Live Resin Gummies Vs Regular Gummies: What's the Difference?

Legal hemp and cannabis edibles are becoming extremely popular in the US, and for good reason. Edibles are easy to take, cost-effective, quite potent, and even really enjoyable taste-wise as well. That said, there are many different types of edibles on the market, and for many people, this can be very confusing.

If you are new to the world of cannabis edibles and you don't know what the difference between various types of edibles is, you've come to the right place. Today, we want to take a look at two specific types of cannabis or hemp edibles: live resin gummies and regular gummies made with cannabis or hemp distillate.

Both edibles are very potent; they usually produce a significant high. However, how the hemp or cannabis extracts used in these edibles are made is substantially different, and it leads to a variety of differences in effects, potency, taste, and more. Let's find out what exactly makes live resin gummies different from regular distillate gummies.

Key Takeaways

Regular cannabis or hemp distillate is made using cured flower, whereas live resin is made using fresh or flash-frozen flower. Cannabis distillates tend to be stronger with higher cannabinoid levels, whereas live resin tends to have higher terpene and flavonoid levels. Cannabis distillates also tend to be much more thoroughly refined and processed than live resin products.

Keep reading here to find out what the main difference is between live resin and THCa diamonds.

What are Regular (Distillate) Gummies?

Regular gummies are those that are generally made with distillate. Distillate is a special type of cannabis or hemp extract. Distillate is the base ingredient used in most vape cartridges and edibles.

It is usually extremely strong, and maybe up to 99% potent with THC or other cannabinoids. Although THC distillate is highly potent, it usually doesn't have much of an aroma or flavor.

It's made by extracting plant matter, or more specifically, the cannabinoids, from the plant matter and then refining and purifying it until you are left with a clear, light-yellow, or light-brownish viscous substance, almost like honey. Regular gummies are cannabis or hemp edibles made with this specific type of extract.

What are Live Resin Gummies?

Just like regular gummies are cannabis or hemp edibles made with distillate, live resin gummies are edibles made with live resin, which is a different type of cannabis or hemp extract.

The cannabinoids are also extracted from the plant matter and then refined and processed. In terms of its appearance, live resin tends to be a bit thicker and chunkier than distillate.

Live resin also contains a lot of original terpenes and flavonoids, which contribute to its tastier and more flavorful nature. Hemp and cannabis live resins both have a lot of flavor and aroma.

The potency of live resin can be as high as 90% THC content, although it typically ranges between 40% and 90%. As you'll see below, many of the differences between live resin gummies and distillate gummies, particularly in terms of flavor and potency, can be attributed to how these extracts are made.

How are Live Resin and Regular Gummies Made?

To help you understand the real differences between these two types of cannabis or hemp edibles, let's discuss how they are made, specifically the extracts. Keep in mind that we are referring to the production processes of the extracts, not the edibles themselves.

The edibles are generally made in the same way, which is by using regular candy or gummy treat recipes and then adding some cannabis or hemp extracts into the mix. In this way, both regular and live resin gummies are made in the same way, but the way in which the base extracts are made is quite different.

Live Resin Gummies

Live resin is made by using fresh or flash-frozen plant matter. This means that the plant matter is not cured. FYI, the curing process is responsible for the development of a good portion of THC and other cannabinoids.

However, the process of creating live resin entails skipping the process of curing the buds. This preserves the terpenes and flavonoids. In other types of cannabis or hemp extracts, where cured bud is used, they usually don't contain many of the original terpenes or flavonoids, which is why other types of extracts, such as distillate, are usually flavorless.

On the other hand, due to this special process, live resin is generally quite flavorful and has a strong odor. The different terpenes contained in the live resin have a variety of effects.

The fresh or flash-frozen cannabis or hemp buds are put inside a special sealed container, and solvents such as butane are blasted through. The butane absorbs the cannabinoids from the plant matter and comes out the bottom.

This butane and cannabinoid mixture is then baked in a sealed vacuum, which allows the solvent, in this case, the butane, to dissolve, leaving behind just the live resin.

Distillate Gummies

Technically speaking, the process to make distillate is more or less the same as making live resin. The plant matter is put in a sealed tube, blasted with a solvent, and the solvent is then refined and processed to isolate the final cannabis or hemp extract, or distillate.

However, the big difference between distillate and live resin is that, whereas live resin uses fresh or flash-frozen plant matter, distillate uses dried and cured plant matter.

Cured buds are usually much stronger and higher in THC levels than those that have not been cured. However, the curing process also degrades a lot of terpenes and flavonoids. Therefore, you can expect this to be a bit more potent than live resin but also less flavorful.

Another difference between these two in terms of the manufacturing process is that distillates tend to be extracted at much higher temperatures, whereas live resins are usually extracted at lower temperatures. Distillates are thoroughly refined and contain only one chemical compound, whereas live resins are not nearly as refined and may contain many compounds.

Live Resin Gummies vs Regular Gummies

Besides the way they are made, here are the main differences between these two types of edibles:.

Effects

Admittedly, there may not be much difference in terms of the actual effect (not accounting for potency or THC levels). THC produces both a body and a head high. But which of these you get usually depends on where the extract came from, mainly if it is indica or sativa.

Remember that Indica strains tend to produce more of a body high, whereas Sativa strains tend to generate a head high. The differences in effects between these extract types also depend on the quality of the manufacturing process and the final product.

Both distillate and live resin produce virtually the same effects. The THC in the live resin doesn't make you feel any different than the THC in a distillate.

However, remember that live resin gummies usually contain a lot of terpenes, whereas distillate gummies do not. Although terpenes do not produce any kind of psychoactive or notable high, they may have potential benefits or effects on the human body and mind.

