Farm to Cartridge: How Are THC Cartridges Made?
Cannabis oil cartridges, also known as “THC vape cartridges,” “THC oil cartridges,” or “weed carts,” are one of the most popular and convenient ways to consume cannabis. They’re portable, easy to use, and come in a variety of strains and flavors. If you’ve ever wondered how these wondrous little cartridges are made, this article is for you.
From growing cannabis to filling a cartridge, everything we do is crafted in-house here in California, down to the finest detail. The humble but exciting journey from plant to THC cartridge all begins at the farm!
Growing Cannabis: From Seed to Flower
Like all plants, cannabis plants are grown either from seeds or from seedlings. Growing cannabis from seed is the most popular method of cultivation because seeds are more widely available than clones. Whether a grower chooses seeds or clones to start the growing process, the types of strains used will affect the final product. Kurvana sources all of our strains from farmers in our home state of California.
Cannabis growers must decide whether to grow their seedlings outdoors or indoors. Growing cannabis outdoors allows for larger plants, greater yields, and more natural growing conditions. However, outdoor cultivation has a few downsides. Outdoor plants are more susceptible to weather changes, pests, and other environmental factors, and they can be more difficult to irrigate. Sometimes, poor conditions can affect overall quality and availability. Still, there are many premium outdoor-grown products on the market, so don’t write off cannabis that was grown under the sun.
Growing cannabis indoors is a more popular option in many climates, as it allows for year-round cultivation and greater control over the growing environment. This method is also generally favored among consumers, as it tends to deliver a premium product. To successfully grow plants indoors, a cannabis grower will need high-intensity grow lights, nutrient-rich soil or a hydroponic setup, a ventilation system, and a grow tent or a greenhouse. A cannabis grow tent creates an environment that allows the grower to control the temperature, humidity, and light levels.
The majority of premium cannabis flower sold in dispensaries today is grown indoors or inside greenhouses. Kurvana sources only the highest quality raw flower from naturally grown California cannabis that trusted farmers, who are well-known to the industry, provide.
Cannabis Growing Stages
Cannabis goes through several growth stages, each with its own unique needs. The first stage is the germination stage, where the seed sprouts and starts to grow into a seedling. This stage lasts for about two to three weeks, during which time the plant needs a lot of light and a moderate amount of water. The next stage is the vegetative stage, where the plant starts to grow leaves and stems. This takes from four to eight weeks, depending on the strain and the growing conditions. During this delicate time, the plant needs a lot of light, nutrients, and water.
The final stage is the flowering stage, where the plant starts to produce buds. This exciting stage can last anywhere from six to twelve weeks, depending on the strain and the growing conditions. At this point, the plant needs less light and more nutrients, particularly phosphorus and potassium.
When the plants are mature and have produced full buds, they can be sold by a dispensary as whole buds, most commonly referred to as ‘flower,” or they may be processed into oils, tinctures, topicals, or edibles. There are many ways cannabis can be consumed, but one of the most exciting ways to use the plant is to make refined cannabis oil.
Cannabis Oil Extraction: How to Make Oil From Cannabis
Now that we’ve learned about growing cannabis, it’s time for the exciting part: how to make cannabis oil! But first, what is cannabis oil? What is the process of cannabis oil extraction?
Sometimes referred to as THC oil, cannabis oil is derived from the plant using a cannabis oil extractor method. The oil is made by extracting the resin from the flowers, leaves, and stalks of the plant, which contain cannabinoids such as CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).
CBD oil is non-psychoactive and is often used for medicinal purposes, while THC oil is psychoactive and is mostly used for recreational purposes. Some cartridges offer pure THC or CBD, while others are a combination of the two, as well as other whole plant-derived cannabinoids like CBN, CBG, and CBC. Cannabis oil can be consumed orally, applied topically, or inhaled through a vaporizer.
Kurvana uses a unique, proprietary method that employs a full-spectrum, whole-plant extraction process that focuses on preserving and purifying the essence of the cannabis plant. We use the whole, live plant to maintain the integrity of its phytochemical fingerprint, which is essential to our oils’ true-to-strain taste. Please check out our blog for more information on our commitment to safety and quality: Our Commitment To Quality and Vape Safety.
