What is CO₂-Extracted Cannabis Oil?

As vaporizing cannabis oil becomes an increasingly popular method of cannabis consumption, many consumers are looking to make the switch from traditional smoking to vaping. One of the most significant factors that draw consumers to vaping is the dramatic difference in the taste and experience. Rather than inhaling the sometimes harsh, lung-irritating smoke, many people prefer the cleaner, smoother effect of vapor from CO₂-extracted cannabis oil instead.

With the growing popularity of cannabis comes the demand for safer and more health-conscious options. Consumers looking for highly pure, premium quality cannabis products are moving away from hydrocarbon-extracted oil, such as BHO, which uses butane as the primary extraction solvent. Due to the flammability of hydrocarbons like propane and butane, these extraction processes have a historically-supported risk of explosion if proper safety protocols aren’t in place. But even with improved extraction technology, the resulting oil may contain residual solvent if not properly purified before being sold to patients. For the discerning cannabis consumer, CO₂extracted cannabis oil has quickly gained attention as an ideal option.

Why use a CO₂ Extraction Process for Cannabis Oil?

CO₂extracted cannabis oil is an alternative to the more traditional industry extraction methods such as butane or ethanol. The CO₂ extraction process allows for a cleaner, purer final product that eliminates the use of more dangerous and unappealing chemical solvents. This oil may then be used to make a variety of concentrates, may be purified and used in a vaporizer, or as an ingredient in topicals and edibles.

What is CO₂ Cannabis Extraction?

The CO₂ extraction process is what lends CO₂extracted cannabis oil its name. It is a type of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), which shares attributes of both a gas and a liquid. Gaseous CO₂ is pumped through a temperature- and pressure-controlled system, which transforms it into a supercritical fluid. This fluid is then passed into a chamber containing cannabis plant material or biomass, where it easily passes through the plant cell membranes, dissolving the active compounds. The following phases allow for the separation of compounds such as terpenes, cannabinoids, plant waxes, and lipids, as well as the removal of the remaining CO₂. The resulting product is an unpolluted cannabis extract that can then be used in a variety of medicated products.

Benefits of Using CO₂ During Extraction

CO₂ is used in cannabis extraction for a few different reasons. Not only is it an abundant and naturally occurring compound, but it’s also among the safest non-polar solvents – far safer than options like hydrocarbons. It also transforms more easily than other solvents, which means the solvent properties of supercritical CO₂ can be changed to extract different compounds from cannabis plant material.

CO₂-Derived Products in the Cannabis Industry

The cannabis industry has welcomed CO₂-derived products with open arms, particularly those made using high-quality cannabis and a carefully-crafted process. Darwin is among the top names in the cannabis industry providing a range of CO₂-extracted cannabis products, including their Origin, Evolution, and Voyager Series distillate cartridges and edibles.

To learn more about CO₂extracted cannabis oil, how to consume CO₂ oil, and how you can incorporate it into your cannabis experience, visit www.darwinbrands.com or ask about Darwin products in your local dispensary.