Concentrate products can be somewhat of a mystery to the novice marijuana user. However, they are rapidly becoming a sought-after items at dispensaries. Concentrates are sold under a variety of different names, and look some what different from one another in texture and consistency. They have a few more steps to consume that can be confusing for people who are accustomed to traditional flower. Below, we break down what concentrate cannabis products are, the different types, and how to use them.
What are cannabis concentrate products?
In the simplest explanation, cannabis concentrates are a condensed build-up of trichomes. Trichomes are the structures on the plant that hold the cannabinoids and terpenes. Cannabinoids are responsible for the physiological/psychological effects, and terpenes are responsible for taste and aromatic effects. Basically, concentrates are just that – a more powerful extracted version of traditional flower.
What are the different types of cannabis concentrates?
Depending on what final form the concentrate takes and how it’s made, it will end up as anything from a liquid to a wax to a more solid hard candy consistency. Liquids are used in vape pens. Most other forms like live rosin, wax, sugar, badder, and shatter are sold in half or 1 gram small glass or plastic containers.
Extracts are a specific type of concentrate that is made by using a solvent to strip away the terpenes and cannabinoids. Rick Simpson Oil, Butane Hash Oil, and some wax products are extracts. Other products like live rosin, kief, and dry sift are concentrates that are made without the use of solvents.
How do you consume cannabis concentrates?
The most low maintenance way for people to dabble in concentrates is to sprinkle the tiniest amount of concentrate product (the less sticky the easier to work with, like sugar) in to a joint or a bowl. This is a great way to boost your flower and increase potency.
A primary way more experienced cannabis concentrate users consume is by “dabbing”, or vaporizing the product in a dab rig with high heat. To do this, you heat the “nail” or “banger” with a torch (like a culinary torch, the kind you make flambé with!) and then insert a small crumb of concentrate product using the end of a metal dab stick.
A more subdued, easy, and portable way to use concentrates is by purchasing a vape pen. These are simple to use and have two pieces: a battery, and a pod or cartridge. The cartridge either screws in or pops in magnetically to the battery and there’s often a button to click to turn it on or off. These are very popular especially for those trying to smoke cannabis discreetly.
Concentrates are growing rapidly in popularity, which makes cannabis manufacturing licenses a lucrative opportunity. For more information on how to apply for a manufacturing license in your state to begin producing cannabis concentrates, book us for a 15-minute meeting here.
