The Complete Guide to Cannabis Extraction Methods

🌿 The Complete Guide to Cannabis Extraction Methods — Including Freeze-Drying

5 Liter 2,000 Psi Supercritical CO2 extractor

Cannabis extraction has evolved into an art and a science, allowing cultivators, processors, and DIY enthusiasts to isolate and concentrate cannabinoids and terpenes for a variety of uses—such as oils, dabs, tinctures, edibles, and topicals.

This comprehensive guide explores the most popular cannabis extraction methods, their benefits, how they work, and how freeze-drying plays a critical role in preserving quality for solventless extraction.

🌟 Why Extract Cannabis?

Cannabis extracts concentrate the most desirable compounds—THC, CBD, CBG, terpenes, and flavonoids—while removing excess plant material. The result is a potent, versatile product with applications in both recreational and medicinal cannabis use.

🧪 Categories of Extraction Methods

Cannabis extraction methods can be divided into two primary categories:

1. Solvent-Based Extractions

2. Solventless (Mechanical) Extractions

Let’s break them down.

🔹 Solvent-Based Cannabis Extraction Methods

These use chemical solvents (like alcohol, CO₂, or butane) to dissolve and separate cannabinoids from the plant.

1. Cold Ethanol Extraction

• Solvent: High-proof alcohol (e.g., Everclear)

• Ideal for: Full-spectrum oil, tinctures, RSO

• Pros: Efficient, food-safe solvent

• Steps:

  1. Freeze cannabis and ethanol

  2. Mix and soak briefly

  3. Filter

  4. Evaporate alcohol safely

95% - Alcohol - Ethanol

95% Cold Alcohol

Cannabis Oil Extraction

Distiller - Water/Alcohol

Essential Oil Distiller Kit

Hank Hill - Cannabis Oil Extraction

2. CO₂ Extraction

• Solvent: Supercritical CO₂

• Ideal for: Vape oils, tinctures, topicals

• Pros: Clean, scalable, no toxic solvents

• Cons: Expensive equipment, technical skill required

Supercritical CO2 Extractor

Co2 Extracted Cannabis Oil

3. Butane or Propane Extraction (BHO/PHO)

• Solvent: Butane or propane

• Ideal for: Dabs, shatter, wax, crumble

• Pros: High terpene and cannabinoid retention

• Cons: Risk of explosion; needs purging

BHO Extractor Kit With Vacuum Chamber for Purging

4. Hydrocarbon Extraction (Closed-Loop)

• Uses a closed system to safely recover and recycle solvents, often producing high-end concentrates.

1LB Butane - Closed Loop Extractor

BHO - Shatter Extract

BHO Extract before purging

Cannabis - Solvent and non Solvent Concentrates

Cannabis Concentrates

🔹 Solventless (Mechanical) Cannabis Extraction Methods

These rely on pressure, heat, or agitation—not chemicals—to extract trichomes and resin.

5. Dry Sift (Kief Collection)

• Method: Use fine mesh screens to sift trichomes from dried buds

• Ideal for: Hash, rosin pressing

• Pros: Simple, solventless, clean

• Tip: Use cold environment to avoid smearing trichomes

• Dry Sifting Method:

  1. Prepare the material: Ensure the cannabis flower is dry and cured. 

  2. Use a kief box or screen: Select a kief box or a screen with different micron sizes. 

  3. Sift the material: Gently sift the flower through the screen, separating the trichomes. 

  4. Collect the kief: The kief will accumulate on the bottom surface of the screen or in the kief box. 

  5. Repeat with smaller screens: For a purer product, repeat the sifting process with smaller micron screens. 

  
  

  

  Cannabis - Blonde Kief

  
  

  

  3Pcs Pollen Sifter, Stainless Steel Extractor Dry Sift

  
  

6. Ice Water Hash (Bubble Hash)

• Method: Agitate cannabis in ice water, then filter through micron bags

• Ideal for: Premium hash or rosin

• Steps:

  1. Add cannabis to cold water with ice

  2. Stir/agitate

  3. Filter through bubble bags

  4. Collect and dry

Cannabis - Bubble Hash

Cannabis - Bubble Hash Kit

Hank Hill - Bubble Hash Extraction

7. Rosin Pressing

• Method: Apply heat and pressure to buds or hash

• Ideal for: High-quality, dabbable concentrates

• Pros: Solventless, preserves terpenes

• Cons: Requires press, not great for large-scale

Nug Smasher Pro IQ

Nug Smasher Pro

TRP Stack Rosin Press

Cannabis - Pressed Rosin

❄️ Freeze-Drying: A Game-Changer for Solventless Extracts

Freeze-drying (lyophilization) is a method used to dry cannabis bubble hash or fresh-frozen buds while preserving terpenes and preventing degradation.

Commercial Freeze Dryer

Harvest Right - Medium Freeze Dryer

Cannabis - Freeze Dried Hash

🌬️ Why Freeze-Dry Cannabis?

• Prevents mold and microbial growth

• Preserves more terpenes and cannabinoids than air drying

• Speeds up drying process

• Ideal for live rosin, live hash, and full-melt hash

🧊 Freeze-Drying Process (for Bubble Hash or Fresh-Frozen Buds):

1. Harvest fresh cannabis

2. Immediately freeze at –40°C or colder

3. Place frozen material into a freeze dryer

4. The freeze dryer creates a vacuum and slowly removes moisture via sublimation

5. Product emerges bone-dry and terpene-rich

🔧 Equipment Needed:

• Commercial freeze dryer (e.g., Harvest Right)

• Trays or parchment

• Clean, cold workspace

🧴 End Products from These Methods

• Oils: Used in tinctures, capsules, vape carts

• Concentrates: Shatter, wax, rosin, hash

• Tinctures & Edibles: Especially from ethanol or MCT oil infusion

• Topicals: THC- or CBD-infused balms and creams

⚠️ Safety and Legal Tips

• Use food-grade or lab-grade solvents only

• Work in well-ventilated, spark-free environments

• Follow local regulations for cannabis processing

• Always purge residual solvents when applicable

🏁 Final Thoughts

From solvent-based extractions like CO₂ and ethanol, to solventless classics like rosin and bubble hash, and modern enhancements like freeze-drying, cannabis extraction offers a method for every goal, budget, and product preference.

Whether you're a home grower crafting artisanal hash or a small processor developing premium extracts, understanding your options helps ensure safe, effective, and flavorful results.