On the other hand, distillate tends to have more THC, so although the effects may not be different, the effects from distillate may be more pronounced. Some users find that the effects of live resin are more potent and longer-lasting than those of distillates.

Technically speaking, it seems unlikely that live resin would have more potent and longer-lasting effects considering that it has lower THC levels than distillates, sometimes half as much THC as distillate. This difference in effect may be attributed to the difference in terpene content.

Taste

Perhaps the most noticeable difference between these extracts is the taste. Because distillates are thoroughly refined and because a lot of flavonoids and terpenes have been removed, they tend to be flavorless.

Distillate may have a slight hemp or cannabis flavor, although many times it's completely tasteless. It doesn't have much of a smell either, which many people like because it is quite discreet. It doesn't really resemble the original hemp or cannabis smell or flavor.

As for live resin, it contains most of its original terpenes and flavonoids and, therefore, has a stronger and more pronounced flavor and smell. Live resin often closely resembles the original strain that the cannabinoids were taken from. It's much tastier.

Terpenes

Just to summarize from above, live resin still contains most of its original terpenes, whereas distillate does not. As you'll see further below, terpenes may have a variety of benefits or effects on the human mind and body, which are worth talking about.

Dosage

Dosage typically depends on the product in question. Some distillates can contain anywhere between 80% and nearly 100% THC, whereas live resin products have anywhere between 40% and 90% THC.

This means that if we take the average THC level of both extracts, you'd likely need about twice as much live resin to feel the same level of high from a distillate.

Here's an overview of the main differences between live resin gummies and regular gummies.

Feature	Live Resin Gummies	Regular Gummies
Process	Extracted from fresh, frozen flowers to preserve terpenes and cannabinoids.	Made with extracts from dried plants, often reducing terpene content.
Flavor/Aroma	Robust, authentic cannabis taste due to higher terpenes.	More controlled, less cannabis-like flavor.
Effects	Full-spectrum, nuanced effects from a wide range of cannabinoids and terpenes.	Predictable, consistent effects, often from a single cannabinoid.
Onset/Duration	Delayed onset, prolonged effect, similar to regular gummies.	Delayed onset, prolonged effect, influenced by edible form.
Use	Enhanced therapeutic benefits from the entourage effect.	Tailored effects, potentially less entourage effect.
Price	More expensive due to complex production and premium material.	Generally less expensive, more efficient production.
Availability	Less widely available, specialized production.	Widely available, broad range of options.

In summary, live resin gummies offer a more authentic and potentially complex cannabis experience, preserving the natural terpene profile and full spectrum of cannabinoids from the fresh plant.

Regular gummies provide a more consistent and controlled experience, with the flexibility to focus on specific cannabinoids for tailored effects. The choice between the two depends on personal preference, desired effects, and price sensitivity

Common Terpenes Found in Live Resin Gummies and their Effects

Terpenes play a role in how live resin makes you feel, so let's take a quick look at some of the most common therapies found in these gummies and how they might affect you.

Here's an overview of the main terpenes in live resin gummies and their effects.

Terpene	Flavor Profile	Potential Effects
Alpha-Humulene	Spicy, Woody, Earthy	Relaxation, Boosting Creativity, Calming, Pain Relief
Caryophyllene	Sweet, Spicy	Euphoria, Happiness, Calmness
Limonene	Citrusy	Stress Relief, Calmness
Linalool	Sweet, Spicy, Tropical, Citrusy	Sedative, Anxiolytic, Sleep Aid
Myrcene	Earthy, Musky, Spicy	Relaxing, Sedative

This table summarizes the key characteristics and benefits of each terpene, providing a quick reference to their unique contributions to the effects of live resin and other cannabis products

Do Terpenes Get You High?

No, terpenes are generally not thought of as being psychoactive or intoxicating. They should not produce any kind of notable high. However, there is such a thing as the entourage effect, which is when various cannabinoids and terpenes work together to produce different effects.

For instance, if linalool has calming and sedating effects, as does THC, then the two can work together to produce a more pronounced sedative and calming effect. The supposed effects of various terpenes may work in combination with THC to produce stronger effects.

Are Live Resin Gummies Stronger than Regular Gummies?

Generally speaking, no, live resin gummies are not stronger than regular gummies. Regular distillate gummies may have anywhere between 80% and 100% THC, whereas live resin gummies may contain anywhere between 40% and 90% THC, with somewhere between 50% and 70% being fairly common.

Do Live Resin Gummies Work Faster than Regular Gummies?

There is no evidence that live resin gummies work faster than regular gummies. Depending on a variety of factors, such as your size and metabolism, it may take anywhere between 30 minutes and 120 minutes for you to feel the full effects of both distillate gummies and live resin gummies.

Are Live Resin Gummies Better than Regular Gummies?

Which one of these two is better is highly subjective. Regular distillate gummies tend to be more potent, with higher levels of THC and less flavor. However, live resin gummies are less potent but more flavorful since they contain a lot of terpenes. It really depends on what your personal preferences are.

Final Thoughts

Both distillate gummies and live resin gummies have their pros and cons worth considering. Personally, we'd recommend trying them both! But remember that these products are highly potent, so extreme caution is advised.

Where to Buy Live Resin and Regular Gummies Online

At Botany Farms, we have awesome live resin products for you to try out, and we will very soon have some live resin edibles. For the time being, we recommend checking out our own Botany Farms Live Resin Delta-8 THC Tincture that you can consume as is or add to your favorite foods, as is the case with our Live Resin CBD Tincture.

We also have some great live resin vape cartridges worth checking out, including this THCV Live Resin + Delta-8 THC Vape Cart, this CBN Live Resin + Delta-8 THC Llama Kush Vape Cartridge. Read on here to find out what makes live resin different from Delta-8 THC.