Crystal-Resistant Distillate and How It Differs from CBD Isolate

There are lots of different types of CBD extract. In the early days of the industry, full-spectrum CBD oil was the only type of CBD-rich hemp extract on the market. Now, however, full-spectrum extract competes with isolate CBD and broad-spectrum CBD, which both have unique, desirable qualities.

Another type of CBD extract has recently arrived on the scene that you might not have heard about. Crystal-resistant CBD distillate is all the rage among vape cart manufacturers and other CBD entrepreneurs, and in this article, we’ll tell you what crystal-resistant distillate is and explain the best ways to use this unique extract.

Crystal-resistant distillate (CRD) is a special type of CBD extract that resists crystallization. CBD is in a group of cannabinoids that tend to revert to their crystal forms when suspended in hemp extract, which is especially undesirable in vape cartridges. While CBD recrystallization isn’t dangerous or harmful, it is unsightly, and can greatly degrade the vaping experience.

GVB Biopharma is manufacturing some of the highest quality CRD on the market. photo credit

Crystallized CBD is also harder to vape, and in advanced cases of CBD crystallization, this phenomenon can make vape cartridges practically impossible to use. There are companies working on solutions to this issue, however. Cutting-edge CBD extract manufacturers like GVB Biopharma use advanced processes to produce crystal-resistant CBD distillate that will not recrystallize for three months or even longer. That’s plenty of time for vape cartridges and other CBD products containing CRD to be distributed, retailed, and consumed.

In order to fully understand the benefits of CRD, it’s important to learn the fundamentals of CBD isolate. CBD isolate is cannabidiol in its crystal form. Not all types of CBD isolate take on a crystalline appearance, but even powdered CBD isolate is crystalline in nature. As a result, CBD isolate is more likely to recrystallize than any other type of CBD extract.

While CBD isolate is desirable for its purity and simplicity, this type of extract lacks the terpenes, flavonoids, and trace cannabinoids that are present in other forms of CBD-rich hemp extract. As a result, CBD isolate does not offer the entourage effect, which may make this extract less effective when used in high doses.

Crystal-resistant distillate and CBD isolate exist at opposite ends of the CBD extract spectrum. While CBD isolate is crystalline in nature, crystal-resistant distillate is specifically designed to resist crystallization. CBD isolate does not contain any minor cannabinoids, but CRD is rich in non-intoxicating cannabinoids other than CBD – like CBC and CBG. These CBD extracts aren’t entirely different, however. Like CBD isolate, CRD can be manufactured in a way that eliminates THC (the psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis) until its presence is undetectable even with the most sophisticated lab testing equipment.

Like CBD isolate, CRD also has only trace THC content.

The fact that CRD can be THC-free takes away one of the main advantages that CBD isolate would otherwise hold. That’s not to say that CBD isolate is entirely without merit. Isolate is almost always the least expensive form of CBD extract, which makes it perfect for designing hemp products that comply with a strict budget. CBD isolate is also incredibly easy to use compared to oil-based hemp extracts like CRD, which can be messy to work with.

One of the main advantages of CRD compared to other types of CBD extracts, including full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD, is its incredibly high minor cannabinoid content. The same process that makes it possible for CBD to resist crystallization also leaves more room for minor cannabinoids like CBN, CBG, and CBC, which each have unique benefits and theoretically contribute to the entourage effect.

CRD commonly contains 35-45% CBD and 15-25% minor cannabinoids. This incredibly high concentration of minor cannabinoids means that CRD might offer the entourage effect more strongly than other types of CBD extract.

CRD was originally developed for vape cartridges, which are the most prone to CBD recrystallization. Since this extract is so high in minor cannabinoids, however, it can also be used in any CBD products that are designed to offer the entourage effect. CRD is commonly added, for instance, to CBD topicals and CBD tinctures that are formulated to contain cannabinoids in the highest possible concentrations, and it’s even possible to include this unique extract in capsules, gummies, and most other common CBD product types.

CRD has many applications and can be used in countless products, like gummies. photo credit

Despite the fact that it has gone through a proprietary process to make it resist crystallization, crystal-resistant CBD has similar properties to broad-spectrum distillate or any other type of distilled cannabis extract. Therefore, this extract is just as easy to work with as broad-spectrum CBD or other oil-based CBD extracts.

Over the next few years, it’s likely that the popularity of CRD will increase at a rapid pace. Right now, most hemp vape cartridge manufacturers try to disregard CBD recrystallization like it’s no big deal, but that’s likely because they don’t think there’s a solution to this problem.

As more CBD brands become aware of the existence of crystal-resistant distillate, this unique extract will become highly demanded by the biggest players in the CBD vape cartridge sector. It wouldn’t be a surprise if CRD became the norm for CBD vape cartridges over the next year, or sooner.

Crystal-resistant distillate reminds us of the perennially innovative mindset that’s pervasive within the hemp market. CBD producers and entrepreneurs are never satisfied with the current state of the cannabis industry, and they constantly strive to make improvements and develop better products.

Have you ever experienced CBD crystallization in your vape cartridges? Do you think CRD is an effective solution? Share your feedback in the comments below.

Photo Credit: GVB Biopharma (license)