Written by Joshua Sosin

Behind every potent gummy, flavorful vape, or intense dab is a powerful process called extraction. It's what takes all the good stuff from the cannabis plant and turns it into the oils, concentrates, and cannabinoids we know and love.

Not all extraction methods are the same, though, and it's smart to know how different forms of extraction are used to create unique products.

Here’s a breakdown of the most common cannabis extraction methods — what they are, how they work, and why they matter.

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Table of Contents

• What Is Cannabis Extraction?

• Solvent Extraction vs. Solventless Extraction Procedures

• Pressurized Liquid Extraction

• CO₂ Extraction

• Ethanol Extraction

• Rosin Pressing

• Ice Water Hash (Bubble Hash)

• Why Extraction Method Matters for You

• Find the Right Cannabis Products for Your Mood

What Is Cannabis Extraction?

Cannabis extraction is the process of pulling cannabinoids (like Delta-9 THC, Delta-8 THC, and THCa), terpenes, and other compounds from the cannabis plant material — usually the flower.

This process creates cannabis extracts like oils, waxes, shatter, distillates, and more. These extractions can be used in vapes, dabs, edibles, tinctures, and infused pre-rolls.

The goal? Isolate the good stuff — and leave behind the rest.

Solvent-Based vs. Solventless Extraction Process: What's the Difference?

There are two major categories of extraction: solvent-based and solventless. Here's how they're different:

• Solvent-based methods use something like butane, propane, ethanol, or CO₂ to separate the cannabinoids from the plant.

• Solventless methods rely on pressure, heat, or water to achieve the same result, without using chemicals or added substances.

Each method has its pros and cons, and you'll find both used widely within the cannabis industry. The right choice depends on the final product, the desired potency, and how clean or flavorful the extract needs to be.

Here are a few solvent-based and solventless extraction methods you should know about:

Hydrocarbon Extraction

Method: Uses butane and/or propane as the solvent.

Hydrocarbon extraction is one of the most popular ways to extract cannabis oils to make high-end concentrates like shatter, badder, and diamonds. The solvent pulls cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant material, and then it’s purged using heat and vacuum pressure to remove any residual gas.

Why it’s popular: It preserves terpenes really well, which means flavor-forward extracts. It’s also super efficient at pulling out high cannabinoid content.

What to look for: Products made this way should be tested and purged properly.

CO₂ Extraction (Supercritical Extraction)

Method: Uses pressurized carbon dioxide in a supercritical state.

This process separates cannabinoids and terpenes without using traditional solvents. CO₂ acts as both a gas and a liquid, making it super efficient at grabbing specific compounds depending on pressure and temp.

Why it’s popular: It’s seen as a “clean” method since there’s no chemical residue, and it’s often used in vape oils and tinctures. It's also eco-friendly and highly tunable.

What to look for: CO₂-extracted products often have a lighter flavor profile than hydrocarbon extracts, but they’re clean and consistent.

Ethanol Extraction

Method: Uses food-grade ethanol to soak the plant material and strip cannabinoids.

This one’s fast and scalable — great for making large quantities of distillate. After the soak, the ethanol is evaporated and what’s left behind is a cannabinoid-rich oil.

Why it’s popular: It’s efficient and works well for making edibles, tinctures, and vapes. You’ll often find ethanol-extracted cannabinoids in Delta-9 gummies or THC syrups.

What to look for: High-purity distillates made this way can be nearly flavorless and odorless — perfect if you want strength without a lot of terpene taste.

Rosin Pressing

Method: Heat and pressure applied to flower or hash to squeeze out the oil — no solvents needed.

Rosin is a solventless extract made by pressing cannabis using specialized cannabis extraction equipment with heated plates. It’s pure, potent, and preserves the essence of the original flower.

Why it’s popular: Flavor chasers and purists love it. No solvents, no mystery — just pressure and heat. Ideal for dabbing or vape carts that want that full-spectrum feel.

What to look for: Fresh-pressed rosin from high-quality flower or hash is golden, gooey, and terpene-rich. It’s typically more expensive, but worth it for the experience.

Ice Water Hash (Bubble Hash)

Method: Uses ice water and agitation to separate trichomes from the rest of the cannabis material.

Trichomes — those frosty crystals full of cannabis compounds like THC — are shaken loose and collected through fine mesh bags. The result is a crumbly, potent concentrate.

Why it’s popular: It’s one of the oldest and cleanest ways to make hash. No chemicals, just water, ice, and craft.

What to look for: Full melt bubble hash will literally melt cleanly when dabbed. Lower grades are better for pressing into rosin or infusing into pre-rolls.

Why the Extraction Method Matters for You

So, why should you care how your THC is extracted?

Because it affects:

• Flavor — Some methods preserve terpenes better than others.

• Potency — Distillates can hit hard, while full-spectrum extracts offer more nuanced effects.

• Cleanliness — You want lab-tested extracts that are free of residual solvents.

• Experience — Different methods suit different formats: rosin for dabbing, ethanol for edibles, CO₂ for vape carts, and so on.

At Mood, we make sure all our products — from THCa pre-rolls to Delta-9 vapes — are sourced and extracted using safe, industry-standard methods. We only stock what we’d personally roll up or hit ourselves.

Find the Right Cannabis Products for Your Mood

Understanding cannabis extraction is like unlocking a cheat code — it helps you shop smarter, sesh better, and appreciate what goes into your favorite products.

Whether you’re all about clean solventless dabs or just want to know how your Delta-9 gummies come to life, there’s a method behind the magic.

At the end of the day, we care about the same things you do — quality, transparency, and good weed that hits right. Shop our full selection today and enter your email below to get 20% off.