Vaping cannabis products has become a widespread method of consumption, offering a convenient and discreet experience. This popularity has brought highly refined concentrates, particularly distillates, into the public eye. Distillate is one of the most common forms of cannabis oil found in vape cartridges, yet its unique nature and creation process are often misunderstood. Understanding how distillates are made helps consumers make informed choices about these potent products.
Defining Cannabis Distillate
A cannabis distillate is a highly refined oil systematically stripped of virtually all compounds except for a single target cannabinoid, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD). This intensive purification removes plant matter, waxes, lipids, chlorophyll, and aromatic terpenes. The resulting product is a translucent, golden, highly viscous oil that can achieve purity levels of 90% or more in the target compound.
The appearance of a high-quality distillate is characterized by its clarity and light golden to amber color, indicating proper refinement. Since it has been stripped of natural aromatic and flavor compounds, pure distillate is essentially odorless and tasteless. This neutral base is highly versatile for manufacturers who often reintroduce specific flavor profiles later.
How Distillates Are Made
The production of cannabis distillate begins with an initial crude extraction, typically using solvents like ethanol or supercritical carbon dioxide (CO₂), to pull compounds from the raw plant material. The extract is then subjected to winterization, where it is chilled to extremely low temperatures. This causes unwanted fats, waxes, and lipids to solidify, allowing them to be filtered out.
Next, the extract undergoes decarboxylation, using gentle heat to convert inactive cannabinoid acids (like THCA) into their active forms (such as THC). The final step is distillation, typically performed using short-path distillation. This method utilizes heat and a high-power vacuum to separate compounds based on their unique boiling points.
The short distance the vapor travels, combined with the low pressure, allows the target cannabinoid to vaporize at a much lower temperature. As the temperature is gradually increased, different compounds, or “fractions,” are collected in separate flasks. This precise thermal separation isolates the desired cannabinoid, leaving behind residual solvents and heavy residues, resulting in a highly pure final product.
Distillate Versus Full-Spectrum Concentrates
The primary difference between a distillate and a full-spectrum concentrate lies in the final chemical composition and user experience. Distillates isolate a single cannabinoid and intentionally lack the vast array of other natural compounds found in the cannabis plant. Full-spectrum extracts, however, retain the plant’s original profile, including minor cannabinoids, flavonoids, and native terpenes.
This difference impacts the “entourage effect,” a theory suggesting that all cannabis compounds work together synergistically to enhance or modify the effects of the primary cannabinoid. Since distillates are almost pure THC or CBD, they offer a standardized and singular effect, lacking this combined interaction. Full-spectrum products, with their diverse profiles, are believed to offer a more nuanced experience due to the natural synergy of the plant’s constituents.
Because distillation strips away all aromatic terpenes, manufacturers must reintroduce flavor and aroma to make the product palatable for vaping. These reintroduced terpenes can be cannabis-derived (collected from the original plant material) or botanical-derived (sourced from other plants). The addition of these compounds provides flavor but does not fully recreate the complex chemical matrix found in a genuine full-spectrum extract.
Consumer Safety and Usage Considerations
Using highly concentrated products like distillates requires careful consideration due to their high potency, which increases the risk of overconsumption, especially for inexperienced users. Consumers must also be aware of the potential for harmful additives, historically introduced to thicken the oil or cut the product for economic reasons. Common diluents previously used include propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG), which raise concerns regarding their safety when inhaled after thermal degradation.
A particularly dangerous cutting agent is Vitamin E acetate, an oil derivative linked to the 2019 outbreak of severe lung injuries associated with vaping. This compound was used to thicken illicit vape oils to mimic the viscosity of a high-purity distillate. When inhaled, Vitamin E acetate can break down into toxic compounds, posing a serious risk to lung health.
To mitigate these risks, consumers should only purchase products from regulated, licensed markets that enforce mandatory third-party lab testing. These tests check for purity, potency, residual solvents, pesticides, and the presence of harmful cutting agents like Vitamin E acetate. Choosing lab-tested products is the most reliable way to ensure the oil is free from unlisted contaminants and accurately reflects the advertised concentration.