Cannabis Concentrates

Cannabis extracts have only recently become popular. However, it is thought that people have used them for over 12,000 years! According to historians, this potent creation from the cannabis plant was utilized in China’s Steppe Mountains many millennia ago.

Concentrates are often referred to as “hash,” although they are a long way from the dark-colored bricks smuggled into North America and Europe from countries such as Morocco.

Concentrates are strains of cannabis with a higher THC concentration, as the name implies. They’re readily available on the internet and in regulated dispensaries. This thorough tutorial will answer all of your questions about concentrates. This covers everything you need to know about concentrates, including different kinds, how to take them, what to consider while purchasing them, and how much is enough.

What Is Marijuana Concentrate?

Cannabis concentrates, sometimes referred to as hashish or oil, are cannabis preparations with exceptionally high amounts of THC. It can include any product produced from the cannabis plant that has been refined into a concentrated form. It includes all of the terpenes and cannabinoids generated by the flowers, as well as no extra plant material.

Although they have similar effects, many distinct products exist with varying THC concentrations as well as textures. It’s all about the texture when it comes to these things. Vaping, dabbing wax concentrates, or sprinkling them on a joint or blunt are just a few methods to consume these items.

The cannabis plant’s fragrance, flavor, and effects are caused by the chemicals present in it, including cannabinoids and terpenes. The trichomes, which are a collection of sparkling structures found within the plant, contain these compounds. These trichomes are condensed to create products that can provide an exceptionally intense and pleasurable high.

Types of Cannabis Concentrates

It’s worth noting that the most frequent types of cannabis concentrates are divided into solvent-based and solventless solutions. Wax concentrates, for example, are considered a type of solvent-based concentrate, whereas kief production does not require the use of a solvent. Let’s take a look at each category before going through nine of the most well-known concentrates across both categories.

Marijuana Concentrates – Solvent-Based or Solventless?

There are solventless and solvent-based concentrates from the cannabis plant, both of which are considerably more powerful than the flower alone. A solvent-based extract entails extracting the THC – along with other cannabinoids and terpenes – using a substance like butane, ethanol, or CO2.

A solventless concentrate does not imply using a solvent to extract the material of interest. Instead, heat/cold, pressure, and water are used. As new methods are created to extract cannabinoids and terpenes from plant material, the number of concentrates available is increasing.

The end products’ biological and chemical composition is changed by the extraction technique, which allows you to distinguish concentrates by appearance and texture. The process of extracting produces a difference in the final products’ biological and chemical makeup. While you won’t notice a difference, it does influence what you consume.

Solvent-Based Extraction

The odor of solvent-based concentrates is another issue that has caused concern among many users. There’s also the risk of fire because you could be using butane or propane.

In a DIY setting, solvent extractions are extremely hazardous. However, with the progress in technology, businesses may now utilize certified lab experts and high-tech equipment to create safe clean concentrates by using solvents to extract plant material. These firms operate a closed-loop system to guarantee there is no airborne chemical exposure during extraction.

Solvent-based extracts are also thought to be more potent and include a full spectrum of terpenes and cannabinoids. The bud’s structure remains intact since the flower isn’t physically shaken, keeping terpenes safe.

Finally, the issue of impurities is addressed via a technique called ‘purging.’ After extraction, you must purge with butane, CO2, propane, or alcohol to eliminate any residual solvent. Hand-whipping , vacuuming, or evaporating might all be referred to as purging.

Let’s look at the most popular solvent-based cannabis concentrate brands.

CO2 Oil

This entails using CO2 to extract oil from the marijuana plant, as you might guess. A technique known as supercritical extraction is employed. It uses a lot of pressure and carbon dioxide to separate plant material. The color of high-quality CO2 oil is amber and contains little residual solvent.

Other components are frequently added to lower the overall strength of the oil. It’s not unusual for an ounce of cannabis oil to contain 30mg of THC per milliliter.

Wax/Budder

Wax is a type of concentrate that you’ll commonly find being dabbed. A solvent and a closed-loop extraction technique are used to make wax. The material is thick and gooey and is heated at temperatures low enough to protect terpenes and cannabinoids. It’s whipped to remove the solvent residue, which makes it ideal for making edibles or other applications where you don’t want any residual solvents floating around.

At this stage, the most significant difference between the concentrates is their consistency. Wax is dry and crumbly, while budder has a greater moisture content and resembles butter.

Shatter

The process for extracting cannabis oil involves a closed-loop system and a solvent. In this situation, the slurry is applied to parchment paper, and the space is purged using a vacuum oven. To remove residual solvent, the substance is burped several times, and it eventually spreads across the paper.

Shatter, in general, is a simple thing to break into little pieces. If the purge isn’t adequate, the end product is called “taffy,” which has a similar texture to taffy. Both shatter and taffy are light to dark amber in color.

