What is a CO2 cannabis extract?
Cannabis oil can be produced using various methods including alcohol, butane, CO2. We choose to use CO2 for two reasons. Foremost because CO2 produces an oil that is as close to the cultivars unique cannabinoid and terpenoid profile in flower form, thereby providing the most beneficial experience to the user. And secondly because of its high margin of safety.
What is CBD?
A safe, non-addictive substance, CBD is one of more than 100 phytocannabinoids which are unique to cannabis and endow the plant with its robust therapeutic profile. CBD has been shown to have numerous applications health-wise and uniquely doesn’t have the same psychoactive effect of cannabis.
We recommend the following article by ProjectCBD for more thorough scientific information on CBD: https://www.projectcbd.org/cbd-101/what-is-cbd
And check out Cannabis Class for free cannabis education
What is the difference between full spectrum and distillate cannabis oil?
The following is quoted from Emma Chasen with her permission:
“Distillate or “The Clear” = Cannabis extract that has an incredibly high potency of one compound (typically THC or CBD). Distillate is most often made by taking CO2 extract or BHO and running it through a process called fractional distillation. This will split the compounds (terpenes, cannabinoids, etc) from each other to create an end product that has 90-99% potency of a single analyte. Because it is not 100% pure, this product is not an isolate, and may contain trace amounts of other compounds. Some manufacturers will add terpenes to distillate to enhance flavor and experience but we all know how I feel about that.
Full-spectrum = the unique fingerprint of the plant material’s matrix preserved in an extract/concentrate. I think there’s two different ways to describe full spectrum: ingestible vs inhalant. Ingestible full spectrum contains not only cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, but also polyphenols and phytonutrients. This makes the extract dark in color due to the residual plant pigments and particulates (think FECO). Now this is amazing for us to ingest however we don’t want to be heating and inhaling plant pigments and polyphenols so full spectrum products meant to be vaped will look a bit different. Full spectrum CO2 extract for example will have a wide range of cannabinoids and terpenes and maybe even flavonoids because it has been run through a subcritical extraction (lower temp and pressure) to preserve the compounds in the original matrix of the plant material. You can’t really “Frankenstein” full spectrum meaning if you combine a bunch of isolated compounds you won’t see the same therapeutic benefit of preserving the original fingerprint. ”
We have found Emma Chasen to be an invaluable resource for cannabis science and education. Check out her website here
Farmer’s Friend produces only full-spectrum cannabis oil. Never distillate
Why do I want full spectrum cannabis products?
Cannabis is a complex plant with over 400 chemical entities of which more than 60 of them are cannabinoid compounds, some with opposing effects. There are over 100 known terpenes that are found in the cannabis plant. The delicate combination of cannabinoids and terpenes is what gives each strain it’s unique attributes of look, smell, taste and effect. Current cannabis testing laboratories only test for around 10 different cannabinoids and 40 different terpenes so there is still a long way to go in discovering all that the cannabis plant has to offer. Within the medical cannabis community there is a term known as the entourage or ensemble effect that represents the idea that the medicinal or therapeutic benefits of cannabis are enhanced by having a broad spectrum of major and minor cannabinoids and diverse terpene profile present. When specific compounds such as CBD or THC are isolated they do not have the same effect as whole-plant cannabis products. Full-spectrum cannabis oil will have the same ratios of cannabinoids and terpenes found in the source flower it was extracted from. It will also taste and have similar effects as the source material.
Why does Strain Specific matter to my experience?
One of the most amazing things about the cannabis plant is how many different characteristics and nuances it expresses. Humans have been breeding this diverse plant all over the world, in every culture, for a number of different criteria: look, smell, effect, yield, stability. This has resulted in one of the most genetically diverse plants in the world. There are strains that make you sleepy while others are energizing. Some strains promote appetite stimulation while others relieve stress. It is our firm belief that one cannabis strain or product does not suffice when navigating through life’s daily changes. That is why we offer all our products in strain-specific options. All humans have an endocannabinoid system that uniquely interacts when we consume cannabis and not everyone reacts to the same strain in the same ways. Fine tuning your optimal cannabis experience takes some experimentation and trial and error but starting with strain-specific products will help focalize that process.
