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The cannabis concentrate revolution has quickly taken over the market. Why not get on board? Cannabis concentrates are just like concentrates of anything else, the good parts are extracted and the excess is eliminated. Concentrates come in many forms such as wax, oils, etc. When marijuana plant materials (the buds) meet a solvent such as butane, alcohol or carbon dioxide extraction occurs. However not all concentrates are extracts. An example of concentrates that are not extracts are, rosin and kief. Extraction-less concentrates do not use any type of solvent.
I have a cannabis pen that I use all the time and I always have it with me. It is a bit easier than setting all my stuff down to pack a bowl, especially if I am on the go. I think the convenience of some of these concentrates is part of the reason why they have become so popular. There are many different ways to consume the concentrates such such as using a dab rig, a nectar collector, a banger and many other interestingly named methods. If you are new to the world of cannabis concentrates I am here to help and break down the basics.
Wax is used for both medical and recreational purposes. It is created by heating marijuana plant material (the buds) with butane. Butane is a flammable hydro carbon gas. The butane will extract the THC from the buds and it will leave you with a sticky, opaque substance with THC levels at 30% or higher. THC is what is responsible for the head high you feel when you consume cannabis, it stimulates cells in your brain to release dopamine. I have heard of some wax concentrates reaching THC levels as high as 90%, one hit of that would be like smoking a wild amount of joints all at once!
There are a few common ways people consume wax and they are dabbing and vaping. Wax has been known to help reduce anxiety, chronic pain and depression.
Shatter is closely related to wax due to their extraction process. Like the name so ironically describes, shatter takes on the look of shattered glass. It is one of the purest concentrates in the game. It also has the highest amount of terpene compared to other concentrates on the market. What is terpene? Terpenes are the aromatic oils that distinguish certain flavors is cannabis products. Wondering why the weed you bought smells like pine or maybe even berries? It is the terpenes in action!
You can smoke shatter using many different methods such as rolling it in a cigarette or joint, using a dab rig or vaping (like the weed pen that I use). Compared to wax, shatter will last longer, wax will degrade at a faster rate.
Sauce or Terp Sauce is a concentrate newcomer and is quickly becoming a very popular one. T.S is known for having a quick hit of THC and also having an incredible aroma (thanks to the terpenes). Unlike wax or shatter the sauce has a distinct “sauciness” to it. While making the terp sauce people tend to freeze the fresh buds first, to prevent the loss of terpenes. The buds will then go through an extraction process with a gentle heat from butane to also prevent the loss of terpenes.
People generally enjoy terp sauce for its powerful, immediate hit. Terp sauce is also one of the most expensive concentrates on the market. It is so pricey because of the personal involvement needed to make it (ensuring that the terpenes are not purged while extracting).
A diamond concentrate is another newcomer to the scene. The diamonds are accurately named after their crystalline appearance. Some forms of it can have a THC content as high as 99.9% Diamonds are the purest and most potent form of THC. The high 99.9% THC content makes it a little difficult for anything else to squeeze its way in there. The terpenes found in other concentrates are purged to make room for the THC. This leaves you with a tasteless concentrate. The lack of taste is totally justified considering diamonds have the highest THC content. Sometimes people like to mix diamonds with terp sauce, this gives you the high THC content with equal amount of terpene content. Having an isolated THC content has many perks as it can be easily controlled over its applications. This means the person extracting is able to produce concentrate blends, like I have mentioned before (mixing sauce and diamonds). The extractor is able to create a product that is rationed accurately to the desired high.
This concentrate is not for beginners, due to its potency. Diamonds work best for concentrate connoisseurs looking to experience a new level of potency. The best way to consume diamonds is through a dab rig.
Crumble, also known as honeycomb or pie crust is in the same realm as wax and shatter. Crumble like the name states can be easily crumbled in your hand and used with a dab rig or in a joint. Crumble is very well known because of the unique honeycomb texture. It is also known for its convenience. Unlike wax which is sometimes quite sticky or shatter which is glass like, crumble can be used easily with any type of concentrate consuming method. Very high quality crumble can reach THC levels of up to 90%. I know I have been pushing the THC content for all of these concentrates and that is because the average potent bud only contains about 15-25% THC.
