What distillate is
THC distillate is a highly refined cannabis oil that's been stripped of everything except THC (and sometimes CBD). It's odorless, tasteless, and very potent (typically 80 to 95% THC). Most mass-market gummies use distillate because it's cheap to produce, easy to dose accurately, and doesn't affect the flavor of the final product. You get pure THC without any of the other plant compounds.
What full-spectrum means
Full-spectrum extracts retain the broader range of compounds from the cannabis plant: multiple cannabinoids (THC, CBD, CBN, CBG, and others), terpenes (aromatic compounds that affect both flavor and effects), and flavonoids. The extraction process is gentler and preserves more of the plant's original chemistry. Full-spectrum products are more expensive to produce because the extraction is less efficient and the starting material matters more (you can't use bottom-shelf trim and get good full-spectrum oil).
The entourage effect
The theory behind full-spectrum's advantage is called the "entourage effect": the idea that cannabinoids and terpenes work together to produce effects that none of them can achieve alone. A 10mg full-spectrum gummy may feel different from a 10mg distillate gummy, though the THC content is identical, because the supporting compounds modify how your body processes and responds to the THC. Research on the entourage effect is still developing, but many experienced users report a clear qualitative difference.
Live resin: the premium tier
Live resin is a specific type of full-spectrum extract made from flash-frozen fresh cannabis (rather than dried and cured plant material). Freezing preserves terpenes that would otherwise evaporate during drying. Kiva's Lost Farm gummies use live resin, and the terpene profiles are noticeably more complex than standard full-spectrum products. Live resin edibles are the most expensive option but represent the closest thing to the full plant experience in edible form.
Which should you buy
If you're price-sensitive and just want THC, distillate gummies do the job. If you care about the quality of the experience and you've noticed that different strains affect you differently when smoking, full-spectrum edibles are worth the premium. And if you want the highest-quality edible experience available, try a live resin product and see if you notice the difference. Many people who switch from distillate to full-spectrum don't go back.