What is a nug run?

Extracts are commonly made using lower quality cannabis such as trim or shake, rather than buds or nugs, which are usually sold as flower to dispensaries. A nug run is a batch of cannabis concentrate made exclusively from nugs or buds, with no trim or shake used. As nug runs use higher grade cannabis, they tend to be more expensive. Nug runs usually use buds that have been rejected for sale to a dispensary because they didn’t have bag appeal.

Different kinds of nug run

Extraction artists have options when it comes to the type of nug used to perform a nug run extraction. More often than not, the type of nug used is determined by the flower available to the extraction technician, commonly referred to as an extraction artist. If you’re not yet familiar with larf and popcorn nugs, know that these terms describe the shape and composition of the dried flowers, not necessarily their quality.

Types of Nugs Used for Extraction

Processors choose from various nugs to perform a nug run extraction. In most cases, the extraction artist (the extraction technician) uses the flower available to them. Here are some options:

Colas 

The central flower cluster of cannabis buds that grow at the end of stems. These are typically the most desired part of cannabis because they house the highest concentration of mature and fully developed trichomes. They also have less moisture than colas packaged in whole form for consumers.

Larf 

Larf describes the immature buds that didn’t fully flourish as a result of genetic factors or environmental conditions. Lack of nutrients, lighting, or feeding cycles may result in  LARF nugs (Light, Airy, and Really Fluffy). Cultivators coined this term to shorten the description of these nugs, which, despite their name, are commonly used to create cannabis concentrates. Some growers pick their plants early to create a special batch of concentrates because terpenes start to develop during flowering stages. So, these nugs display a very potent aroma and high terpene concentration.

Popcorn nugs

As the name suggests, popcorn nugs are of dime-to-quarter size but don’t let that fool you. They have a similar ratio of trichomes as coals. These nugs are often not offered for sale to consumers because of their small size. They can be pressed into rosin, smoked, vaped, or infused into edibles.