Cannabis concentrates could soon make smoking a joint a thing of the distant past. There's more to marijuana than joints and bongs. There are shatters, oils, vapes and rosin. The list is expanding so fast that smoking marijuana may soon be extinct.
Vaping isn’t the only method to get high without using tobacco. You can also get high with other forms of cannabis concentrates, such as tinctures or edibles. These can be taken directly into the bloodstream and through the digestive system.
Efficiency is the second driving force behind the shift to cannabis concentrates. Concentrates are a concentrated version of marijuana that will give you more for less. Concentrates are basically the equivalent to a vodka shot THC.
These desires to be healthier and more successful simultaneously are what ultimately drive the cannabis concentrates market forward.
Let's now take a look at the concentrates that people use.
Concentrate Time: Different Cannabis Forms
Concentrates of cannabis are not for the faint-hearted. Concentrates are not recommended for anyone who has ever felt too high from a joint. Concentrates can have THC levels four times greater than those found in joints. If you're not a regular user, you might feel like you're going to outer space.
For the more experienced users of cannabis, these are the top concentrates you can't resist.
Hash
Hashish could be the oldest known cannabis concentrate. Hashish was found in Arabia from as far back as 900 AD. It has been translated to Arabic as "grass" and "assassin". It could be both. This concentrate is made first by rubbing marijuana plants in your hands until the resin has spread throughout your fingers and palms. The resin could be rolled into "charas", which can then be added to joint or pipe tobacco to get a stronger high.
Today, hash can be made with sieves or mechanically. This is known as "drysifting".
Drysifting is something you may have done if you've ever used a grinder. You may sometimes find kief at the bottom of your grinder. This is mild cannabis concentrate.
To make hash, heat the kief and then compress it into a block shape. Hash can be milder than traditional cannabis, but still contain 2-3 times more THC than traditional plants.
You can also make bubble hash if regular hash is not enough.
Vapes
We mentioned that vaping is the main reason for the growth of the concentrates market. Vaporizers are not capable of burning the plant matter to the point that they cause cancer. This allows vape users to avoid the negative effects associated with smoking. Burning cannabis leaves you exposed to carcinogens, as well as other toxic substances. These chemicals can cause respiratory problems and even cancer. Vaping is a great way to get all the benefits without any of the negatives.
The smell that follows a plant being burned is another benefit. Some people may not like the smell of a burned joint. Vaping isn't as pungent than smoking, so it will leave less of an aroma for others.
You will need "THC vape juice" to get high when you vape. This is basically concentrated THC, flavoring, and propylene glycol. THC vape juices may contain up to 90% THC.
Tinctures
Tinctures can be used to enjoy cannabis in a convenient, inoffensive manner. They are available in dropper bottles containing alcohol and THC extract. Tinctures are still quite rare despite their ease of use and dosing.
To get the medicinal benefits of cannabis, but without the high, more people are choosing CBD tinctures with low THC. Tinctures are quick-acting and versatile. Tinctures can be added to almost any food or beverage, making them edible.
BHO's: Butane Hash Oils
BHO is a broad term that covers many cannabis concentrates such as shatter and budder. These are the most common images people associate with cannabis concentrates. These are also the things people want to make, as you'll hear horror stories about lab explosions. These stories are best left to professionals.
BHO's can be made by using a solvent (usually butane or carbon dioxide) mixed with freshly ground plant matter. Next, essential oils are extracted from the plant using solvent extraction. The butane is then boiled off. You will then have a concentrated honey-like substance. The concentrated substance can have up to 80% THC. This is far more than the 20% THC found in plant matter.
You can adjust the concentration depending on how you handle it from here. This will allow you to make different products.
You will get "budder wax" if you stir the crystalized cannabinoids. Its creamy texture is similar to butter and gives it its name.
You can also use a lower heat to make "crumble" wax if you don't whip the whipping.
Shatter is the last, but not least, product under the BHO umbrella. Shatter, which looks like a piece of golden glass, is one of the most popular concentrates available on the market. Shatter can be achieved by not agitating the compound and allowing the concentrate to dry on a tray.
Each BHO is made from the same ingredients and then ingested using a dabbing device. has more information about dabbing rigs.
Rosin
Rosin is a new concentrate that has been on the market for a while, but it's rapidly rising in popularity. Rosin's popularity is due to the fact that it can be safely made at home with no solvent.
Rosin is made from a well-ground flower or kief, which you sandwich in the folds of a piece of parchment paper. You can then use a hair dryer to straighten the sandwiched materials on a low heat for approximately 7 seconds. You'll hear the rosin sizzle once you have it. Rosin can be used in the same manner as shatter or hash.
The Future of Concentrates
We are seeing that people are moving away from the traditional flower to favor more powerful and cheaper concentrates. This combined with rising health concerns about smoking makes it seem like we are on the edge of a new age.
Zion Market Research's report states that the global marijuana concentrate market was valued at USD 3.73 billion in 2018 and will grow to USD 13.78 billion by 2026.
Cannabis consumption is increasing, Vaping is growing and yet sales are falling. You don't need to be a rocket scientist in order to see where this puck is headed.
Despite the fact that cannabis concentrates continue to crash in, many people quickly realize they cannot swim.
Many people are unaware that cannabis concentrates contain more THC than they can take. This is due to their newfound popularity. Many new users of concentrates are finding it difficult to determine how much they should take.
Some doctors have called for bans on concentrates. Meanwhile, judges are clamping down on users, even those with medical marijuana cards. People are still learning their way in the cannabis concentrates business.
As with all new phenomena, there is always a learning curve. But it's evident that we are only at the beginning with our relationship with concentrates. Concentrates are here to stay, that's for sure.