A growing number of patients are learning to appreciate the convenience, potency and purity of cannabis concentrates. These products have a great deal to offer, but they don’t resemble the colorful flowers many are accustomed to, and we often receive questions about the story behind these specialty items appearing on our menu. To provide you with further insight, let’s take a look at one of the most popular methods of producing cannabis concentrates, known as CO2 extraction.
This process, as you might guess, is named for the carbon dioxide molecule (CO2) that performs the central function in this technique. CO2 is what’s known as a “supercritical fluid,” which means that it takes on a liquid-like form when exposed to precise pressure and temperature. When pressurized CO2 is channeled through plant material under tightly controlled conditions, it lifts and separates potent cannabinoid content, which is then filtered to produce a highly pure extraction.
When producing cannabis extracts for medicinal use, manufacturers often prefer this method because it cleanly removes the most desirable cannabinoid components without leaving behind unwanted or unsafe byproducts. CO2, after all, is contained in the air all around us and won’t contaminate products intended for human consumption. In fact, this method was adapted from other common uses in conventional retail manufacturing.
On our shelves, you’ll most commonly see the CO2 extraction method represented in the form of the various oil cartridges we offer. This technique is ideal for developing pure oil extractions in liquid form that can deliver cannabinoid-rich vapor with minimal heat exposure. The slim profile and simple functionality of the typical cannabis “vape pen” owes a great deal to the CO2 extraction method, which has remained popular even as newer techniques enter the market. If CO2 products are new to you, feel free to ask our staff any questions you have and they’ll be happy to show you what we have in stock.