Distillate

Distillate is a highly refined hemp or cannabis extract produced by heating a crude extract under vacuum and collecting the purified vapor.

The process, usually short-path or wiped-film distillation, separates cannabinoids from waxes, chlorophyll, and other plant material by their different boiling points. The result is a thick, often golden oil that is much higher in cannabinoid content than the starting extract but that has lost most of its terpenes, which boil off earlier and are sometimes added back later. Distillate is a common intermediate ingredient in finished products.

Because distillation concentrates whatever cannabinoids are present, a distillate made from full-spectrum hemp extract can carry a higher THC percentage than the raw plant; some processors remove THC in a later step. The composition of any distillate should be verified by a certificate of analysis rather than assumed from the name. The same considerations apply to distillate used in pet formulations.