Where Mfused Sits In The Concentrate Market
Cannabis concentrates split along two main lines: solvent versus solventless, and live versus cured.
Solvent extraction uses a hydrocarbon (butane or propane), ethanol, or CO2 to pull cannabinoids and terpenes out of the plant, then removes the solvent under low temperature and vacuum. Hydrocarbon extraction is a common method for live resin because the cold solvent is gentle on terpenes.
Solventless extraction uses water, ice, heat, and pressure to separate trichomes from the plant. Ice-water hash pressed into rosin is the well-known solventless product. No chemical solvent is used, but the process is more labor-intensive and yields less.
Live extraction starts from flash-frozen flower, frozen soon after harvest to hold onto the volatile aromatic compounds before drying and curing can degrade them. Cured extraction starts from dried-and-cured flower, which has lost some of those lighter terpenes but keeps the cannabinoid profile.
Mfused is known for live resin made by hydrocarbon extraction, which places it in the live-solvent category. The solventless counterpart in that same "made from frozen flower" family is live rosin.
How Live Resin Is Made
The general live resin process works roughly like this.
First, flash freezing. Flower is harvested and frozen soon after cut, which holds the volatile terpenes in place before drying can drive them off.
Second, extraction. The frozen flower is loaded into a closed-loop column and cold liquid hydrocarbon solvent flows through under pressure, dissolving cannabinoids and terpenes while leaving much of the plant material behind.
Third, solvent recovery. The hydrocarbon is evaporated off and condensed back into liquid for reuse. Closed-loop systems are designed to recover most of the solvent on each run.
Fourth, purging. The concentrate is purged of residual solvent under controlled heat and vacuum. In the New York licensed market, products are tested for residual solvent before they reach the shelf.
Fifth, post-processing. Depending on the target product, the result is finished into different textures and formats, including vape oil for cartridges, or concentrate for dabbing.
How To Verify Any Licensed Product
In the New York licensed market, products are lab-tested before sale. A Certificate of Analysis for a batch generally reports cannabinoid content, terpene profile, and safety screens such as residual solvent, pesticides, heavy metals, and microbials, each of which should pass. Residual solvent screening is the screen that matters most for any hydrocarbon-extracted concentrate.
The Office of Cannabis Management licenses adult-use businesses in New York, and the state publishes a list of licensed retailers at cannabis.ny.gov.
A note on safety history: the 2019 EVALI lung-injury cluster was traced largely to unlicensed-market vape products cut with vitamin E acetate. Products sold in the New York licensed adult-use market are lab-tested before they reach the shelf, which is a different category from gray-market carts.
Comparable Categories
If you like live resin, the closest neighbor is live rosin, the solventless version made from the same kind of flash-frozen flower using heat and pressure instead of solvent. Rosin is more labor-intensive to make and yields less, but it has its own terpene character. At the other end, distillate carts tend to carry less of the original cultivar's flavor. Browse the live menu to compare what is in stock across these styles, including current pricing.
Where To Buy At The Alchemy
Chelsea store: 302 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10001. Phone (646) 819-4143.
Flatiron store: 12 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011, between 5th and 6th Avenue. Phone (646) 284-6584.
The Alchemy Chelsea is open Monday and Tuesday 10am to 10pm, Wednesday to Friday 10am to midnight, and Saturday and Sunday 10am to 10pm. The Alchemy Flatiron is open Monday 9am to 9pm, Tuesday to Friday 10am to 9pm, and Saturday and Sunday 10am to 8pm. Email [email protected]. Follow @thealchemy.nyc on Instagram and TikTok.
We offer same-day delivery in Manhattan. For the current delivery area and any minimums, see the live menu or contact the store. Adults 21 and older only, with a valid government photo ID.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is live resin?
Cannabis concentrate made from flash-frozen flower instead of dried-and-cured flower. The freezing helps preserve the volatile terpenes that are otherwise lost during drying, so live resin usually carries more of a cultivar's specific flavor than distillate.
Is live resin the same as live rosin?
No. Live resin uses a solvent (commonly a hydrocarbon) in a closed-loop system. Live rosin is solventless, made with heat and pressure on ice-water hash. Both start from flash-frozen flower; the difference is the extraction method.
How much THC is in live resin?
It varies by product and batch, and the live menu lists the tested figure for each item. Live resin is often lower in raw THC percentage than distillate because the terpene fraction takes up more of the product.
Are licensed vape products tested?
Yes. Products sold in New York licensed dispensaries are lab-tested, including residual solvent screening for concentrate-based vapes. Vitamin E acetate, the additive tied to the 2019 EVALI cluster, was associated with unlicensed-market vapes rather than tested licensed products.
How do I see what is in stock?
Open the live menu for the store you want. Chelsea: dutchie.com/stores/blazinup. Flatiron: dutchie.com/stores/the-alchemy-flatiron.
The Alchemy Editors
Field notes from the counter at Chelsea + Flatiron.
Written by our procurement and budtender team. Every claim verified against NYS OCM regulations and current shelf inventory. Updated as the menu rotates.
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