Cannabis concentrates; All the Facts, Figures, and Data You’ll Ever Need to Know

When it comes to cannabis concentrates, the variety available on the market can be daunting. Marijuana legalization in its many forms has given us significant advances over casually enjoying rolled a raw flower, and we can now even enjoy specific cannabinoids that have been isolated from the plant by themselves. However, if you are a beginner, you must have wondered about the difference between cannabis concentrates, their extraction method, and why are they extremely popular in the cannabis community? To get all your answers, you have come to the right place.

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Introduction to Cannabis Concentrates

Cannabis concentrates are substances that have been distilled from the marijuana plant to yield a highly potent, THC-rich product, usually in the form of an oily or waxy substance. A small amount of marijuana concentrate can produce a similar or greater level of intoxication than the most potent marijuana buds. THC levels in high-grade marijuana are generally 20%, marijuana concentrates can range from 40-to 80%.

The simplest concentrates that have been created for ages are mechanically separated trichomes. They can be removed by sifting, rubbing, freezing, or other means. 

In recent times, more potent cannabis concentrates have been made by solvent extraction or distillation. Butane, propane, alcohol, and liquid carbon dioxide are the most commonly used solvents. Depending on the extraction process, the end product may be oily, creamy, waxy, or flaky; these products are commonly called oil, budder, wax, and shatter. These usually contain 70% to 90% THC. However, keep in mind that higher amounts of THC are not always good, especially for beginners or users with low tolerances, as high amounts can induce anxiety. 

Types of Cannabis Concentrates

You can find cannabis concentrates in myriad product types, forms, and consistencies available in the market. The extracted cannabis oil is exceptionally potent through the extraction processes with high THC content. 

If you are looking for an instantaneous pain relief remedy, these cannabis concentrates are immaculate. Besides, experienced cannabis consumers who prefer a powerful high or people who want to try something new should go for marijuana concentrates. 

Cannabis Concentrates-Solvent-based or Solventless

When we talk about the most common types of cannabis concentrates, it is important to mention that they’re divided into solvent-based and solventless products. It is the most straightforward way to differentiate concentrates, other than consistency. We will discuss both categories and their respective cannabis concentrates, the most popular among cannabis gurus. 

Solvent-based Cannabis Concentrates

Solvent-based extractions are a lot like they sound– a chemical compound such as butane, carbon dioxide, ethanol, or propane is used to dissolve the plant and carefully strip out the cannabinoids and terpenes. 

Additionally, cultivation centers commonly use solvent-based extractions where cannabis concentrates are extracted in mass and then purged. It is another chemical process that evaporates the leftover solvents.

Solventless Cannabis Concentrates

Solventless Cannabis concentrates do not use chemicals like propane or butane but instead physical methods that apply pressure, filtration, or temperature to the plant material to extract a concentrate. These solventless extraction means are more geared toward at-home cannabis consumers.

Because of the natural extraction process, solventless cannabis concentrates produce different cannabis products. The process has a craft, but the point is to strip the cannabinoids and terpenes without damaging them like solvent-based methods.

You may also want to learn about Cannabis and IBS. 

Let’s move forward with the best-known solvent-based concentrates available in the market. 

Wax

Wax is one of the most preferred cannabis concentrates among marijuana fans due to its THC content, often more than three times as high as a flower. It is named because of the gooey ear wax, candle wax-like texture generally yellowish-brown in color. It is made by slamming the plant’s material with a solvent (most commonly butane) and extracting the THC into a gooey, highly-concentrated resin. The resulting product has a gluey wax consistency. Making wax is a pretty intricate process that requires knowledge of some technical chemistry rules.

Budder

Looking for an aromatic and flavorful cannabis concentrate? Budder is the right choice for you. Budder is essentially wax with higher moisture content. The consistency of budder is butter-like and smooth hence the name, while wax concentrates are crumbly and solid. The budder’s creamy texture makes it a great option to ingest. Moreover, it’s perfect to handle; you can easily scoop it up and enjoy it without any nuisances.

Interestingly, budder has the highest levels of terpenes out of all cannabis concentrates. So, if you’re looking for a delicious, aromatic dab, budder is for you. Since it has a high THC content with over 80% potency, it delivers a joyful and euphoric experience.

