Cannabis Concentrates

About Cannabis Concentrates

Cannabis concentrates are a well-loved weed product with many aliases and forms, including “sauce”, “slab”, “tincture”, “shatter”, “wax”, and “resin”, to name a few. But what exactly are these sticky, high-potency globs? They have taken the cannabis world by storm, but where did they even come from? The story of concentrates is one well worth telling, so sit back and read on to learn all about our fine gooey friend. 

What are Weed Concentrates

Concentrates are exactly as their name implies - concentrated forms of cannabis. There are a few different processes for creating concentrates, and all of them include the cannabis plant undergoing distillation to extract the most potent parts of the plant. Separating from the excess plant matter, you are left with a product that is rich in cannabinoids and terpenes. 

Cannabinoids like THC and CBD are strongest in the trichomes of the flower, THC creates a euphoric, psychoactive effect on users, and CBD provides a more physically relaxing effect with zero psychoactive properties. Trichomes are the small, sparkly, wiggly arms scattered throughout the cannabis flower, and inside of them are the components that make weed, weed. Terpenes are also found in trichomes and are what house the lovely aromatics and flavors of the cannabis plant we’ve all come to know and love. 

Concentrates allow the user to experience the best parts of the plant almost immediately upon consumption in a variety of ways. Getting right to the point, as most concentrates contain an average of 55-70% THC per gram.

The Origins of Cannabis Concentrates

The history of concentrates is as rich as the product itself! Hashish is a compressed form of extracted cannabis trichomes that has existed for thousands of years, originating in India, Persia, and China, originally serving medicinal and spiritual functions. Hashish oil extracted from butane, also known as BHO (butane hash oil), made its way to the United States government in the 1950s and 60s, where it was used by the CIA in biochemical interrogation methods. That’s right, prisoners and other persons of interest were given tobacco cigarettes laced with BHO in order to elicit a calming and out-of-head feeling while being questioned. 

The modern-day BHO made a public appearance in the states during the 1970s through the drug distribution organization The Brotherhood of Eternal Love. The Brotherhood imported a large supply of BHO from Afghanistan but was quickly foiled after an explosion at their lab headquarters. Since then, the craze has only grown as users discovered the many benefits of concentrates. 

Benefits of Using Cannabis Concentrates

Given that concentrates are highly potent you need far less product to get the desired effects you are looking for, which is beneficial for your time, energy, and wallet. Because they are so high in THC, the effects of concentrates are a lot stronger than other cannabis products and are great for users looking for immediate pain management, or those seeking a palpable psychoactive experience. 

Likewise, if you are a user who might prefer other methods over smoking, concentrates are the main ingredient in edibles and topicals. Lesser known than their smokable alternatives concentrates in topical treatments deliver a targeted, nearly instant relief to the area of discomfort. 

Frequently Asked Question on Concentrates at Grassdoor

What types of cannabis concentrates are out there? 

Concentrates are beautifully diverse in nature and can be consumed in a variety of methods. There is a concentrate product for every user, making them incredibly versatile and accommodating. Depending on the experience you are seeking, as well as any symptoms you’d like alleviated, some methods may be a better fit than others. You can give the expert team at Grassdoor a call anytime to find the best concentrate for you on our menu. 

• Shatter: With its glass-like appearance and consistency, shatter is one of the cleanest forms of concentrates. You can tell by the light amber color that there are little impurities in the product.
• Wax: Having a dense consistency, sometimes with a bit of graininess, wax is opaque with a deep golden color.
• Dabs: Arguably the most popular method of consuming concentrates, dabs are ideal for a strong, fast-acting high. Most comparable to wax, but with a smoother consistency, and usually a little darker in color.
• Edibles: Great for a delicious long-term, smoke-free, high potency expense. Check out our guide to edibles here.
• Topicals: Best for spot treatments on specific areas of pain in the body, without experiencing psychoactive effects.

How are weed concentrates made? 

There are three main methods of cannabis extraction, all of which should be done by professionals, in a lab, and with proper safety precautions and equipment. 

• Solvent-based: The cannabis plant is submerged in an alcohol solvent first to dissolve the unnecessary plant matter, and secondarily to extract the plant’s essential oils, cannabinoids, and terpenes. This method creates concentrates such as BHO, live resin, and terpene sauce.
• Solventless: Solventless extraction methods utilize agitation rather than chemicals to get the goods from the cannabis plant. This can look like high-pressure low-heat machines breaking down the trichomes to best access cannabinoids and terpenes. This creates concentrates such as rosin, kief, and ice water hash.
• CO2: This extraction method is environmentally friendly, non-toxic, and uses heated CO2 through a condenser machine to separate the gas from the trichomes. It’s even able to be recycled for future extractions! CO2 extraction is commonly used for cannabis-infused beer, coffee, fruit extracts, and teas.

How To Use Concentrates?

This answer can slightly differ depending on what type of concentrate product you have on hand. While edibles and topicals are fairly straightforward, the rest of the concentrate family requires certain tools and devices to consume. 

The most popular method of concentrate consumption is called “dabbing”, where users will place their product on a heated surface to produce inhalable, highly potent vapor. These devices look like water pipes, are usually referred to as rigs, and consist of a few key parts. The “nail” is essentially the bowl, a glass or metal piece used to heat up the concentrate into a dissolvable smoke. The “dome” is placed over the nail to capture the smoke that you breathe in through the main mouthpiece. Dab tools are small, metal, or glass pieces used to handle your concentrate, as they are too sticky to take on bare-handed. Finding the right heat for the nail is key in dabbing, as too hot of a temperature can burn the concentrate too quickly, resulting in a bad flavor, wasted product, and a sore throat. It’s best practice for beginning dabbers to start by heating the nail up until it’s red-hot, waiting about 30-50 seconds for it to cool off, and placing a tiny amount on with the dab tool. 

You can also vape your concentrate by placing the product in a packable vape pen, or by purchasing a concentrate cartridge attachment for your vape. Another fun and creative method is simply topping off your flower with concentrate for a little extra spice! You can carefully place small bits of shatter, wax, or dabs right onto your flower for added intensity. 

Where can I buy concentrates? 

Grassdoor is your one-stop shop for concentrates in the state of California. We have a huge selection of top cannabis brands of a variety of concentrates, such as shatter, wax, badder, rosin, resin, and sauce. Need a little guidance on which type is best for you? Our educated, compassionate team is on standby ready to take your call or message and get you the best product for your needs with same-day delivery. Sample our menu through our website to buy marijuana concentrate at grassdoor.com, or our app, which is compatible with all smartphone devices. Check out our blog- Must Have Concentrates and Vapes to Pick Up Now. We’re looking forward to serving you soon!