Concentration is an excellent option if you’re looking for a more robust, potent way to find relief. Concentrates are powerful because they contain higher levels of cannabinoids and terpenes in smaller amounts. Cannabis concentrates (also referred to as dabs) are extracted through chemical solvent-based methods. These can include butane, propane, or alcohol and mechanical means like rosin and dry sift.
Potent
Whether you’re looking to maximize the potency of your cannabis or want a more potent high, concentrates, for instance, Mountain Annie’s Cannabis, can deliver. However, the higher THC levels can also have a more severe psychological or physical effect on the user, so precise dosing is more critical with concentrate products. Kief, dry sift, bubble hash, shatter, rosin, crumble, budder, batter-you may hear these terms flying around the shop or on social media, but what they all mean is that a specific extract has been made with a particular method and contains a different concentration of cannabinoid compounds than the flower. This difference in chemistry and extraction process results in many distinct and deliciously potent end-products. These can be smoked, vaped, or used in edibles, such as tinctures or topical treatments.
Easier to store
Concentrates like shatter, wax, crumble, budder, live resin sauce, and more aren’t as easy to store as the flower. Their oilier consistency requires specific concentrate containers to maintain their texture and flavor and prevent them from liquefying or developing mildew or mold. Short-term storage for concentrates with a dry consistency is as simple as wrapping it in parchment paper and placing it in a cool dark place. Medium-term storage (up to a week or two) can be achieved by sealing your parchment-wrapped extract in a plastic bag, then tucking it into an airtight glass jar and stashing it in a cool dark place. Long-term storage for a few months or more of any concentrate can be done by freezing it in a jar. Just ensure the jar is a little larger than your extract, then vacuum seal it and store it in a cool, dark, dry place until you’re ready to use it.
More convenient
Many consumers prefer to go smoke-free with concentrates, which can be consumed in various ways, including vaping and dabbing. These products can also be used in edibles, tinctures, and topicals. Regardless of your preferred consumption method, concentrates are typically more discreet than flowers. For example, portable vaporizers like dab pens can be used in various places and don’t leave any lingering odors. Alternatively, you can use a nectar collector, which looks much like a glass straw with a titanium tip and is perfect for dabbing on the go (You heat just the tip with a mini torch). Other options include solventless extracts such as rosin, made by pressing plant material with heat and pressure. These products are easy for new consumers as they require no additional equipment and can provide a long-lasting, potent high depending on the dosage. Not smoking as much = convenient.
Cheaper
Cannabis concentrates can be very expensive, but it just depends on the shop and availability. Some shopes sell $20 grams of concentrate daily, no deal needed. As with the idea of concentrates, there’s a lot more bang in that gram than there would be a typical gram of weed. Compared to flower prices, amount of THC per dollar can be better with concentrates. (That’s not an all encompassing claim, some concentrates can be very poorly done, leaving almost no THC or cannabinoids, so don’t expect your neighbors homebrew hash to be as good as a dispensary’s).
A popular way to consume concentrates is in vaporizer cartridges, often pre-filled and attached to a battery for quick and discreet use. They’re also available for those who prefer to ingest their cannabis, like with edibles and medicated balms. And according to a new study of regular marijuana users, inhaling concentrates boosts THC levels more than twice as high as smoking traditional weed—but doesn’t significantly increase the level of intoxication. The researchers suspect that’s because once a certain level of THC fills up receptors in the brain, additional cannabinoids have little effect.
Versatile
Concentrates can be used in a variety of different ways. They’re commonly consumed with a dab rig (a portable and versatile device that heats the concentrate to produce a potent vapor you inhale). Still, they can also be added to tinctures, edibles, topicals, and other products. And there’s another bonus, recipes. There are loads of recipes out there that incorporate a form of concentrated mary jane. There’s a lot to learn about concentrates, and it’s essential to remember that their heightened potency means they can induce more intense effects than flowers. But if you’re willing to experiment and find the correct method for your cannabis consumption needs, concentrates can be a rewarding way to elevate your cannabis experience.
