Cannabis concentrates or extracts are cannabis-derived products that contain concentrated cannabinoids and terpenes. They come in a variety of forms, such as wax, hash, live resin, and rosin. These extracts are used to create an intense high in a quicker way than flower alone.

When it comes to cannabis concentrates, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Each concentrate is different in it’s own way. Depending on the form you choose, your method of smoking cannabis concentrates will vary from what you might be used to with dry flower cannabis.

Please consume concentrates safely and in small doses to start as I have personally gotten way too high my first couple of times. Know your limit, play within it!

In this article, we’ll explore what cannabis concentrates are and how to smoke them safely for maximum enjoyment.

What are cannabis concentrates

Cannabis concentrates are cannabis-derived products that contain a high concentration of cannabis-derived cannabinoids and terpenes. Concentrates tend to have less plant matter than cannabis flower and provide a more intense cannabis experience.

Concentrates can vary in their level of THC, the psychoactive compound that produces cannabis’ signature high. Cannabinoid concentrations can range from 30-80%, depending on the type and strain used.

Types of concentrates

Cannabis concentrates come in various types, each of which provide a unique cannabis experience.

Wax, Shatter, Crumble, Etc

The most popular cannabis concentrate is probably shatter or wax. It is made by extracting material from cannabis buds using solvents like butane or CO2. The extracted material is heated and agitated to create a powerful extract. The name given to it is usually a description of the consistency. There are many other names associated with this same extraction method.

Live Resin

Live resin is extract made from cannabis plants that were immediately frozen after harvesting, capturing all of the cannabis terpenes in their most potent form. It is known for its strong cannabis flavour and aroma.

Oil

Cannabis Oil has many forms. Shatter is essentially a cannabis oil as its called Butane Hash oil. Oil is made by using a solvent, and the solvent used gives it the name. Butane Hash Oil uses butane, and CO2 Oil uses CO2.

Rosin

Rosin being pressed

My favorite cannabis concentrate. Rosin is made by applying heat and pressure to cannabis buds without using any solvents, one of the few extracts that can say that. As a result, it’s considered one of the safest ways to consume cannabis concentrates.

Bubble Hash

Bubble Hash is made by submerging cannabis in ice water and agitating it. Doing so freezes the trichomes and breaks them off. The plant matter is then filtered to ensure its mostly just the trichomes and are then collected. They then just have to compress the material and freeze it.

Moroccan Hash

Moroccan Hash is just kief(explained further below) and a bit of water to turn it into a dough like consistency. Make sure to decarboxylate your kief for the best experience.

Isolate

Isolate is made using chemicals to isolate the cannabinoids, hence the name “isolate”. Usually this concentrate is used like kief as a bowl topper for your bong or pipe.

Chrystalline

Chrystalline is just purified resin, leaving only the cannabinoids behind for 99% THC. This is the strongest concentrate and is honestly like crack for stoners.

Distillate

Distillate is cannabis oil that have been further refined and purifed, using a process of heat and pressure. This concentrate is made by extracting cannabis compounds using a still.

Budder

Budder, or sometimes Butter, is cannabis oil that has been whipped into the consistency of butter. Whoever said weed makes people more creative clearly hasn’t seen the names we give cannabis and its extracts.

Kief

Keif, also known as dry-sift, is essentially just the broken off trichomes of the cannabis plant. A lot of grinders have a keif screen at the bottom of the main container where the keif collects. Another way that growers can get dry-sift is from the trichomes that drop during trimming.

There are a few other concentrates that are the same as the ones listed here. Wax and shatter can go by many names depending on the consistency of the final product.

Benefits of Cannabis Concentrates

Concentrates have been getter more and more popular in recent times. There’s good reason for that. They’ve revolutionized the way of getting high.

Higher Potency Than Cannabis Flower

Concentrates have a much higher potency than cannabis flower. This means that you don’t have to use as much cannabis to get the same effects.

Better Experience

Greater control over your experience. With concentrates, you can decide exactly how high you want to get by controlling the dose size more accurately. You can even tailor your cannabis experience

Easier to Dose and Store Cannabis Concentrates

Concentrates are much easier to dose and store than cannabis flower. They take up far less room, thus making them great for travelling or storing at home.

Concentrates can also be used for medical cannabis patients who need to take cannabis with precision and consistency.