Crumble is used recreationally and for medical purposes. Crumble is said to relieve symptoms of stress, depression and many other symptoms.
I mentioned earlier that not all concentrates go through the extraction process. Rosin is one of those concentrates. Rosin comes directly from the flowers (buds), the production of rosin does not require any type of solvent. This is a great concentrate for patients or users that are looking for something more natural that is not made with a solvent. Smoking rosin also eliminates the possibility of smoking residual chemicals sometimes left by concentrates extracted using solvents.
Rosin is made by putting a flower or kief in between two hot surfaces. You would then apply pressure to both surfaces which in turn will squeeze out a sap like substance. If made correctly rosin will almost always contain all of the flavor and terpenes found in the original bud. Rosin and other concentrates that do not use solvents also tend to be on the cheaper side.
Although rosin is a bit different from the other concentrates I have mentioned, it is still consumed in the same way the other concentrates are in a dab rig.
The most popular way to consume concentrates is with a dab rig. The dab rig is not your regular bong and it comes with quite a few parts. All of the parts are extremely important and necessary for the dabbing process to work. Below I will explain the parts and why they are necessary.
Specifically a quartz banger. A banger is an extremely important part to a dab rig. The quartz banger may look like glass but it is most certainly not. It is a type of mineral. It is heat resilient so you do not have to be afraid that it will over heat or break. The quartz banger is a dab nail that gets hot enough to vaporize the concentrate so that it can be consumed. The greatest part about the quartz banger is that it is going to last you for quite a long time it is very durable. There are other types of bangers such as a glass or titanium style but the quartz is extraordinarily superior to its competition. The quartz bangers do not leave an aftertaste and that is because no chemicals are released from the quartz when it is heated.
An enail is what is going to produce the heat that goes to the dab nail (the banger). The enail is great because you can say goodbye to having to use a butane torch to heat the concentrate. The butane torch is the old trusty way of doing it but it can also be very dangerous and most be handled with care. With an enail you just have to plug it in to a power source, turn it on and set a perfect temperature to heat the concentrate. Minimal effort required on your end and it is way safer to use. There are also portable enails on the market now, for traveling, dabbing connoisseurs.
The carb cap acts as a cover for the dab nail, it also controls the air flow on and around the dabbing surface. Why is it so important you ask? Well the carb cap is going to preserve all of the cannabinoids and terpenes, creating a stronger, full bodied hit. You can dab without a carb cap but I would not recommend it. The carb cap is only going to make your dabbing experience more fulfilling.
The nectar collector is actually not part of a dab rig, it is instead a smaller, more portable version of a dab rig. The ease of use and portability of the nectar collector is what makes it so popular. Some nectar collectors are made smaller and more compact, while others are made larger for indoor use. The nectar collector has three parts to it, a mouthpiece, a body and a tip.
I am sure you are wondering how you are supposed to use this convenient dabber. First you are going to fill the body part with water, I would compare the nectar collector to a bubbler, strictly for the use of water in the body. You will need a butane torch to heat the tip part of the collector. You will then place your mouth over the mouth piece and lightly touch the concentrate of your choice with the tip, you will inhale and then pull the tip away from the concentrate. It really is that convenient and easy to use.
Dabbing (consuming concentrates) is a newer way to consume cannabis and it will definitely get you high. The world of cannabis concentrates is incredibly interesting as there are so many different types you can consume. Keep in mind it is extremely important that you treat dabbing with care. If you are not confident about making your own concentrates just stick to purchasing them from trusted sources such as dispensaries. Making concentrates can get dangerous, especially if you do not make them correctly. Also using a butane torch while dabbing can be dangerous. If you are uncomfortable handling a butane torch I would recommend getting a dab rig and using an enail. With all of that said, dabbing is an incredible experience and as long as you are doing it safely you are sure to have one of the best highs of your life. Have fun and happy dabbing!
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