federal law originally defined “marihuana” in terms of resin content. Resin was mentioned no less than three times in the definition of “marijuana” encoded in the 1970 Controlled Substances Act, which was lifted word-for-word from the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act. To summarize that document, certain parts of the plant – specifically the “mature stalk” and “sterilized seed” – are exempt from the legal definition of marijuana; but not included in this exemption are the flowers, leaves and sticky resin wherever it is found on the plant.

Federal law is actually unequivocal on this point: The resin from any part of the marijuana plant – or any “preparation” made from the resin – is strictly out of bounds. Fiber produced from hemp stalk and oil pressed from hempseed received a legal pass, but not the resin.

If it’s a bud or “flower” - it’s not legal.