Shatter

Shatter is a form of Butane Hash Oil (BHO) concentrate. Butane is used as a solvent to extract cannabinoids from the cannabis plant. Other solvents are used in cannabis extraction, such as propane, co2, water. But butane creates a very high-quality extract that is extremely popular today.

BHO-derived shatter resembles a thin film of frozen water, except it’s usually golden in color. Its name comes from the fact that it shatters into a million little pieces if dropped or crushed. Among all cannabis concentrates, shatter is the favorite among cannabis enthusiasts. 

While creating concentrates, extractors typically blend or stir the remaining oil to more dense consistency. However, shatter is somewhat different. The extract must be left isolated, completely undisturbed to get the desired fragile appearance.  

Occasionally, if certain steps in the extraction process go awry, shatter can have a “taffy” texture. Taffy is nearer to budder in its texture and potency. Since shatter is a highly pure cannabis concentrate, it possesses a high THC level with a potency ranging between 50-90%. This potency is what makes it efficient for medical marijuana patients. Additionally, shatter is ideal for people with chronic pain because of its potent pain-relieving properties. 

Live Resin

If you think of giving cannabis concentrates a try, you might wonder what live resin is? Here is the answer. Live resin is a relatively new fantastic addition to the cannabis community. However, it has already won the hearts of cannabis fans because it preserves the flavors and aromas of the living plant more promising than other cannabis extractions and is cheaper and easier to make. 

As discussed earlier, cannabis concentrates are named by their consistencies, like shatter (hard and brittle), Smooth, and butter-like (Budder). When it comes to the live resin, it has a malleable consistency that lies between wax and a sauce. It is typically dark yellow but can vary from light yellow to white. It is extremely sticky, like all cannabis concentrates, so you’ll need a dab tool to handle it. 

Distillate

Cannabis Distillate is a newer production technique for distilling cannabinoids to create a concentrate from plant matter. This method uses advanced equipment to heat and vaporizes CBD and THC in a marijuana flower. The vapor is moved to a cooling system and assembled in containers. The process is repeated continually to ensure you have pure cannabinoids and minimal solvent residue.

Solvent-less Cannabis Concentrates

Hash

Hash is a potent cannabis extract, and people have been using it since the beginning of time throughout Asia, the Arab world, and India. It was presented to the West in the 19th century. Hashish is made by heating and pressing kief into a firm block. A popular type of hash is bubble hash, a darker, crumbly cannabis concentrate that derives its name from how it bubbles when smoked.

Kief

Kief is a fine, light powder similar to very granular sand made by separating trichomes (the crystalline structures that coat the outside of the dried marijuana flowers) from whole-plant material using a weed grinder, mesh screens, or bubble machine. 

Dry Kief

Live Kief is like traditional kief but starts with a flower that has been freshly cut and frozen (fresh-frozen). This method sometimes yields a more potent product with stronger flavors and aromas. Best if smoked or vaporized. It can be used on top of flowers or alone.

Rosin

Rosin is one of the cannabis concentrates made by applying heat and pressure to cannabis plants, specifically trichomes. Extractors place the bud in a special rosin bag or between two sheets of parchment paper, which is then set inside a hydraulic press outfitted with heating elements. Typically, rosin will have a light yellow or cream color with e a sticky syrup or a soft consistency, simulating refrigerated buttercream. 

Why Consume Cannabis Concentrate?

For people who use marijuana for recreational purposes, cannabis concentrates are a great choice with a new lane to explore the world of cannabis. It can deliver you with an inebriation like never before. Cannabis concentrates enable them to experience a much quicker and more potent effect than cannabis flowers.

Moreover, concentrates have long-lasting effects, aroma, and flavor, making them a great reason to consume. So many terpenes assure that you get the very best of what cannabis offers. If you want to experience the fantastic flavor of a specific strain and an unforgettable high, cannabis concentrates should be on your list. 

Cannabis Concentrates; the Takeaway

We hope you now have a better understanding of the great cannabis concentrates and which ones are the most sought-after concentrates you should include in your regime. However, like with every cannabis product, the rule is to start with low and go slow to reap the benefits of marijuana to the fullest. 

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