Harvesting for CO2 Extraction

Good Naben

I seem to be having a hard time finding some solid research and information in regards to the best methods to harvest and store cannabis if the end game is to:

A: Harvest the cannabis onsite and storage within there (Where it's been grown) ?

B: And finally transport the final product to a lab to be extracted


Now, my research attempts could be the issue, but from the research I've looked at so far, what does seem to be covered is the utmost importance of retaining as many terpenes as possible, so any way that would ensure this as much as possible would be, well, just swell.

Thank you so god damn much to whomever replies, and I do apologise if I posted this in the wrong place.

I'm confused.
You have CO2 Extraction are the title of your post, and then go onto harvest, cure and storage.
Which is it that you want to know about?

Harvesting for CO2 Extraction - I will be harvesting for the specific purpose of CO2 extraction

So what is the best method to preserve the cannabis for CO2 to retain terpene profiles?

Would harvesting fresh and freezing fresh be best?

Is drying best? Cause obviously exposure is an issue, this is why I'm trying to find a possible explanation as to
what is the best method of harvest and storage if CO2 extraction is your end game, cause i've read a lot of
people talk about fresh, flash frozen is best, but that's why I reached out to here, cause i'd like others take on this.

I've never heard of CO2 extraction. I've heard of providing more CO2, which will aid in finish time, but in my opinion it's really not worth the hassle.
Been there, done it, and I could find no justification to continue, so save your money and the hassle of CO2 injection.
Now, as far as drying, NEVER freeze fresh pot, it will destroy it and turn it to shit, and why bother to freeze it.
Just dry it, store it in some Mason jars, and smoke that bitch.
Nothing simpler.

Oh no, see, there's a CO2 extractor from Eden labs, and there is a company interested purchasing it, but according to people within the field of extraction, there is a better method of storage after harvest for the specific purpose of extraction, but yeah, you seem to be in the same boat as me in regards to familiarity with this, thank you so much for the input though.

Dry and cure the buds, if you use live material you're getting into live resin, and there's a bit to that.

That sounds sexy, please could you tell me more, or if you would like, maybe a link for further reading? Let's make a research baby with the lights on!

Letting the product sit and cure will allow terpenes to evaporate. Thats why you smell the weed, terpenes are evaporating.

So they're pretty much like lil air fresheners when they get chopped, that is really cool! Explains why my place smells so intense when those babies are hanging around..

Terpenes arent preserved, they are created. Quality standards for co2 are extremely low, somewhere between watery bong reclaim and watery vaporizer reclaim.

Renfro said:

Letting the product sit and cure will allow terpenes to evaporate. Thats why you smell the weed, terpenes are evaporating.

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What's the difference between a jar that releases a quick wimpy burst of girly fruity smell and it's all gone forever and taste like nothing, vs a jar that slowly releases its skunky Cannabis smell stronger and stronger and stronger, then the next day its even stronger, and tastes like a gourmet version of chewy sweet tarts fresh off the line, but even stronger, for a year straight, even if left out on the table for a month? Same cut same climate same cure.

To the OP I would suggest talking to the person doing your CO2 extraction and seeing what they recommend for the crying process. Many "extract artists" are very particular with how they like to do things. The CO2 extraction process is different from BHO, QWET, or QWISO so they might prefer a specifically prepared material. The tastiest extracts I've had have all been from fresh frozen material. It locks in the terpenes exactly like they are when you harvest, and you get a concentrate what tastes and smells loudly like those fresh dank nugs . However I don't know how well that works for CO2 extraction so again I would talk to your extractor, not a bunch of random people online . Hopefully this helps though.

LinguaPeel said:

Terpenes arent preserved, they are created. Quality standards for co2 are extremely low, somewhere between watery bong reclaim and watery vaporizer reclaim.




What's the difference between a jar that releases a quick wimpy burst of girly fruity smell and it's all gone forever and taste like nothing, vs a jar that slowly releases its skunky Cannabis smell stronger and stronger and stronger, then the next day its even stronger, and tastes like a gourmet version of chewy sweet tarts fresh off the line, but even stronger, for a year straight, even if left out on the table for a month? Same cut same climate same cure.

Click to expand...

Terpenes are created on the plant when it's growing......they then have to be preserved once the plant is harvested if you want the smells and flavors in last . Properly growing a healthy plant to full maturity is a huge step in ensuring the best long lasting flavor and smell.

TBH I have never had CO2 extracts that had flavor. Rosin and BHO are far superior in terpene retention IMO.

I've only had one CO2 extract that I know was CO2. It was rock diesel at the Big BUddha seeds tent at the cannabis cup. It was super tasty, but it seemed saucy so its not impossible it had terps added back.

Doesn't CO2 extraction decarb? I think thats why you can't get shatter from CO2 extracts.