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Why Is It Called 420? The History Behind the Number BHO vs CO2 Extraction: How Cannabis Concentrates Are Made
BHO and CO2 are the two most common solvent-based extraction methods in legal cannabis. Both strip cannabinoids and terpenes out of flower, but they use different solvents and yield noticeably different products. Here’s how each works and why extractors choose one over the other.
Key Details
What BHO Extraction Is
BHO (Butane Hash Oil) extraction uses liquid butane — or a butane/propane blend — to strip cannabinoids and terpenes from cannabis flower. The solvent passes through the plant material in a closed-loop system, dissolves the active compounds, and is then purged away under heat and vacuum.
BHO is fast, high-yielding, and preserves a lot of terpene content. Most live resin, shatter, wax, budder, and crumble on the Colorado market is BHO. When done in a professional closed-loop system, it’s safe; homemade BHO extraction is illegal and dangerous due to fire risk.
What CO2 Extraction Is
CO2 extraction uses supercritical carbon dioxide — CO2 held at a temperature and pressure where it behaves as both a liquid and a gas — to pull cannabinoids from the plant. After extraction, the CO2 simply vents off as a gas, leaving the concentrated oil behind.
CO2 is food-grade, non-flammable, and leaves no residual solvent. It’s common in vape cartridge production, tinctures, and capsules. The downside: terpene preservation is generally lower than BHO, especially for volatile mono-terpenes.
Flavor and Product Differences
BHO tends to produce concentrates with louder, more pronounced terpene profiles — because butane is non-polar and dissolves terpenes efficiently without damaging them. That’s why live resin (BHO) is usually the top-flavor solvent concentrate.
CO2 concentrates can taste flatter or more generic, especially if terpenes aren’t reintroduced post-extraction. Many CO2 vape cartridges use botanical or cannabis-derived terpenes added back in after extraction to restore flavor.
Safety and Regulation
Both methods are legal and common in licensed cannabis labs. Colorado regulates both under strict safety and quality requirements. Residual solvent testing on final products ensures BHO meets low-ppm limits (well below safety thresholds).
CO2 has a slight edge on the ‘perception of clean’ — no residual solvents means nothing to purge. BHO is perfectly safe when produced in a closed-loop system and tested for residuals; the ‘dirty’ reputation is largely a hangover from the illicit market.
Which Shows Up Where
Most premium concentrate on dispensary shelves is BHO — live resin, wax, shatter, and budder. CO2 dominates vape cartridges, tinctures, and capsules because it’s well-suited to producing clean oil that fills vape hardware easily.
Social Dispensary’s concentrate menu includes both categories across the nine Colorado stores. Ask a budtender which extractor produces the current live resin or which vape cartridge is CO2-extracted if that matters to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does BHO stand for?
Butane Hash Oil — a concentrate made using butane as the extraction solvent.
Is CO2 extraction safer than BHO?
From a production standpoint, yes — CO2 isn’t flammable. From a final-product standpoint, both meet strict residual-solvent testing in regulated markets.
Which produces better flavor?
BHO, usually. Butane preserves more volatile terpenes than CO2. CO2 vape cartridges often have terpenes added back in to compensate.
Is live resin always BHO?
Yes, traditionally. Live resin is the ‘BHO from fresh-frozen flower’ category. Solventless equivalents (live rosin) exist but aren’t called live resin.
Should I care which method was used?
For flavor-critical products like dabs, yes. For casual use (vapes, edibles, tinctures), the difference is much smaller.
Related Reading
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Looking for quality flower, concentrates, edibles, or vape cartridges? Social Dispensary operates licensed retail cannabis stores across Colorado with carefully curated menus and everyday value pricing. Browse our current specials, or visit any of our Denver metro locations for in-person help from our budtenders.
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Educational content for adults 21 and over. This article is informational and is not medical advice. Cannabis affects everyone differently. Statements about cannabis on this page have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Cannabis is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you have a medical condition, talk with a licensed healthcare provider before using cannabis. Do not drive or operate machinery after consuming. Keep cannabis products away from children and pets.
