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If you work in the cannabis industry, you know that there are always trends and fads. I can name a dozen off the top of my head that have hit the market with great fanfare, only to fizzle out a few months later. A healthy dose of skepticism is a good thing. But I’m especially excited about live resin, more specifically it finally having its time to shine, because it actually looks like it’s going to be around for a while.

Live resin is an incredibly flavorful cannabis concentrate. In non-technical terms, if THC-based vape distillate is like juice from concentrate, live resin is like freshly-squeezed orange juice – it has more flavour, more aroma, and represents the whole plant. That’s because most common distillates use dried cannabis as the input to the extraction process, whether the plants were grown indoors or outdoors. Live resin, on the other hand, is an extract that is made using fresh- frozen cannabis as the input. After extraction, the resulting live resin has a much higher terpene content compared to concentrates made from dried cannabis because the drying step inevitably leads to lost terpenes. And for a lot of customers, terpene content is a key factor in their buying decision.

Not only is live resin a superior product to vape oil made from distillates, it’s also a proven market winner. After the Canadian cannabis market crash of 2019, and the ongoing saga that is COVID-19 in 2020, it’s no secret that the weed industry is hurting. Many of the market leaders from even two years ago are scaling back operations, shedding staff, and experiencing poor stock performance. There are a myriad reasons for this, but it comes down to basic economics: oversupply on the production and retail end impacts profitability. Unfortunately, many of those multibillion-dollar cannabis dreams will forever remain in the fantasy realm.This is where live resin can be a profit leader for cannabis companies looking for new markets and new applications. In fact, it is among the most profitable legal cannabis products available in North America today.

Of course, what really matters is not science or economics: it’s consumer preference. Again, live resin is proving to be a fan favourite. Live resin vape cartridges are unique because they allow people to enjoy a high-end whole-plant extract in a format that’s really convenient – it doesn’t require the use of a dab rig, like solid live resin concentrates do. Live resin also offers a richer and more nuanced experience: better aromas and flavours (it actually tastes like cannabis, rather than grape Kool Aid, for example) plus the full-spectrum of cannabinoids – not just THC – in synergy with higher terpene levels, provide users entourage effects that are hard to emulate with distillates.

Making live resin products is time-consuming, expensive, and requires a great deal of technical knowledge. In theory, it’s a pretty-straightforward process, but there are a lot of ways to mess it up. Companies that want to get into this business need to be serious about quality and maintaining standards. Because of the amount of precision it takes to make these items, there isn’t much room for error. Equipment that is even a few degrees too hot (or not hot enough) of extractions that are only a couple of seconds off the mark can literally ruin hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of flower. Want to get into the game as a producer, it takes a lot of time and effort. But as a consumer, all you need to do is sit back and enjoy the world going by.

Cannabis plants grown from seed have two parents—a male (to fertilize) and a female. Crosses like White Runtz are created when a male of one strain fertilizes a female of another. It is classified as a “hybrid” because its lineage includes Cannabis Indica strains and Cannabis Sativa strains.

PARENT 1: ZKITTLEZ

Zkittlez is an indica strain used frequently in creating hybrids. Its provenance is unknown, with Leafly attributing it to a mixture of Grape Ape, Grapefruit, and “another undisclosed strain”. It has won Cannabis Cup awards in several states, and is said to be surprisingly uplifting and energetic for an indica. The taste is something like lime skittles (Well—are skittles the same flavor? I think so, but people specifically say lime).

PARENT 2: GELATO

What is gelato made of? What kind of name is Gelato? Leafly states that it is a hybrid strain from Cookie Fam Genetics, a grower based on the west coast. It’s also nicknamed “Larry Bird”. No explanation was given as to how that might have come about.

A descendant of Sunset Sherbet and Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies, it’s said to be sweet and strong, with a vanilla scent and a heavy body high.

WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT THIS RUNTZ STRAIN?

What’s so special about White Runtz weed? We all know that California has some of the best farmers, growers, and geneticists. We’ve had people working on breeding excellence into cannabis for decades, now.

The west coast origin of White Runtz might explain some of its popularity, but if online reviews are anything to go by, this strain has an outsized reputation.

“I was floating over a rainbow into Neverland”, a fan wrote last month. “The morose feelings of depression and procrastination, has fallen away,” wrote another. “The only feelings I have is  pure bliss, euphoria, wanting to be social and talk to friends, and content.”

It’s strong, too. “Two puffs of this puppy and I was knocked out.” 2 weeks ago: “This is the Bee’s Knees.”

Despite the positive strain reviews I was able to find on Leafly, calling around to local dispensaries to find out where to buy White Runtz, or searching on Weedmaps, yielded nothing. So, where is a curious customer supposed to go?

ALTERNATIVES TO WHITE RUNTZ

Any hybrid descended from a Cookie Fam Genetics strain, or Zkittlez, should satisfy the craving. We love Watermelon Zkittlez, which is a cross between Watermelon and Zkittlez with a very straightforward name. It comes in beautiful, sticky bundles of flower, with a strong smell of brown butter chocolate chip cookies.

Birthday Cake is another well-reputed option with ties to the classic Girl Scout Cookies strain. It has the same icy trichomes as White Runtz, and is said to soothe muscles while letting the mind stay active. It is sometimes called Wedding Cake, so make sure to look under both names when you’re looking to find marijuana near you.

