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The Science Behind Cannabis Concentrates

Maya 5-6 minutes 5/23/2023

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The concentrate world can be a confusing one for the average cannabis consumer. Concentrates are most commonly used for dabbing and can also be added to a bowl of flowers or the center of a joint or blunt for enhanced effects.

Concentrates can be made using various extraction methods and have many different consistencies. Some contain all of the cannabinoids and terpenes found in a plant, known as full-spectrum, while others isolate specific compounds.

Extraction Methods

The various extraction methods used to create cannabis concentrates produce extracts of different consistency. Consistency has little to no effect on psychotropic or medicinal properties. Still, it helps distinguish types of quotes by appearance, making it easier for consumers to recognize and purchase what they want.

Solvent-based extraction methods, like butane for Butane Hash Oil (BHO), can yield highly high-potency products with THC and terpene concentrations reaching 90%. However, butane extraction is risky and leaves unsafe toxins in the final product.

Other extraction methods utilize heat and pressure, like with supercritical carbon dioxide, a process known as CO2 extraction. This method produces a variety of concentrates with the potential to reach over 80% THC and can be tailored by changing the temperature, pressure, or runtime during the extraction process. Another solventless extraction technique is rosin pressing, similar to how you would make olive oil and can produce some of the highest-quality marijuana rosins on the market.

Types of Concentrates

A cannabis concentrate's texture and appearance depend on the extraction method. Solvent-based extracts can look murky or waxy and range in color from yellow to amber. Examples of solvent-based extracts include shatter, budder, and honeycomb.

On the other hand, concentrates made with a chemical solvent can be easier to distinguish. A standard solvent-free method for creating cannabis concentrates is called physical separation or shaking. This is the technique that produces dry sift, rosin, and kief.

Other methods for producing cannabis extracts include supercritical CO2, which uses carbon dioxide at high pressure and temperature to pull compounds out of the plant material. This type of extract can have a more syrupy consistency, similar to RSO (Rick Simpson Oil). Concentrates can be consumed by dabbing, smoking, or using them to make edibles. Tinctures and capsules are a popular way to consume cannabis, as they are easy to carry and deliver a potent and long-lasting effect.

Extraction Techniques

The whole world may feel like a black hole of science and flavor, but it's worth exploring. Concentrates offer clean, smooth, and potent highs that can be a game changer for cannabis users.

Solvent-based extractions can create a wide range of high-end dabble extracts. Butane or propane solvents strip the cannabinoids and terpenes from plant matter, making BHO (butane hash oil) or PHO (propane hash oil). BHO is excellent in consistency with a honey-like appearance; rosin and crumble have a more gooey texture and are easier to handle.

Another popular solventless extraction method is supercritical CO2. This process uses carbon dioxide under tremendous pressure to isolate and extract cannabinoids from plant material. It's highly customizable for precise results and can be adjusted by changing the machine's temperature, pressure, or runtime. This method produces a clean product with minimal residual solvent left behind and is excellent for strain preservation.

Smoking Concentrates

When used correctly, cannabis concentrates can provide a fast-acting high with potent psychoactive effects. However, because a dab requires so much concentration to produce a result, it's always recommended that new consumers try this method with a knowledgeable friend and proceed cautiously.

Solvent-based extractions use chemical compounds like butane, ethanol, and carbon dioxide to dissolve and gather trichomes from the plant material. These extracts are then smoked out of a device called a dab rig.

Concentrates can also be vaporized out of devices like a vaporizer pen. These pre-filled cartridges can be filled with any wax, shatter, live resin, or tincture and consumed by screwing them into the end of a battery-powered device that heats the oil and delivers vapor through an internal coil. Vaporizer pens are one of the easiest methods to consume concentrates and offer a portable, discreet option. They are often the preferred method for new users of concentrates. However, this consumption method has a more prolonged onset than smoking or inhaling vapor because the THC has to make it through the body's lungs to be absorbed.