We all know many things about marijuana. We can vape it, smoke it, eat it, or use it in more purified forms like CBD oils. There are literally countless ways to try marijuana. But, there’s one form that has gained immense popularity over recent years — and that’s the ‘concentrate’ forms of cannabis. People are using concentrates for both recreational as well as medical purposes. It can be referred to by different names. Some people call them dabs, while others prefer to call them ‘shatter’ or oil. Like all different forms of marijuana or cannabis, concentrates also come in different shapes and forms. If you want to try out concentrates or are unsure where to start, you have come to the right place. Let’s break down everything about concentrates and try to understand how they are made.
What exactly are concentrates?
Before delving into different forms of concentrates, it’s important to know exactly what these are. A concentrate is something that’s made up of different products put together in a concentrated form.
The final product that’s extracted after the concentration process is naturally more potent and an amazing experience. In marijuana or hemp plant, the concentrates involve extracting excess material to the extent that all you are left with is cannabinoids (usually CBD or THC) and terpenes. The concentrate contains high THC quantities, so they are naturally for those seeking ‘high’ or intoxication.
For those who don’t know what THC is, it’s a cannabinoid or a chemical compound found in marijuana plants, which is responsible for causing a euphoric high. CBD, on the other hand, is equally opposite in its action. It blocks the feeling of high while providing you several medicinal benefits of the amazon herb called ‘cannabis’.
Concentrates can also contain a high quantity of CBD or THC or both — the extraction method for concentrates is the same. It also contains adequate quantities of terpenes, the chemicals responsible for different odors in marijuana. The combination of all cannabinoids and terpenes makes a more potent mixture that can give you a much enjoyable experience.
What are the different types of concentrates?
The process of making concentrates produces ranges that are different in composition as well as forms. Suppose you want to try ‘concentrates,’ there’ a need to know what kinds of effects you are seeking. Here are some of the different concentrates.
Shatter: Shatter is a concentrate that, in its purest forms, can give a hard-hitting high. As the name suggests, shatter is like glass in its composition. If you break it, shatter will also fall into small pieces like glass. The concentrate bears a clear or amber color. The texture is usually solid but smooth. It is usually sticky. Once extracted into contracted form, you can cut it into thin sheets like candies. Shatter is extracted using the BHO method. To extract the concentrate in its purest form, butane is used as an extraction solvent, and after filtration, the end product is highly potent. Try it out if you are seeking a euphoric high.
Wax or dab
Wax, as the name suggests, is a wax-like concentrate, which may also be handled with a dabbing tool. In composition, the wax concentrates looks like candle wax but more in a stickier form. The color of the concentrate is usually yellowish. You can use the concentrate via vaping or a rig. Depending upon the extraction method, wax concentrates can be either sticky or crumblier or honey-like structure. The extraction method usually varies due to heat and moisture. This type of concentrate is for those looking at a decent experience.
What are rosins?
The resin of a marijuana plant is extracted using the heat-and-pressure technique. You don’t use the solvent to extract this concentrate, and the above-mentioned technique is applied to buds, kief, or trim of a marijuana plant. The rosins are usually golden, sappy, and oil-like and can even be made at home with parchment paper and hair straightener. Those extracting rosins for commercial purposes extract it with a hydraulic press. The end product is rich in terpenes and cannabinoids. The rosins contain higher aroma quantities, making them a favorite choice among people looking at beautiful odor and an intoxicating substance.
Oil
Oil is extracted using Co2 as a solvent instead of butane like wax or shatter. The benefit of using co2 as the solvent is that it saves terpenes from getting wasted due to the not-so-high requirement of temperature. There are countless usages of oil, especially in CBD form. The oils are also used to make edible products rich in cannabis compounds. Oils are also used in vape pen cartridges or syringes. The most important quality of the oil is its unique taste.
Hash
This is the most commonly used concentrate. This method has been in use for a long. To extract hash, kief has to be compressed together. The concentrate is also made using ice water by sifting through screens to collect the concentrated form. This type of concentrate is usually more potent than others and contains a high concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes. It’s usually consumed by smoking. You can also use hash in the regular bud.
The bottom line
All these concentrates are quite good at giving you the kind of high you need—the need to understand which one suits you the best. If you are too confused about choosing the right kind, seek help from a budtender to guide you according to your need. Some people also prefer to try out all of them, which also seems like a daring idea, but you should know where your boundaries are. Don’t go too far and if it’s showing some negative impacts, seek the doctors’ help. In essence, concentrates are a great way to experience the unique properties of ‘cannabis.’ The usage and preferences may vary. Still, the source of all happiness is always the basic ‘cannabis plant.’ So, what are you waiting for? Give it a try!
