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What are cannabis concentrates?
Cannabis comes in many forms, most commonly as flower, oil, or edibles. However, one of the less familiar forms is cannabis concentrates. While many people have a general understanding of some types of cannabis ‘extracts’ or concentrates, there are a number of differences between the various different forms and extraction methods.
In short, concentrates are simply just that; ‘concentrated’ cannabis! When we talk about the medical or recreational effects of cannabis, we're referring to the compounds found in the trichomes of the plant.
These trichomes contain cannabinoids like THC and CBD, as well as terpenes and other compounds that are still being studied. Concentrated forms of cannabis extract these trichomes and their compounds while discarding the less necessary plant matter to create potent and flavourful forms of extracted cannabis.
Like flower, cannabis concentrates represent a world of their own, complete with their own terms and vocabulary to describe different forms and types. You may have heard terms like wax, budder, badder, BHO (butane hash oil), shatter, dabbing or dabs, diamonds, and distillate. Sometimes, these concentrates are collectively referred to as '710'—the extract world’s equivalent of '420' (why? Read it upside down and backwards to spell OIL!).
Methods of extraction
So how is cannabis extracted? There are two main ways: either through solvents (such as butane, propane, or ethanol) or solventless methods (using heat presses or alternative means to remove and gather trichomes).
Solventless extraction
Heat pressing: Sometimes referred to as ‘rosin pressing’, heat pressing is a solventless extraction method which involves applying intense amounts of heat and pressure to either cannabis flower or hash to extract all of the valuable compounds, such as cannabinoids and terpenes.
Mechanical Separation (Dry Sifting): One of the oldest methods and forms of cannabis concentrates is through dry sieving. This is where the cannabis flower and other plant matter is rubbed against various screens to filter the trichomes.
Ice water extraction: Using water, ice, and agitation, trichomes are separated from the plant material. The mixture is then agitated to help the trichomes break off and pass through a series of mesh screens or bubble bags, which filter out the trichomes based on size.
Solvent based extraction
Butane Hash Oil (BHO): This extraction method involves passing butane through cannabis plant material to dissolve the cannabinoids and terpenes. The butane-cannabinoid mixture is then collected and the butane is evaporated, leaving behind a concentrated extract.
CO2 Extraction: This method uses carbon dioxide to pull cannabinoids and terpenes out of cannabis. The CO2 is turned into a supercritical state, which means it behaves like both a gas and a liquid. It’s then passed through the cannabis plant to collect the desired compounds. Afterward, the CO2 is removed, leaving behind a pure, high-quality concentrate.
Types of Cannabis Concentrates
Cannabis concentrate names vary based on their extraction method, consistency and source material. Some types of concentrate, such as rosin, are exclusively solventless. Whereas forms such as wax, badder and crumble are more often solvent-based.
Rosin: Sometimes referred to as live rosin or hash rosin, depending on how it has been extracted and the source material. Rosin is a solventless concentrate. It’s produced by applying heat and pressure to cannabis flower, hash, or kief, squeezing out the cannabinoids and terpenes without the use of solvents. It’s important not to confuse rosin with ‘resin,’ which typically refers to concentrates made using solvents.
Shatter: Known for its glass like appearance and the way that it ‘shatters’ when broken, shatter is produced using solvent-based extraction methods, typically butane. The solvent is passed through the cannabis plant material to dissolve the cannabinoids and terpenes. Once this mixture is purged of the solvent, a concentrated, transparent, amber-coloured sheet of ‘shatter’ is the result.
Badder, Budder and Batter: Named due to its cake batter like appearance and malleable consistency, badder is a popular form of concentrate created using solvent based extraction. This is typically a form of BHO concentrate and can range in consistency. People typically like badder for its ease of use and application.
Dry Sift: More commonly referred to as ‘kief’, this solventless concentrate is created by dry sieving plant matter throughout various screens. Dry sieve hash can be processed further to create other forms of cannabis, such as ‘hand hash’.
Ice Water Hash: Made through ice water extraction methods, cannabis trichomes are frozen and agitated until they are separated. The mixture is filtered through a series of mesh bags, filtering through finer meshes at each stage.
Wax: Sometimes blurred in definition with ‘badder’, wax is named after its waxy, honeycomb appearance but can vary in consistency. It is typically produced through butane based extraction and is often referred to as as a form of BHO.
Crumble: Named after its dry, crumbly appearance, crumble is a form of solvent-based extract. It is extremely dry when compared to some forms of concentrate, and is often desirable as a ‘topping’ when consumed recreationally with cannabis flower.
Diamonds: These are a form of cannabis isolate, known for being extremely potent and high in a specific cannabinoid, most often THCA or CBD. When consumed, diamonds are often combined with a ‘sauce’ to add flavour.
How to Use Cannabis Concentrates
There are several ways to consume cannabis concentrates, some of which are similar to consuming flower, such as edibles or vaping. However, vaping concentrates differs from vaporising flower and often requires different equipment.
Dabbing: To inhale concentrates, a dab rig is typically used. This is a glass rig paired with a quartz piece, such as a banger or terp slurper, which is heated to high temperatures to vaporise the concentrate. While many use a blow torch to heat the quartz, e-rigs and electronic devices are available that do not require a flame.
Vaping: Cannabis concentrates are often available in cartridges or disposable vape pens. These are convenient options for consuming concentrates, as they require no additional hardware and are easy to use on the go.
Edibles: Sometimes cannabis concentrates like RSO or hash rosin are used in edibles, as the cannabis is often decarbed first. This heating process activates the cannabinoids, making them effective when consumed. The decarbed concentrate is then infused into products like gummies, chocolates, or baked goods.
Topicals: Cannabis concentrates can also be processed into topical products, such as creams, balms, and lotions. In this application, the concentrates are infused into the topical base, allowing cannabinoids and terpenes to be absorbed through the skin.
Summary:
- Cannabis concentrates are highly potent extracts derived from trichomes, which contain cannabinoids and terpenes.
- Extraction methods include solventless techniques like heat pressing, dry sifting, and ice water extraction, as well as solvent-based methods such as butane hash oil (BHO), CO2 extraction, and ethanol extraction.
- Types of concentrates vary in appearance and consistency, including rosin, shatter, badder, wax, crumble, diamonds, dry sift and more.
- Methods of consumption include dabbing with a rig, vaping using cartridges or pens, incorporating into edibles, and applying topicals for localised relief.