Like all other species of flowers, each strain of cannabis has unique properties that set it apart from others. You may have blue tulips or red ones—each offering you a different experience. For cannabis, however, the unique properties go much deeper than just appearance. When working with hemp (a type of low-THC cannabis plant), these details become vital to understanding the final product.
Genetics can contribute to many different outcomes when it comes to growing your cannabis:
- The height the plant will grow to.
- The time it takes to grow and harvest.
- The concentration and distribution of cannabinoids.
- The terpene makeup.
- The side and appearance of the bud.
- The prevalence of trichomes.
Today’s blog will examine the properties that lead to unique cannabis in greater detail and why detailing the lineage and unique content of cannabis biomass (including hemp) is essential in producing high-quality full-spectrum distillates.
Breeding and Crossbreeding for Cannabis Biomass
You may have learned at some point that the fruits and vegetables we enjoy today share little commonality with the plants we bred them from. Even beyond “heirloom tomatoes” and “artisanal gourds,” there are more profound historical expressions of plant growth that we have traced through genetic lineage and painted evidence.
When tracing roots back to India and North Africa, we discover that early cannabis was much smaller and spindlier, with long, thin leaves. Today, we know this line as Sativa.
As more plants were discovered and shipped to growers, we saw an emerging trend in the ‘70s of breeders crossing plants to produce desired outcomes, such as broader leaves and larger buds. Pure “landrace” strains became replaced by hybrids and unique profiles that featured desired terpenes, potencies, or favorable growing habits. With these improved strains, we may grow more cannabis at a faster rate, reducing the ecological footprint of growing operations while offering the consumer greater choice in their purchases.
Why Unique Cannabis Produces Better Distillate
While CBD Isolate will result in a highly refined product that features zero tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a full-spectrum isolate will carry along with it a wide range of non-CBD compounds—albeit at a reduced potency thanks to the hemp lineage.
The difference between these two concentrations is not only in the methods used to produce them but also in the final product’s complexity. Residual cannabinoids, terpenes, and other properties will carry through to the final product, making it imperative that quality biomass is sourced.
As with wine or beer making, starting the process with vibrant, fresh, and unique biomass sets you on a path to creating an unforgettable product. Our search for unique cannabis biomass ensures that our final product is as full of character as the plant itself was.
Our delicate process preserves the best of the flower, leaving the user with an exact fingerprint of the plant that makes it up. For that reason, we choose only the best in unique cannabis and hemp biomass when selecting products for refinement.
Abundant Labs is proud to partner directly with farmers to secure the best biomass possible for our distillate production. We are always looking for sources of biomass—especially those with unique attributes. Please visit our Farmer Form to have one of our representatives contact you.
For more information on our process, Hemp IQ, or any questions, please visit our contact page.