Hydrocarbon distillation with butane is scientifically superior when it comes to the gentle extraction of all plant compounds, and therefore is the only process that produces a product that truly resembles the plant from which it came. During the extraction process, butane dissolves not just the cannabinoids but also the whole spectrum of lighter, more volatile terpene compounds from the plant into the concentrate, meaning the oleoresin will maintain the scent and flavor of the plant. This will result in a more therapeutic and beneficial product.
CO2 is harsher on the plants and strips the terpenes during the extraction process. It is attractive to many companies because it allows them to get away with running poor quality flower, i.e. 0.0% THC seed, extracting from other aerial parts, etc. In other words, since companies are producing a homogeneous product, there’s really no point in using high quality hemp during CO2 extraction. They’re stripping away everything but the CBD anyway.
A common misconception is that C02 oil is solvent less, while butane is not. No oil is solvent less. Carbon dioxide is a solvent just like butane. C02 is not toxic, leaving no residual. However it is considered a greenhouse gas. Its vapor pressure is so high it simply disappears. Butane evaporates at 33 degrees F and can be removed entirely, leaving no residual as well. It also has no lethal dose and is approved for food processing by the FDA. Butane is not a greenhouse gas.
FUN FACT: People regularly consume products where butane has been used. Menu items like crème brulee and flan are finished with butane torch to crust it. Many will host barbeques while cooking their food with a propane grill. When lighting a cigarette 500ppm parts per million of butane are inhaled. This is GRAS by the FDA. Our products are tested down to the parts per billion. Our products test at undetectable levels.