Resin

Resin is the sticky secretion produced by cannabis trichomes that holds most of the plant's cannabinoids and terpenes.

The plant makes resin in tiny glandular structures on its flowers and, to a lesser extent, its leaves. The resin protects the plant from insects, ultraviolet light, and drying, and it happens to be where CBD, THC, and the aromatic terpenes are concentrated. Because of this, extraction is essentially the process of collecting and purifying resin.

In product language, resin sometimes refers to a minimally processed extract that keeps much of the original terpene content, and live resin refers to extract made from plant material that was frozen fresh rather than dried. These are craft terms without a regulatory definition, so the certificate of analysis remains the reliable guide to what a resin product contains. The concept is the same for hemp used in pet products.