What are terpenes?
Terpenes are organic compounds produced by plants that are responsible for a plant’s odor. There are currently at least 20,000 different terpenes in existence while more than 100 different terpenes have been discovered so far in the cannabis plant. Plants typically produce terpenes as a defense mechanism for deterring herbivores and/or attracting predators or parasites of herbivores.
For thousands of years humans have been utilizing the benefit of terpenes in perfumes, skin products, essential oils, Aromatherapy and traditional medicine.
Certain terpenes and combinations of terpenes are known to produce effects on one’s physical or psychological well-being. In nature, for instance, the smell of Lavender has a calming effect while the smell of citrus has an uplifting effect and opens up the sinuses.
In cannabis there is a synergistic relationship between terpenes and cannabinoids. In the past it was always assumed that it was only the THC content of cannabis that was responsible for the type of ‘high’ one felt. Now cannabis science is showing that there is a direct relationship between the terpenes present and the minor cannabinoids, as well as THC that shapes the experience of the user.
One of the main reasons we keep our products strain specific and full spectrum is so that the beneficial terpenes in the strains we work with can remain intact, allowing the end user the ability to choose their cannabis product based on desired effect.
Why do a lot of our cartridges have similar terpene profiles?
There are a few specific terpenes that you will find more prominently in our oil than others. B-Caryophyllene, Farnesene, and Humulene are three of those. One reason for this is because they are three of the more commonly found terpenes in cannabis. There is a dominant amount of cannabis being grown right now with the same general lineage and terpene profile.
Secondly, those particular terpenes are the most soluble in supercritical CO2 so they extract with the most ease during our extraction process and are resilient through our post processing as well.
Finally, it’s important to remember that there are many additional properties beyond terpenes that add to the smell and flavor of cannabis extracts. Esters, ketones and aldehydes also play a significant role in how cannabis tastes. Our extraction process is geared towards capturing and preserving those as well.
What are botanical and synthetic/chemical terpenes? are they safe?
Botanical terpenes are extracted from non-cannabis plants. They are basically essential oils from sources like lavender, pine needles, cloves, oranges etc. Chemical/synthetic terpenes are produced through chemical manipulation and blending in a laboratory. They are far cheaper to produce than botanical terpenes. The caryophyllene found in black pepper is chemically the same caryophyllene you find in many Kush strains. However, there has not been enough scientific research done to show if these botanically derived terpenes are safe to inhale. Until more research has been done on the effects of inhaling botanical or chemical terpenes, we advise sticking with cannabis derived terpenes found naturally in the plant.
What are these CBG, CBC, CBN numbers on the label mean?
It’s important to realize that the therapeutic benefits of cannabis don’t come solely from THC and CBD- the most commonly discussed cannabinoids. There are a variety of other cannabinoids that provide benefits. Our packaging also lists the CBG, CBC, and CBN quantities because these cannabinoids are critical for achieving particular effects.
Each of our cartridges come labelled with the major and minor cannabinoids and terpenes on the back
For more information about these cannabinoids, please refer to this awesome website: https://terpenesandtesting.com/category/science/lesser-known-cannabinoids-list/
What makes a high-quality cannabis product?
High-quality doesn't need fancy packaging, marketing gimmicks, additives, or fillers.
High-quality products speak for themselves in the purity of their ingredients, from the source material to the final product.
High-quality comes with test results showing a diverse cannabinoid and terpenoid profile, clean of residual solvents and pesticides.
We believe that high quality cannabis products maintain the integrity of the plant’s diverse cannabinoid and terpenoid profile, and are free from ingredients that are unnecessary or harmful.
Can I purchase your products online?
No, we are only allowed to sell to OLCC licensed dispensaries in the state of Oregon.
If you are an OLCC licensed dispensary and are interested in carrying our products, please reach out to us at info@ffepdx.com or check out our LeafLink page.