Why it matters
At pressures above ~74 bar and temperatures above ~31°C, CO2 enters a supercritical phase that combines gas-like diffusivity with liquid-like solvent power. It dissolves cannabinoids and many terpenes selectively, and reverts to a gas at ambient conditions — leaving the extract with no residual solvent. The capital cost is high but the operating cost and the product quality justify it for premium hemp processors.
In practice
CO2 extracts tend to be clean, light in colour, and well-suited to finished oils. The trade-off is that some volatile terpenes are still lost relative to live-resin-style methods.
Common confusion
“CO2-extracted” on a label is a quality signal but not a guarantee — post-extraction handling, distillation, and final formulation still determine product quality.
This glossary entry is editorial content reviewed against primary sources. It is not medical advice. See our Editorial Policy.