The market of legal marijuana is booming, and, by 2025, its sales are expected to grow to $23 billion in the United States alone. This increase in sales and profits is the result of the increasing number of states that have legalized the use of cannabis. Currently, marijuana is legal for adults above 21 in 11 states, while its medicinal use is permitted across 33 states. However, it’s not just the sales of marijuana that the legalization has helped to increase.
Thanks to the legalization of cannabis, you can now order weed online, as well as other new and exciting products that have emerged due to this legalization. As a trickle effect, the demand and popularity of concentrates have also increased exponentially.
Cannabis concentrates have been around for a long time, and before we dive into the various types of cannabis concentrates, we need to understand what it refers to. As the name suggests, this product is a concentrated form of cannabis, which is made by passing the marijuana through an extraction process that leaves behind a more potent product. Extraction removes excess plant material, leaving behind terpenes and cannabinoids.
The aromas that cannabis is famous for are associated with terpenes. CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) are the primary cannabinoids found in cannabis, and concentrated extracts are known to contain higher volumes of these cannabinoids. THC, a psychoactive cannabinoid, is the cannabinoid that gives its users the euphoric “highs” while CBD, a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, has grown in popularity for its healing benefits.
It is possible to buy concentrates that have THC and CBD, both in them, as well as concentrates with CBD exclusively in them. Which product you choose depends on your preference. The dramatic growth in consumer interest has innovated extraction methods that have, in turn, led to the emergence of many new forms of concentrates.
Cannabis concentrates are ideal for regular cannabis users who are looking to enhance the experience and intensity of their high, as well as people who like the different and rich flavors of the exquisite terpene profiles. They also provide an economical and effective solution for the ailment of patients who use medicinal marijuana.
Like there are different options when it comes to marijuana, there are also different options to choose from when it comes to concentrates. These various types of concentrates differ in the strains used to make the concentrate, its present form, and the way it’s made. Here are some of the various kinds of concentrates available in the market:
Hash
Hash is one of the oldest concentrates available, and its processes predate the complicated extraction methods of some other concentrates. These concentrate processes are known to have originated in East Asia; the oldest of them are simple and involve the rubbing of the cannabis flowers between hands. Hashish is formed after the compressing of the scraped trichomes.
There are many methods of making hash, apart from the one discussed above. Hash is also made with the help of ice water, where it is filtered through screens so that the concentrated cannabis extract can be collected. Different methods create different types of hash, but all these types of concentrates have one thing in common, which is their high potency when compared to the regular cannabis flower.
Shatter
Perhaps the most potent and the purest form of cannabis concentrate, shatter, is known for its glass-like properties of breaking into pieces once torn apart. Its potency comes from the fact that it goes through two extraction processes that remove the waxes, lipids, and fats, and this can make the THC levels present to go up to 80%.
However, the extraction processes also remove almost all the terpenes, resulting in its aroma. Shatter concentrate is generally clear, or sometimes of amber color. Similar to hard candy, shatter can be sticky, solid, smooth, and is made in the form of thin sheets. If you are looking for an enhanced high that is hard-hitting, you should look into the various products made from shatter.
Wax
Unlike the thin and transparent sheets of shatter, cannabis waxes lose their transparency in the extraction process, and as the name suggests, they are waxy. Cannabis waxes are incredibly sticky, and their consistency is similar to that of candle wax. The consistencies of cannabis waxes are based on the texture, heat, and moisture of the oil before it is purged. Runnier oils are known to have more moisture, and the gooey waxes they form are also known as ‘budder.’ Harder waxes that often take a more brittle texture are known as ‘honeycomb’ or ‘crumble.’ Regardless of the type of cannabis wax you use, they all lead to satisfying results.
Oil
Oils are the concentrates that are produced with the process involving CO2, not butane. Oils can prove to be hard to handle due to their properties of being sticky and gooey, and thus are often used through plastic syringes. Oils are widely used in making edibles and are the preferred concentrate when it comes to products containing just CBD.
Rosin
Instead of using solvent-like concentrates, these concentrates are extracted from the flower by using high pressure and low heat in this method. Anyone can easily make rosin from the comfort of their home by using essential and readily available tools such as a hair straightener and parchment paper. However, to make high-grade qualities of rosin, you’ll need hydraulic presses. This concentrate is a favorite amongst the users that like terpene, which is present in high quantities due to the absence of solvents in the extraction process.
All types of concentrates discussed in the article are excellent choices to enhance your cannabis consuming process, whether it is for recreational or medicinal purposes. These concentrates have a higher potency than traditional cannabis flowers, and personal influence the selection of these concentrates.