life threating ingredients. That is why we recommend to not buy from products off the streets as they are untested.
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We are committed to being a positive force in the lives of each and every member of the Bento Family! Stop by our booth at Hempcon from September 13 – 15, 2019 at the Cow Palace in Daly City to learn more about us and our commitment to positive experiences! In the meantime, let us know your thoughts by commenting below or emailing us at peter@bentodelivery.com to further the discussion.