The cannabis space has evolved rapidly in the era of legalization. There are more ways to consume than ever before, and innovation is occurring seemingly at the speed of light. Some things, like shatter or tarantula joints, rise and fall. But others, like beverages, continue to gain steam. One premium pot product gaining popularity is the rosin vape—and it appears the trend is nowhere close to slowing down.
Rosin vapes (aka solventless vapes) are quickly gaining market share, especially in places where cannabis has been legal for some time. The cartridges, pods, and all-in-one disposable vaporizers are filled with rosin, a potent cannabis extract. Rosin is created without using solvents like butane or CO2, commanding a higher price tag than BHO products like wax and live resin.
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These vapes are more expensive, but people are coming out in droves to buy them. In Colorado, rosin vapes now account for 15 percent of vaporizer sales. Overall, vapes are the second-most popular cannabis product type, just behind flower, accounting for 25 percent of pot sales.
According to Hoodie Analytics, Jetty Extracts sells more solventless vapes than any other brand in the country, achieving $12.8 million in sales last year in California alone.
Ron Gershoni, CEO of Jetty, attributes the surge in popularity to a larger trend in American society.
“Consumers are demanding cleaner, more transparent products—and not just in cannabis. It’s happening across CPG, beauty, food, and wine,” Gershoni told GreenState.
Solventless extracts are also beloved thanks to their robust flavor and aroma. To create the concentrate, the frozen material is “washed” in ice water to separate the trichomes, which are then exposed to heat and pressure. A pure oil is squeezed out, which can then be made into dabable rosin or vapes. It’s a time and labor-intensive process, but one that is worth the investment.
The concentrates are more similar to the plants they’re made from, something Gershoni says makes all the difference.
“It’s the purest, most flavorful expression of the plant, and people can taste the difference,” he noted.
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Steve Castillo, co-founder of Team Elite Genetics, shares this sentiment. The brand is known for its terpene-rich flower, and Castillo sought a way to capture that essence in this convenient and in-demand form factor.
“In terms of flavor and overall effect, our indoor-grown living soil terps are unmatched, and I felt personally obligated to bring that to the vape market,” he said. “Plus, we had received so many requests asking if we are going to release vapes, so we are very happy to finally be able to.”
Rosin vape category has challenges along with rewards
Both Castillo and Gershoni lament that scaling solventless comes with its challenges. Not every cannabis plant is capable of yielding the amount of trichomes needed to create rosin in large batches, and a large quantity of plant material is required to produce a quality product. Castillo, along with his partner Jade, ended up acquiring a 100-light grow he was consulting and converting it into a living-soil facility to meet demand.
Once the flower is harvested, it must be flash-frozen. Commercial freezers take up a lot of real estate, especially for smaller producers. Team Elite Genetics partnered with well-known washer Karisma for its line of rosin vapes, while Jetty produces in-house.
“After two years of deep R&D, we built a system that works at scale without compromising quality,” Gershoni explained.
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Castillo expressed concern that companies may start cutting corners as they rush to get products to market.
“Now that rosin vapes are becoming more popular, you’re going to start seeing low-grade rosin churched up with botanical terpenes, which are more often than not solvent extracted,” he predicted.
Botanical terpenes are made from plants other than cannabis. They’re often added to vapes and even flower to give consumers a more pungent aroma. However, they do not offer the same effects as cannabis-derived terpenes, meaning consumers may not get the experience they’re seeking. Furthermore, there’s no data on the long-term impact of vaping or smoking these compounds.
Despite the challenges and a potential race to the bottom, the rosin vape category is here to stay. It’s indicative of a bigger trend toward natural products, something cannabis connoisseurs have long advocated for: whole plant for a full-spectrum experience.
*This article has been updated to correct sales data for Jetty.
