How extraction methods shape cannabis quality and potency

Cannabis sativa presents a highly complex phytochemical matrix, with numerous bioactive constituents, especially phytocannabinoids and terpenes, which justify the growing medicinal and industrial interest. As extraction strongly influences the chemical profile of the final product, this review synthesizes how extraction strategies and operating conditions affect the composition and quality of the extract. This study is a narrative literature review of publications published between 2010 and 2025. Searches were conducted in major scientific databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library, using descriptors related to C. sativa, cannabinoids, terpenes, extraction methods, and supercritical CO2. Eligible studies and reviews describing extraction approaches, process variables, and resulting chemical profiles were prioritized, with emphasis on more recent evidence when available. Extraction approaches were organized into solvent-free and solvent-based methods, and within solvent-based methods, into conventional and unconventional techniques. Solvent-free methods rely on mechanical separation and may favor the preservation of trichomes. Conventional solvent-based methods are simple and widely accessible but generally require longer processing times and greater solvent usage, with the potential for co-extraction of impurities. Unconventional solvent-based techniques can reduce extraction time and improve selectivity and may potentially align better with sustainable processing, depending on solvent choice and energy demand. The reviewed literature indicates that there is no universal extraction method suitable for all purposes. Instead, technique selection should be guided by the intended application and target profile (e.g., preservation of acidic cannabinoids, enrichment of neutral cannabinoids, terpene retention, and reduction of chlorophyll/other co-extractives). Key controllable variables, including solvent type, temperature, time, pressure, and solid:solvent ratio, govern mass transfer and chemical stability. Notably, higher temperatures may promote decarboxylation of acidic cannabinoids and contribute to terpene losses, potentially altering both chemical and organoleptic characteristics. Therefore, careful process design and parameter optimization are essential to obtain reproducible extracts with consistent composition and fit-for-purpose quality.