Is There THC in Resin?

Before we can say whether resin contains more or less THC than marijuana, it’s important to note that resin might refer to three different things in the weed community:

• Some people use the terms ‘resin’ or ‘cannabis resin’ to refer to hash, a black or brown, solid, compressed drug made from the resinous parts of the cannabis plant.
• Some people also call the leftover weed residue in their smoking apparatus ‘resin,’ which likely stems from the word ‘residue.’
• Cannabis resin, sometimes called ‘essential oil,’ also refers to a thick, gooey substance that can be translucent or have a red or orange colour. Many trees and other plants produce resin, which is a sticky, organic substance.

Always clarify what someone means if they invite you to smoke ‘resin,’ as it may refer to a stronger drug than you may be used to, or it may be the unpleasant residue from smoking earlier.

If the resin in question is hash, it almost certainly contains more THC than standard marijuana.

If resin refers to pipe residue, then it contains much less THC than marijuana. This is due to the fact that most of the THC contents were consumed when originally combusted. Some users report that smoking resin can still get them high, but it is certainly not the most efficient or healthy way of going about it. Pipe residue is mostly tar and ash, which is certainly not healthy to smoke. It also takes much more resin to produce an effect because there is so little THC left.

What about the natural resin produced by the cannabis plant? Cannabis resin is produced by small glands on the flowers and leaves called trichomes. Trichomes are thought to produce cannabinoids like THC, as well as terpenes, the agents responsible for weed’s flavour and aroma. Cannabinoids are chemicals that interact with the human body’s endocannabinoid system to help regulate many different processes including mood, appetite, pleasure and pain, and many other things. In other words, cannabinoids are responsible for weed’s medicinal effects, as well as the recreational high that many users enjoy.

Seeing as trichomes produce resin and cannabinoids, it is no surprise that THC is found in cannabis resin. Therefore, the more resin your weed has (or the stickier it is,) the more potent the high may be. Sticky weed is thought to be a very good indicator of weed’s quality. To date, there have not been any credible scientific studies that study the link between THC levels and stickiness. This information is based mostly on conventional wisdom and the experiences of individual marijuana users.

Pinkman Goo is considered to be one of the strains with the most resin. This indica strain has a distinctive glob of resin on its buds. Lab tests revealed that samples with the “goo glob” had 4 per cent more THC than samples without goo. This supports the theory that resin contains much of the THC found in the cannabis plant.