“As cannabis is slowly decriminalized the world over, and the use of medicinal and adult-use products expands, we are going to need a universal classification system to grade product quality.

Historically, the few Hashish producing countries never made more than half-a-dozen grades of resin, and the quality gap between the grades was so obvious that the simplest grading system was adequate for commerce.

Today the amazing diversity of Cannabis strains is reflected in the quality of the large variety of resin available which makes the development of a universally agreed upon classification system that much more important. We need a system that would transcribe professional knowledge into a numerical grade that could be understood and used by connoisseurs, as well as by the less knowledgeable consumer the world over as an educational and reference tool. A system that can define the various dimensions and parameters of resin quality is mandatory to the future of our trade.” Frenchy Cannoli, Quality Classification Cannabis Resin, Weed World, Issue 120, Sept. 2015, pg. 82-87.

1. The appearance of resin varies wildly from loose trichomes to pressed Hashish and is therefore difficult to judge without manual manipulation.

2. The body is a term that describes the sensation of fullness in the mouth, the mouthfeel beyond the initial smoothness, as the taste buds explore the complexity of the smoke and the terpene profile.

3.  The bouquet or aroma (Nose) expressed by the resin is the olfactory essence of the experience to come, the richness of the resin's natural expression.

4. The complexity is associated with quality but also with the feeling accompanying the experience of smoking, the more complex the smoke the more intense the overall feeling. The balance expresses the finesse, elegance, and perfect harmony of all the elements in the smoke.

5. Intensity/Duration identifies the intensity of the flavors and how long they linger in the mouth after inhaling the smoke, a guide to the concentration of terpenes, and the duration of “yumminess” after exhalation.

6. The Melt or amount of resin formed in the trichomes is the number one factor in judging quality. The cleaner the material, the better the melt.

7. The smoothness of the smoke during inhalation.

8. The Stability of the resin indicates a good drying methodology.

9. The taste forms an integral part of the experience and will often be aligned with personal preference. 

10. The overall pleasure and uniqueness offered by the experience unique to each strain.