Live Resin

Fresh frozen plant material is used instead of wax in the production of cannabis concentrates. The main benefit is that the cannabinoid profile is comparable to that of a live plant. Live resin is highly preferred due to its delicious flavor and fragrance, as well as its terpene profile, which has been preserved from a live plant. Live resin has a golden yellow color ranging from gold to pale amber; it’s glossy and moist to the touch.

Distillate

The concentrated THC is then compressed via CO2, a method known as supercritical CO2 extraction. It’s been used for quite some time in food preparations and body products. This technique involves high-tech scientific equipment to heat and vaporize the cannabinoids present in cannabis flower. The vapors are transferred to a cooling system where they are collected in containers.

Solventless Extraction

This entails obtaining cannabinoids and terpenes without the use of solvents, as the name implies. Using ice to cool marijuana flowers below freezing is one of the most popular non-solvent extraction techniques. The resin glands are agitated during this method, which causes them to separate from the flowers’ epidermis.

Due to the lack of solvents, extracts such as rosin and bubble hash have grown in popularity. You can ensure that no residualsolvents are present on a part per million (ppm) basis, at the very least. However, during the procedure, you might harm the bud’s architecture.

Let’s check out the most popular solventless concentrates below.

Bubble Hash

Ice water hash, sometimes known as ice water hash, is a non-solvent product created using water, ice, and micron bags (also known as bubble bags) to filter the plant material and waste. You may safely make bubble hash at home. All you need are marijuana flower, water, ice, a bucket, and at least seven-micron bags with diameters ranging from 25 to 220 microns.

You freeze the plant’s trichome glands with ice water, making it simpler to snap them off. Because trichomes are heavier than water, they tend to sink to the bottom. You filter the water and collect the trichomes using the bags. Bubble hash is classified into 1-star (lowest) and 6-star (highest) grades.

Kief

The simplest marijuana concentrates to create are hash oil, kief, and live resin. All you need to do is agitate and separate the plant’s trichomes by rubbing marijuana flower against a specialized filtering screen. Collecting the trichomes with a three-chamber grinder is usually sufficient.

There is also “live” kief, which is made from freshly-frozen cannabis flower. In other words, the plant was cut at harvest time and frozen right away to preserve its entire cannabinoid profile and terpenes. The usual method is a nitrogen bath. Then you break up the trichomes by agitating them.

Rosin

To make resin, you must use high pressure and high temperatures. To create solid resin, you must remove the essential oils from the trichome heads. You can safely produce rosin at home because it does not require solvents. The quality of the rosin you obtain is solely determined by how good marijuana is.

Traditionally, individuals combined heat and pressure to make rosin in tortilla presses and hair straighteners. There are machines designed specifically for this purpose today.

Dry Sift

This is refined kief that has been mechanically or manually extracted with numerous micron screens to preserve the trichomes. The finest dry sift on the market is “full melt,” which contains up to 90% trichome resin head content. Contain stalks and heads, as well as half melts. The lowest grade of kief is known as dry sift because it also includes plant debris. Dry sift usually comes in a tan or beige coloration.

Methods of Consuming Marijuana Concentrates

There are numerous ways to consume cannabis, including options that allow you to use it on the go.

Bowl Topping

To make a more powerful strain, add concentrates to cannabis flower. The advantage is that you don’t have to worry about overdoing it. Bowl topping is ideal for first-timers using concentrates.

For example, if you’re smoking from a bong or pipe, put a little amount of concentrate in the bowl with the flower. Add some concentrate when rolling a joint or blunt; this is referred to as “twaxing.” If you have concentrate that has a stretchy texture, you may even create a lengthy line of it and wrap it around the outside of the joint!

Users prefer bubble hash as a bowl topping because it has the same combustible properties as flower. Please note that if too much heat is applied, bubble hash can remain lit, so extinguish the flame as soon as possible. Ideally, you should keep the flame close enough to allow the bubble hash to melt without catching fire.

Dabbing

The dabbing process is generally completed with a vaporizer in this way. A dab rig is a device that’s meant to be used with dabs. If you can, invest in a borosilicate glass dab rig. It’s also preferable to use a tiny kit since the flavor will be improved as a result of it. Step one begins when you fill the device with water. According To experts, it’s critical to fill the equipment all the way to the top of the diffuser or downstem until it reaches two inches above it or below two inches deep.

Check the water level by breathing through the mouthpiece. If you end up with water in your mouth, you added too much water! Then push your nail (also known as a banger) into the joint of the rig. Joints come in sizes such as 10mm, 14mm, and 18mm. ‘Season’ the nail by heating it with a torch until it glows bright red until twice more after adding a little concentrate to the nail and then allowing it to cool. “

When you’re ready to dab, add some concentrate to the red-hot nail and breathe the vapor. You don’t need much concentrate to get high, so start with small dosages to see how strong you like it.

