How Cannabis Concentrates Are Made: The Comprehensive Guide

What is a Cannabis Concentrate?

A cannabis concentrate is any form of cannabis that is more potent than the cannabis flower used to make it. In other words, concentrates are cannabis that has been extracted from the plant and condensed into a more potent form. The oldest and most basic type of concentrate is hash, which has been used for millennia. Modern methods of extraction have allowed scientists to create a whole range of new concentrates, some with extremely high cannabinoid content. Most types of cannabis concentrate come in the form of a solid, sticky substance. The exception is cannabidiol (CBD) oils, which are liquid at room temperature. Cannabis concentrates are often extremely high in THC, the cannabinoid responsible for the “high” of the cannabis plant. Because of this, many people prefer to consume concentrates over flower because they can experience a more powerful effect with less product.

Why Use a Cannabis Concentrate?

There are a number of reasons to use a cannabis concentrate as opposed to smoking or ingesting cannabis flower. The most important factor is potency. Simply put, many forms of concentrate are much more concentrated than flower. This means that less product is required to achieve the desired effect. If you’re looking to minimize the amount of cannabis you consume, this can be an extremely helpful thing. For example, an eighth of flower weighs about 28 grams on average. An eighth of wax or shatter, on the other hand, may contain as little as 7 grams. This means that you can consume the same amount of cannabinoids with far less plant matter. Another important factor in choosing a cannabis concentrate is purity. As mentioned above, some types of concentrate are far more pure than others. In general, products such as shatter and rosin that are made with non-solvent extraction methods are far purer than solvent-based products like BHO. If you’re looking to avoid the presence of harmful pesticides, solvents or other impurities, concentrates are a good option.

THC and CBD Concentrates

When we talk about different types of cannabis concentrates, it’s helpful to keep in mind that there are two main types of cannabinoids: THC and CBD. THC is what produces the “high” associated with cannabis, while CBD doesn’t have any psychoactive effects. In general, THC-focused concentrates are better for recreation and “getting high,” while CBD-focused concentrates are best for medical use. THC and CBD are found in different concentrations in different parts of the cannabis plant. Flower, for example, usually has a higher THC content than stems and leaves. When we talk about THC and CBD concentrates, we’re usually talking about the parts of the plant that are richer in these cannabinoids. For example, flowers are the part of the plant that’s richest in THC, while leaves and stems are the highest in CBD.

Shatter, Wax, and Oil

One of the most common forms of cannabis concentrate is shatter. Shatter is made by extracting the THC content from a cannabis plant and then heating it to the point that it becomes a thick, hard substance. Shatter is often transparent and may look like amber or a cloudy jelly in appearance. Like many types of concentrate, shatter is usually quite high in THC content. Shatter is often consumed using a dab rig. This is a special type of bong designed for consuming concentrates. A dab rig has an extra-large bowl and a special carb (a hole where the smoke is drawn out) that is designed for much larger hits than a typical bong hit. Wax is another extremely common type of cannabis concentrate. Wax is usually made from either BHO or CO2 oil. As the name suggests, it is often a thick, sticky substance that resembles wax. Lastly, many types of cannabis concentrate are available in an oil form. Unlike wax, oil is a liquid at room temperature. CBD oil is often consumed in the form of a tincture, a liquid solution of high-CBD cannabis extract that is ingested orally.

Dabbing: How It’s Done and the Effects

If you’ve ever seen someone consume a cannabis concentrate, you’ve probably also seen them dab. Dabbing is the process of consuming a cannabis concentrate by placing the substance inside a special “dab rig” and then inhaling the vapors through a special process. The dab rig is a special water pipe designed to consume cannabis concentrates like BHO. Dabbing is a very popular method of consuming concentrates, but it isn’t for everyone. Dabbing requires a special rig that isn’t cheap, and it produces a large amount of waste due to the amount of butane needed to make BHO. Furthermore, dab hits are extremely large and aren’t for beginners. Dabbing with a one-hitter will get you high but not stoned. Dabbing with a small rig is best for beginners.

Kief and Coarse Hash

Kief is essentially the crystals that collect on the outside of cannabis flowers while they’re being processed into buds. This kief can then be collected and used as a potent form of cannabis concentrate. Coarse hash is similar, but not exactly the same. Coarse hash is made by mixing cannabis buds with a solvent, pressing out the THC, and then removing all but the “hash”, the parts of the buds that broke down the most. Both kief and coarse hash are extremely potent forms of cannabis, and they are often considered “caviar” for cannabis connoisseurs. They are usually consumed by either sprinkling them on top of a bowl or smoking them in a joint or pipe. Unlike BHO, kief and coarse hash do not require special equipment.

Vaping With Concentrates: The Bottom Line

Vaping is a great way to consume cannabis concentrates, but it isn’t appropriate for all types of substance. In general, vaping isn’t the best way to consume cannabis concentrate if you’re looking for a strong high. This is because vaping creates a lower temperature than smoking, which means that you don’t extract as much THC from the plant. However, vaping is a great way to consume a small amount of THC without producing a lot of smoke and smell. The downside is that vaping isn’t a great way to consume high-CBD products, as they don’t transfer well to vaping. If you’re looking to vape cannabis concentrates, you have a few options. You can dab with an oil attachment, you can use a vape pen, or you can use a special device called a vape whip. Each of these cannabis-friendly devices works in a slightly different way, but all have their benefits. Dabbing with an oil attachment is the most efficient way to consume cannabis concentrates, but it isn’t very portable and isn’t great for low-THC products like CBD. Vape pens are portable and can be used with a variety of substances, but they aren’t very efficient at extracting cannabinoids. Finally, vape whips are great for low-THC products like CBD, but they aren’t as efficient as dabbing.

Conclusion

Cannabis concentrates are powerful and potent, and they come in many different forms. There are many reasons to use a cannabis concentrate, including their potency, purity and simplicity compared to other forms of cannabis. Shatter, wax and oil are some of the most common types of cannabis concentrate. Shatter is made by extracting the THC from the plant and then heating it to create a thick, sticky substance. Wax is a thick substance made from either BHO or CO2 oil. Kief and coarse hash are crystallized buds, and vapes are a great way to consume cannabis concentrates.