THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT CANNABIS CONCENTRATES

This form of cannabis is a much more highly concentrated extract from the flowers of cannabis used in traditional smoking. The purpose of making concentrates is to better enhance the more defining aspects of the types of cannabis, from their flavors to the experience it provides us. They contain significantly higher levels of cannabinoids like THC (between 50-90% compared to the 10-25% of flowers) that provide the “high” experience (along with high levels of other cannabinoids like CBD) from weed along with strengthening the more palatable aspects like smell and taste specific to each strain due to higher concentrations of terpenes, the chemical that gives the strain its unique profile

Forms of Concentrate

Live Resin

Made via a solvent-based extraction process, the cannabis buds are frozen and a hydrocarbon solvent is used to extract the cannabinoids and terpenes from the buds. This allows for the cannabis’ distinct flavor profile to be maintained within the newly-formed concentrate.

HTSFE

(High Terpene Full Spectrum Extract): This concentrate has grown in popularity thanks to its impressive method to extract most of the terpenes resulting in an extremely rich flavor profile.

Shatter

This is another form of concentrate that is a subtype of butane hash oil made through a solvent-based extraction using butane and further secondary processes. It takes the appearance of almost a candy-like substance due to its hard and sticky texture and is considered one of the most THC and terpene rich concentrates there is.

Oil

This form of concentrate is also created through solvent-based extraction. The process strips the cannabis flowers of their cannabinoids and terpenes to produce a concentrated oil extract that can be found in common accessories like oil cartridges for vaporizers.

Wax

This form of concentrate is made through a solvent-based extraction most commonly using butane (otherwise known as “lighter fluid”). Marijuana buds that are THC rich are put into a tube and butane is forced through and due to its chemical properties, it binds with the THC and pulls it from the buds, resulting in a wax-like concentrate which is a subtype of butane hash oil (BHO).

Rosin

This form of concentrate is easy to make as it doesn’t require any solvents for extraction. It simply uses heat and pressure on dried cannabis flowers causing the trichomes, rich in cannabinoids and terpenes, to melt and become easily removable from the rest of the flower for use.

Budder

This form of concentrate is very similar to rosin and can be made from it through further processing. Budders have a more “butter” like consistency that may be preferred for certain accessories.