The extraction process is exciting for our team because it is at this stage that we craft our award-winning oils. By purifying the essential cannabinoids, tasty terpenes, and natural ingredients in the plant, we create a one-of-a-kind cannabis experience with full-spectrum Kurvana oil. A naturally innovative undertaking, the team never introduces flavorings or additives of any kind because doing so would detract from the plant’s original essence. Kurvana’s oil tastes natural because it is!
The Final Product: A Ready-to-Use THC Vape Cartridge
It’s important to know that while the terms “THC cartridge” and “cannabis oil cartridge” are sometimes used interchangeably, they can refer to different things.
A THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) cartridge typically refers to any cannabis oil cartridge that contains THC, which is the main psychoactive cannabinoid. However, there are many THC-containing cannabis oil cartridges on the market, and each will contain varying amounts of THC as well as other cannabinoids. Some cannabis oil cartridges may actually contain very little THC, or none at all. CBD oil, for example, usually does not contain any THC unless it is indicated on the package.
Full-spectrum cannabis oil means that all of the properties of the whole cannabis plant are present in the oil. Regardless of the THC, CBD, or other cannabinoid content, the oil can be vaporized using a vaporizer or vape pen. Some cannabis oil cartridges, or THC cartridges, are more potent in their THC content. Kurvana’s ASCND line offers an array of full-spectrum cannabis oils that prioritize intense THC potencies and mild tastes.
A high-quality cannabis oil cartridge may contain a variety of different cannabinoids and terpenes extracted from the cannabis plant, including THC, CBD (cannabidiol), and other compounds. Unregulated or poor quality cannabis oil cartridges, on the other hand, may additionally contain a variety of carrier oils, such as MCT oil or hemp seed oil, which are used to make the oil easier to vaporize.
Cannabis oil cartridges can be used for both medicinal and recreational purposes, with THC levels varying depending on the desired effects. Kurvana’s Originals line offers a terpene-rich extract with abundant cannabinoids that taste and feel like the original flower from the farm.
To impart flavor to THC oil, some producers may use either natural or synthetic ingredients, or both. At Kurvana, we believe the best THC oil flavors don’t come from flavored THC vapes, but from the natural terpenes the cannabis plant already produces. Our products NEVER use any fillers or additives, which include but are not limited to: tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E acetate), glycols, vegetable glycerin, artificial flavoring, synthetic terpenes, or cutting agents. The ONLY ingredients that are found in our vaporizer pens are natural, full-spectrum cannabis oil and cannabis-derived terpenes.
From Oil to Vape Cart: Finding the Best Battery for a THC Cartridge
Whether it’s a cartridge for THC, a CBD cartridge without THC, or a 1:1 ratio that offers the best of both worlds, you need a high-quality battery. Kurvana offers the most reliable and consistent vape experience with innovative hardware that comes with options! Our lineup includes an automatic buttonless battery, a slim buttonless battery, and a variable voltage option with a button for quick and easy temperature control. If you want to fill an empty THC cartridge yourself, our hardware can be purchased separately. If you prefer, you can opt for an all-in-one disposable vape pen with no battery to charge at all!
If you enjoy filling your battery cartridge yourself, we recommend that you use the appropriate Kurvana 510 thread battery. Our batteries are designed to be paired with our cartridges for optimal temperature, durability, vaporization, and electrical settings. We recommend setting other devices between 3.3 and 3.7 volts or 11 watts, but we cannot guarantee the quality of off-brand battery devices.
THC Cartridge Packaging the Kurvana Way
Some customers have asked about our THC cart packaging, and how we deliver vape cartridges safely and discreetly. Whether you’d like non-psychoactive CBD, a 1:1 ratio, or a more potent THC cartridge, our packaging is always elegant and discreet. It also happens to be pleasing to the eye and highly durable, making it perfect for storing your device!
All of Kurvana’s packaging is 100% recyclable, and as a company, we are committed to reducing waste in the cannabis industry.
If you’d like to know more about our standards, safety, and purity, or learn how to get started with your new vape pen, please read more about us HERE.
