Walk into any dispensary and you’ll find cannabis products made from a variety of extracts: distillate, live resin, RSO, and more.
While they all come from the same plant, they’re not the same thing.
Each extract is created differently, preserves different parts of the plant, and delivers a unique experience. Understanding these differences can help you choose the product that’s right for your goals, preferences, and lifestyle.
Cannabis Extracts Exist on a Spectrum
One of the easiest ways to understand cannabis extracts is to think of them as existing on a spectrum.
Some extracts are highly refined to isolate cannabinoids. Others are designed to preserve a broader range of the plant’s naturally occurring compounds, creating a more complete full-spectrum experience.
Each approach has its own strengths, depending on what you’re looking for.
Distillate: Consistent, Versatile & Affordable
Distillate is one of the most widely used cannabis extracts because it delivers consistent cannabinoids at an affordable price point.
Through refinement, distillate removes many naturally occurring plant compounds, like terpenes, while concentrating cannabinoids into a clean, versatile extract that’s used in everything from vape cartridges to gummies and beverages.
Best known for:
- Consistent cannabinoid content
- Affordability
- Neutral flavor (ideal for edibles)
- Versatility across product formats
For consumers looking for an approachable and cost-effective way to enjoy cannabinoids, distillate remains an excellent option.
Live Resin: Preserving Fresh Cannabis Character
Live resin takes a different approach.
Rather than using cured flower, live resin is produced using cannabis that is fresh frozen at harvest. This helps preserve cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids in their freshest live state that can be lost during the traditional curing process.
The result is a flavorful, aromatic extract that highlights the unique characteristics of each strain.
Best known for:
- Fresh frozen extraction
- Rich terpene profile
- Strain-specific flavor and aroma
- More complete cannabinoid and terpene profile
For consumers who appreciate flavor and the unique personality of individual cultivars, live resin offers a premium experience.
RSO: A Whole-Plant Philosophy
RSO, or Rick Simpson Oil, takes yet another approach.
Rather than focusing on isolating specific compounds, RSO is designed to retain a broad range of cannabinoids and naturally occurring plant compounds in a full-spectrum format.
These may include:
- Cannabinoids
- Terpenes
- Flavonoids
- Fatty acids
- Other naturally occurring plant compounds
The goal isn’t simply potency. The goal is a complete profile, the way nature intended. By retaining a broad range of naturally occurring compounds, RSO offers one of the most comprehensive full-spectrum extract profiles available. For consumers seeking a whole-plant approach, that’s what makes RSO unique.
Why Does Full-Spectrum Matter?
Cannabinoids don’t naturally exist on their own.
Inside the cannabis plant, cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, fatty acids, and other naturally occurring compounds work together as part of a larger ecosystem.
Many researchers and consumers refer to this interaction as the entourage effect: the idea that these naturally occurring compounds may work synergistically to create a more complete cannabis experience than isolated cannabinoids alone.
While research into the entourage effect is ongoing, this whole-plant philosophy has become one of the defining principles behind full-spectrum cannabis products like RSO.
Rather than focusing on a single compound, full-spectrum extracts are designed to preserve a broader representation of the plant’s natural composition.
Why Buddies Chose RSO Soft Gels
A thoughtfully crafted extract deserves an equally thoughtful delivery system.
That’s why Buddies delivers RSO in an oil-based soft gel.
Soft gels offer several practical advantages:
Discreet
Easy to take wherever life takes you.
Convenient
No measuring, preparation, or cleanup.
Consistent
A repeatable serving in every soft gel.
Familiar
A format many consumers already understand and can easily incorporate into their daily routine.
Clean
No sugar. No excess ingredients. No unnecessary fillers.
The oil-based format is designed to support cannabinoid absorption while delivering a consistent serving in every soft gel.
Bang for Your Buck
For many consumers, cannabis is part of a daily wellness routine, and over time, value matters.
Consider someone consuming 100mg per day. Over the course of a month, that’s approximately 3,000mg.
Reaching that amount with traditional gummies often means purchasing dozens of individual packages.
With Buddies RSO Soft Gels, the same monthly cannabinoid intake can be achieved with just a few bottles, making soft gels one of the most efficient and economical edible formats for higher-dose consumers.
- Less product.
- Less packaging.
- Less hassle.
- A smarter way to incorporate cannabis into your routine.
Which Extract Is Right for You?
The best extract depends on your goals.
Choose Distillate if you want:
- An affordable cannabis option
- Consistent cannabinoid content
- A neutral flavor for edibles
- Everyday value
Choose Live Resin if you want:
- Fresh frozen cannabis extraction
- Rich terpene expression
- Strain-specific flavor and aroma
- A flavorful full-spectrum experience
Choose RSO if you want:
- A broad range of naturally occurring plant compounds
- A whole-plant approach
- Full-spectrum cannabis in a discreet soft gel
- Consistent daily dosing in a familiar format
Each extract serves a different purpose. The right choice comes down to your priorities and the experience you’re looking for.
The Bottom Line
Every cannabis extract has its strengths.
Distillate delivers consistent cannabinoids at an affordable price.
Live resin emphasizes fresh frozen extraction, terpene preservation, and strain-specific character in a flavorful full-spectrum experience.
RSO takes a whole-plant approach by retaining a broad range of naturally occurring plant compounds in a full-spectrum extract.
For consumers seeking a convenient, discreet way to incorporate full-spectrum cannabis into their routine, Buddies RSO Soft Gels deliver the benefits of whole-plant extraction in a simple, consistent format.
The plant, preserved. Delivered in a format built for consistency.
