What is cannabis resin?
Cannabis resin is the sticky, aromatic substance produced by the trichomes, the tiny glands that cover the buds. It holds a concentration of THC, CBD and the other cannabinoids, along with the terpenes that give the smell and taste. In short, it's the part of the plant that matters.
If you have ever touched a flowering cannabis plant, you'll have noticed that your fingers stay sticky and smell strongly for quite a while. That's the resin.
It works in a similar way to pine resin or the sticky sap of other plants: it's a substance the plant secretes, and it's thought to protect it, for example against some insects. The difference is that cannabis resin is loaded with cannabinoids.
Resin isn't spread evenly across the whole plant. It's concentrated mainly in the buds and, to a lesser extent, in the small leaves around them. The large leaves and the stems have very little.
What does it mean when a strain is "resinous"?
In the descriptions of many strains you'll read that they are "very resinous" or have "heavy resin production". It means their buds get covered in lots of trichomes. It usually goes hand in hand with an intense aroma and good potency, although the final result always depends on how it's grown and on the strain.
Resin and extracts
Resin is the raw material for cannabis extracts. Hash, for example, is made by separating the trichomes from the plant and pressing them together. Rosin is resin extracted with heat and pressure. Deep down, they are all ways of concentrating the resin.
How is it preserved?
Resin breaks down with light, heat and handling. Good drying and good curing (letting the buds finish drying slowly in closed containers) help preserve its aroma and potency.
Related terms
Before you grow, check the laws in your country: growing cannabis is not allowed everywhere.