Vape pens are at the top of the list for convenience and discretion, but they often disappoint for a number of other reasons: weird fillers, excessive artificial flavoring, mediocre taste and lack of potency, to name a few. And after 2019’s vaping illness outbreak, consumers are wise to be cautious about what they’re inhaling.

One of the best ways to ensure a safe and enjoyable vaping experience is to stick with a trusted, vetted brand — one that is transparent and tests the hell out of everything they sell. Oregon-based Select manages to do all that while producing a great-tasting, highly effective cannabis oil. 

Select bills their new Elite Live oils as having “the ease of oil, the feeling of flower,” and they deliver on that promise. Too often, concentrate and edible makers try to mask the taste and smell of cannabis in their products, which is not only ineffective, but also manages to make the taste worse (cue over-fragranced vape pens that smell like Pine-Sol and Febreze).

Select oils actually taste like cannabis, which is refreshing. The latest trend is blending the flavor and scent of cannabis into the mix, and in these formulations, the pine, citrus or pepper elements are present without overpowering the green flavor. The result is a fresh, natural-tasting vapor with no chemical undertones. 

Another distinguishing feature of Select’s oil cartridges is the heating element. Select won early fame for their innovative cartridge design, which includes a ceramic core and organic cotton wick. Not only can you taste the difference in the vapor, but fans say it’s a safer choice than typical heating elements like metal or steel. 

Select oils are infused with freshly harvested terpenes instead of cured plant matter, which explains the “live” part of the Elite Live carts. Terpenes are naturally occurring compounds that give plants their distinctive scent. Many terpenes have their own therapeutic value: Pinene is considered anti-inflammatory; linalool and limonene have been shown to have relaxing properties; others, such as caryophyllene and cineole, display neuroprotective qualities. Terpenes are now thought to contribute significantly to the characteristics and quality of a cannabis high.

I sampled four different Select Elite Live oils: Gelato, Lemon Tree, Mandarin Cookies, and Forbidden Fruit. For me, the varying terpene content of these extracts gave each oil a very distinct flavor and effect.  

1. Gelato

Derived from an indica strain, this oil did what indicas are supposed to — relax the hell out of you. It was like a weighted blanket for my brain that left me feeling super relaxed and grounded (luckily, I tried it in the evening). The flavor was smooth, earthy and peppery. The effects were ideal for deep-body tranquility, solo contemplation and winding down for the night. I wouldn’t recommend this oil for a busy social situation, as I didn’t feel very chatty. (I also couldn’t track anything complex: I tried to watch “Last Week Tonight” and couldn’t follow John Oliver’s arguments, but switched to “The Golden Girls” and was immediately on the level.) So don’t take your MCATs or go on a first date while using this oil. But if you suffer from insomnia or nighttime anxiety, this is the one I would recommend. 

2. Lemon Tree

Good for daytime activities, this sativa hybrid oil felt both lightly energizing and head clearing, with a fresh, clean taste and aromas of lemon and pine. It offers a more mellow sensation than the other three. In fact, this is a great ideal starter oil for folks who are newer to cannabis or just want to be slightly high.

But more avid cannabis consumers also enjoy a mellower high sometimes – you don’t always need the cannabis equivalent of four shots of espresso. Sometimes you just want an herbal tea so you can perk up, be a little more present and create a calm, balanced vibe. That’s what Lemon Tree did for me. I recommend this oil for cleaning, organizing, practicing yoga or doing outdoor activities – especially ones where you’ll need some ability to focus.

3. Mandarin Cookies

This hybrid formulation had the citrusy smell and flavor of Lemon Tree, but a much stronger, earthier flavor along with a hint of sweetness. Perhaps it was the power of suggestion from the name, but Mandarin Cookies felt like a dessert oil — a perfect treat on a vacation or after a sumptuous brunch. I tried the Mandarin Cookies while at the beach, and swimming in the ocean never felt better. I was also coping with some intense sinus pain, which this oil greatly reduced. I was high, but totally alert, upbeat and able to carry on a conversation. It’s not always easy to find good moods in 2020, but this oil helped me get there.

4. Forbidden Fruit

An indica-hybrid, this formulation is truly one of the most delicious, full-flavored extracts I’ve ever tasted, with fruity notes of citrus, berries and spicy pine. (If you’ve ever tried chili mango, it’s a similarly delectable combination of sweet and spicy.) It provided a dreamy, magical high, plus relief from nagging disc pain in my neck. The feeling it provided was uplifting, sensory and euphoric. I only wish I knew more about the specific terpene combination of this product, which I’ve already dubbed “the joyful oil.”

I took a (distanced) dance class after imbibing, and every single song sounded like gold. Plus, I was bursting with new ideas for a creative project. I recommend it for both socializing or solo time, as well as brainstorming, creativity, art-making and movement. Going forward, Forbidden Fruit will be a staple of my cannabis cupboard. 

All four of the oils sampled here are THC-rich (between 78 and 82 percent THC) with just trace amounts of CBD. If you adore THC as I do, that’s a huge positive. Consumers with lower tolerance may want to start with just a small draw, and keep in mind that “concentrate” means the effects of the plant are concentrated.