Cannabis products and extracts, explained
Florida dispensaries sell far more than flower. Your physician certifies you for specific routes of administration, and within each route there are many product types. This guide explains what each one is, how it's made and how they differ, so you can talk to your physician and dispensary with confidence.
Product forms sold in Florida
| Form | What it is | Onset & duration (typical) |
|---|---|---|
| Flower | Dried, cured cannabis buds, smoked or vaporized. | Minutes; lasts 1–3 hours |
| Vape cartridges & disposables | Concentrated oil heated to a vapor. Quality varies most by the oil inside (see extracts below). | Minutes; 1–3 hours |
| Concentrates | Shatter, wax, badder, live resin, rosin and more, vaporized at high heat. The most potent form sold. | Minutes; 1–3 hours |
| Edibles | Chocolates, gummies and other foods. THC is processed by the liver, which changes how it feels. | 30 minutes–2 hours; 4–8+ hours |
| Oral (capsules, oral oils) | Measured doses swallowed like a supplement. | 30 minutes–2 hours; 4–8 hours |
| Sublingual tinctures & sprays | Held under the tongue so some is absorbed directly. | 15–45 minutes; 2–6 hours |
| Topicals | Creams, balms and patches applied to skin. Most don't produce a high. | Local; varies |
| Suppositories | Rectal or vaginal delivery, used by some patients who can't take oral forms. | Varies |
Onset and duration ranges are general patterns reported in clinical literature and vary widely by person, product and dose. They are not dosing guidance.
Full spectrum, broad spectrum and isolate
- Full spectrum: keeps the plant's range of cannabinoids, terpenes and other compounds, including THC.
- Broad spectrum: many of the plant's compounds, with one removed (in hemp products, usually THC).
- Isolate / distillate: one cannabinoid refined to very high purity (often 85–99%), with most terpenes and minor compounds stripped out. Flavor is often added back.
Some patients and producers believe whole-plant products work better because compounds act together (the "entourage effect"). That idea is popular but still not well proven in human studies.
Every major extract type
| Extract | How it's made | What sets it apart |
|---|---|---|
| Distillate | Crude extract refined by heat and vacuum distillation into nearly pure THC (or CBD). | Very high potency, no flavor of its own; the base of most cartridges and edibles. |
| CO₂ oil | Extracted with pressurized carbon dioxide. | No hydrocarbon solvents; common in cartridges and capsules. |
| BHO (shatter, wax, budder, crumble) | Butane or propane extraction in a closed-loop system, then purged of solvent. | High potency; texture depends on how it's whipped or cured. |
| Live resin | Hydrocarbon extraction from plants frozen right after harvest instead of dried. | Keeps more of the fresh terpenes, so stronger flavor and aroma. |
| Rosin & live rosin | Heat and pressure squeeze resin out of flower or ice-water hash. No solvents. | Solventless, terpene-rich, usually the most expensive concentrate. |
| RSO (Rick Simpson Oil) | A whole-plant, full-spectrum oil, traditionally made with ethanol and heavily decarboxylated. Dark and thick. | Very concentrated; sold in Florida in measured syringes, mainly for oral use. |
| FECO (full-extract cannabis oil) | Similar to RSO, usually ethanol-extracted and refined to a cleaner oil. | The term is often used interchangeably with RSO; check the lab report. |
| Tinctures | Cannabinoids dissolved in a carrier such as MCT oil or alcohol. | Easy to measure; used under the tongue or swallowed. |
| Kief & hash | Trichomes collected by sifting, or by ice water, then pressed. | Traditional, solventless; potency between flower and extracts. |
Reading a label and lab report
- Total THC combines THC and THCA (which turns into THC when heated). Labs calculate it as THC + (THCA × 0.877).
- mg per unit vs. percent: edibles and oils list mg per piece or per mL; flower and concentrates list percent by weight. 20% THC flower contains about 200 mg THCA/THC per gram.
- Terpene total: often 1–4% in flower, higher in live products.
- Contaminant panel: pesticides, heavy metals, microbes, mycotoxins and residual solvents should all show pass.
- Batch and dates: the batch number on your package should match the lab report.
Safety
- Edibles and oral products take longer to work. Many bad experiences come from taking more before the first dose has taken effect.
- Cannabis can interact with other medicines, including blood thinners and sedatives. Tell your physician and pharmacist what you use.
- Don't drive or operate machinery while impaired. It's illegal in Florida regardless of your card.
- Store products locked and away from children and pets. Edibles look like ordinary candy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between RSO and FECO?
Both are full-spectrum, whole-plant oils. RSO traditionally means a very dark oil made with a solvent and fully decarboxylated; FECO usually means an ethanol-extracted oil refined a bit further. Brands use the terms loosely, so check the lab report for cannabinoid content.
Is live rosin better than live resin?
Both start from fresh-frozen plants. Live resin uses hydrocarbon solvents; live rosin uses only heat and pressure. Rosin is solventless and usually costs more. Which you prefer comes down to taste, effect and budget.
What does THCA percentage mean?
THCA is the raw form of THC in the plant. Heat converts it to THC. Total THC on a label is THC plus 87.7% of THCA, which accounts for the weight lost in the conversion.