Enjoy The Unique Flavors and Aromas of Cannabis Concentrates

Concentrates offer unique flavors and aromas that cannabis flower just can’t provide. The terpenes, which are responsible for the cannabis flavor and aroma, are much more potent in cannabis extract.

How to smoke cannabis concentrates

Dabbing

Dude dabbing with a very dirty rig and quartz banger

Dabbing cannabis concentrates is one of the most popular methods for consuming cannabis. It involves using a dab rig, which is similar to a bong or water pipe, but with a few key differences. Dab rigs are designed specifically for vaporizing cannabis concentrates like waxes, oils, and shatters.

When done correctly, dabbing can provide an incredibly potent and flavorful cannabis experience that’s unlike anything else. There are electric dab rigs and e-nails, that heat the nail up without flame. You’re other option is to get a regular dab rig with a quartz banger or a titanium nail that you have to heat up with a torch.

My favorite dab rigs right now are the electric ones from DabTech. Get 15% off with code CANNA15. I have the Duvo and I can’t get enough of it.

Some concentrates can’t be dabbed, like bubble hash, moroccan hash, and kief.

Topping The Bowl

If you don’t want to get a dab rig, topping your bong or pipe with extracts is a solid choice as well. You can use any extract even ones like bubble hash to top your bowl, just spread some on top of the flower and light up.

Infused Joints/Blunts

Some concentrates do really well rolled up in your doobies and blunts, I personally love using hash, kief and live rosin in my joints. Just take your papers, put down some flower and spread the extract across it and put a little more flower on top and roll away. I find it’s better to have a courser grind on your weed when using concentrates in your joints. Just makes it easier to smoke.

Vaporizing

Using the same principle as dabbing, vaping is one of the cleanest ways to consume any type of cannabis. By heating up the concentrates electrically to a specific temp you get a smooth and satisfying smoke. Some of the best vaporizers for concentrates are, in my opinion, the Davinci’s IQ2 which I use almost daily and the Stella Kit from Dr. Dabber (15% OFF with code SAVE15).

Tips For Smoking Cannabis Concentrates Safely and Effectively

Concentrates are extremely potent. This can make them a little trickier to handle for people who aren’t used to smoking weed. Here’s a few tips to help you smoke extracts safely.

– Start slow with cannabis extracts. Take small doses and wait a few minutes before taking more to gauge how the cannabis will affect you

– Use the right equipment. Make sure you have a good dab rig and torch to get the best possible experience if your trying to dab.

– CLEAN YOUR EQUIPMENT! This is extremely important, make sure that your dab rig and nails are clean so you don’t inhale any harmful substances

– Store cannabis concentrates properly. Make sure that cannabis concentrates are stored in an airtight container at room temperature to avoid oxidation.

– Don’t mix cannabis with alcohol or other drugs. Cannabis can be very potent when consumed as a concentrate, so it’s best to avoid mixing cannabis with alcohol or other drugs.

Cannabis concentrates can be a great way to enjoy cannabis, but it’s important to know how to use them safely and effectively. With the right knowledge and equipment, you can get the most out of cannabis concentrates!

Potential Risks With Smoking Cannabis Concentrate Products

Cannabis concentrates can be a great way to get the most out of cannabis, but they also come with potential risks. Some cannabis concentrate products contain large amounts of THC and may cause uncomfortable side effects if not used responsibly.

It’s important to understand that cannabis concentrates may affect everyone differently, so it’s best to start with small doses and work your way up.

Additionally, cannabis concentrate products may contain impurities or other harmful substances as a result of the extraction process. It’s important to make sure that cannabis concentrate products are lab tested and free from contaminants before consuming them.

Finally, cannabis concentrates should always be stored in an airtight container away from heat, light and oxygen to avoid oxidation.

It’s important to take all necessary precautions for safe storage and consumption of anything you put in your body.

Where to buy cannabis concentrate products legally

Cannabis concentrate products are widely available in most cannabis markets. Most cannabis stores carry a wide selection of extracts, including waxes, oils and shatters. Make sure to check with your local dispensary for their selection of concentrates. Additionally, many online cannabis retailers offer extracts as well. When shopping online, be sure to read reviews and check the product lab tests for quality assurance.

It’s also important to make sure that the products are purchased from a licensed cannabis dispensary or retailer in order to ensure they were produced safely and without contaminants.

Please do not smoke concentrates from street dealers as you do not know what you are getting. Obtain you’re weed legally and be happy knowing its safe to consume.