The Rising Demand for Distillates in the Cannabis Industry
With the recent legalization of cannabis and related products across various US states – 24 for recreational use and 38 for medicinal use1 – the cannabis industry is evolving and thriving. The public’s acceptance of cannabis is blossoming, reaching a historic high in 2024 (70% of US adults2), while federal agencies continue to push for rescheduling the substance as a less dangerous drug.
As a result, the USA is the largest cannabis market globally. Statistics predict revenue of US$42.98 billion in 2024, a value forecast to grow to US$49.56 billion within five years—a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.89%. Driving this growth is ongoing investment and innovation, technological advancement, market expansion—especially in the medicinal and pharmaceutical sphere, and regulatory development3.
Cannabis Product Trends
An extensive range of cannabis products are sought after, including concentrates, edibles, and topical applications, requiring significant market diversification and innovation. These recreational and medicinal offerings are widely marketed and available online, making them conveniently accessible to a broad population.
Simultaneously, while distillation is ideal for product quality, consistency, format, and taste customization, navigating the complex regulatory and legal landscape can be challenging. Each US state has its own set of cannabis consumption, production, and sale regulations and laws. This peculiarity creates space for experimentation and product development locally while complicating operations for producers with a broader, more national footprint.
Producing edible and liquid-based products means processing the cannabis product appropriately to release the active molecules, for which makers typically use distillates. These extracts are among the purest THC and CBD-containing substances, offering numerous applications.
What Are Distillates?
Distillation helps remove undesirable cannabinoids, terpenes, waxes, fats, and other contaminants that can affect the extract’s purity, volatility, and potency. Only the preferred, purest cannabinoids remain—usually up to 99%. This yield is thanks to the high boiling points of CBD and THC, allowing the molecules to stay intact during heating.
The distillation process is a familiar technique used to extract essential oils from botanicals, resulting in a liquid derived from vapors. Beyond outcomes compatible with edibles, liquid, and topical products, distillation leaves the distillate decarboxylated. This chemical reaction activates the CBD and THC molecules, making them less volatile and suitable for consumption and heating in a vape.
Types of Distillates
The most used distillation technique for producing cannabis oil is the short-path method. This process heats crude oil until it vaporizes. The vapor enters a fractional and then a condensing tube, ending in a flask. The cannabis oil is then distilled, separating it into a high-purity THC fraction (distillate) and lighter and heavier fractions containing various other cannabinoids and terpenes. The approach is used for small batches and is best left in experienced hands to support the required temperatures.
A second technique used is wiped film distillation. This process also boils off unwanted terpenes and solvents. However, the setup differs, with the crude oil “wiped” from outside a heated cylinder. The product is heated evenly with materials boiled off at an equal rate, with vapors then re-liquified and collected. As this process can be run continuously, the approach is ideal for productivity at scale.
Pre-production processes such as distillation yield a pure active ingredient. The post-distillation substance is usually tasteless and odor-free, ready for flavor and aroma profile tailoring. To keep the purity of the THC and CBD molecules throughout your formulation, rely on Advanced Biotech’s pure, 100% natural taste and odor ingredients.
Stay Potent and Pure With Advanced Biotech
Our extensive collection of concentrated flavor and fragrance extracts, including distillates, is pure, safe, and EU-certified. Contact us to request samples, place your order, or discuss unique requirements.
1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_cannabis_by_U.S._jurisdiction
2 https://news.gallup.com/poll/514007/grassroots-support-legalizing-marijuana-hits-record.aspx
3 https://www.statista.com/outlook/hmo/cannabis/united-states