Vaporizers

Although you may still use a desktop vaporizer, more people are choosing portable vape devices like pens. A basic vape pen allows you to add concentrate to the chamber and instantly transforms it into vapor. All you have to do is breathe in! There are high-tech gadgets on the market that allow you to adjust the temperature. This is particularly significant if you want to save as many terpenes and cannabinoids as feasible.

Purchasing Cannabis Concentrate: What to Consider

There are a lot of items on the market, but they aren’t all made equal. Because marijuana concentrates are costly, do your homework before purchasing any brands you’re thinking about. You may wind up being robbed or get ill as a result of hazardous chemicals in the product if you don’t.

Look for supercritical CO2 extractions to ensure the highest quality cannabis concentrates. Otherwise, you won’t know if you’re getting a high-quality product. Also, why spend a lot of money on butane-extracted concentrate when you can make your own using nothing more than alcohol?

Pay close attention to the THC content. The greatest isolates on the market have a THC concentration of 90% or more. A product with less than 80 percent THC contains a lot of polyunsaturated fatty acids, for example, a concentrate with 60 percent THC contains up to 40 percent waxes that aren’t necessarily nutritious.

The chemical makeup of isolates and concentrates is usually at least 80% THC. The finest producers use 90%.

It’s crucial to be cautious when dosing your concentrate since it’s easy to get carried away dabbing wax, for example. It only takes a tiny amount to create an extremely powerful high.

Aside from the fact that using a lot of concentrate might induce negative side effects such as paranoia, it is costly. Depending on where you live and the sort of product, a gram of 99+% THC concentrate can cost between $50 and $100.

Second, if you’re using cannabis to treat an illness, it’s vital to start slowly by microdosing and observing how it affects you. Your goal should be to gradually increase the dosage until you find the minimum effective dose. If you consume a large quantity of cannabis at once, your body will develop a tolerance and any potential therapeutic effects will be lost.

Storing Your Marijuana Concentrates

While your concentrates may appear to be robust, you must store them carefully or else they will Dry out. We recommend using an airtight container kept in a cool, dark location for storage. If you keep your concentrate in a warm location, it runs the risk of melting and losing fragrance, flavor, and cannabinoids.

Parchment Paper

To protect your concentrate from sticking to the surface, place it on parchment paper before sealing it in an airtight container.

Silicone Containers

The best vape pens for concentrates contain superb features that may not be apparent at first glance. These tiny containers are intended to keep your concentrates and are simple to maintain. They will not break, are re-usable, and allow you to pull your concentrate straight from them. If you want to vape on the go, they also provide handy storage.

Other Options

Dispensaries generally sell glass or plastic bottles, but if they aren’t non-stick, the concentrate will accumulate on the surface. A container constructed of heat-resistant, tempered glass is what you’re looking for.

Why Consume Cannabis Concentrate?

Cannabis concentrates are a novel type of cannabis product for recreational consumers. They may offer you a level of intoxication you’ve never experienced before. Concentrates allow medical marijuana customers to feel the effects of cannabis much faster and more effectively than traditional flower does.

Concentrates are a great choice for individuals who want something more than dried buds or flowers. Long-lasting effects, fragrance and taste are among the advantages of using concentrates. The many terpenes in the mix ensure that you receive the very best flavor and odor possible from cannabis.

When cannabis concentrates are vaped, they provide a degree of discretion that smoked marijuana does not. These goods also have the potential to produce a cleaner high based on the extraction process.

When it comes to THC concentration, there is no such thing as the “perfect” form; rather, there are many options that are right for a person’s specific requirements. If you want to enjoy the wonderful taste of a particular strain while also obtaining an intense high, cannabis extracts should be on your list of things to try. Approach them with caution, though!

Marijuana Concentrate Dosing

When you buy concentrates, they are usually available in 0.5-gram or 1-gram servings. On the websites of reputable businesses, lab reports showing the cannabinoid and terpene content of their goods can be found. While some solventless concentrates may have less than 50% THC, most solvent-based options will contain up to 90 percent THC.

Let’s look at an example to illustrate the point. A gram of concentrate with a THC content of 80 percent contains 800mg of THC. For those who aren’t familiar, 5-10mg is typically considered to be the ideal starting dose for ingestibles! It’s nearly tough to split a gram of concentrate into 80-160 portions.

The ideal method to consume cannabis concentrates is through a vaporizer with CBD, which does not cause the high. We suggest starting with dividing your material into portions of about 100mg of THC each. It’s much easier to extract 20mg of dab from a 100mg portion than an 800mg one. Pre-filled vaporizer cartridges are another option for microdosing successfully.

If you’re using concentrate to dab, pull the tiniest amount feasible with your dabbing device. Examine the results of this piece and decide whether it’s okay to up the dose next time. It’s always preferable to use a little when it comes to concentrates, especially if you’re overwhelmed.