Enjoying cannabis extends far beyond smoking flower. You can eat it, apply it topically, vape it and of course, enjoy it as a concentrate. The wide variety of options can be intimidating for even the most experienced stoner. But never fear! The Trippy Hippies are here to help you consume with confidence.
Concentrates come in a variety of forms and methods of consumption. Concentrates are typically dabbed, eaten, or vaped. We’ll be covering the different kinds of concentrates and all the different ways you can eat it, vape it, and dab it!
Why Use Concentrates?
Before we get into the what of concentrates, let’s talk about why one might opt for the concentrated version of cannabis as opposed to your traditional flower.
The first benefit of concentrates that I can think of is: potency. Long-term THC consumption results in an increased tolerance over time as all cannabis lovers come to learn. At a certain point, consumers might find they are having to smoke more to get the same effect. That’s where dabbing comes in.
In its flower form, a typical cannabis cultivar can range between 12-30% THC, give or take. In a concentrated form, potency for THC ranges from 40% to 85% on average. A quality concentrate allows the user to enjoy the simplicity of the fundamental cannabinoids that make cannabis so enjoyable.
What’s more, the concentrated version of a cultivar will provide stronger flavor, providing a flavorful, more efficient way to enjoy your favorite strains.
Another benefit of concentrates, particularly in their edible form, is they allow for more precise dosing of THC. Refine makes a 1000mg THC syringe, for example, that will let you get the most precise dosage possible.
In their vaped form, concentrates also provide greater discretion, if you’re trying to remain on the down low about your cannabis consumption. Since there is no carbonization of plant matter, there is no smoke or smell.
The versatility of concentrates bring a variety of potential benefits for even a casual cannabis consumer.
Types of Concentrates
Cannabis concentrate comes in the following forms:
Dabs
Kief
Hash
THC Distillate
Vape cartridges
RSO
Tinctures/THC Sprays
Ingestible capsules
Dabs:
When it comes to concentrates, one might immediately think of “dabs,” the colloquial term for concentrates you vaporize using a water pipe, called a “dab rig.”
Diving into the world of concentrates could be an entire post on it’s own, but today we’ll cover the basics. Dabbable concentrates come in a plethora of textures and extraction methods. Live resin, hash rosin, BHO, PHO, CO2, shatter, wax, etc., are some of the jargon you’ll run into when shopping at Trippy Hippie or any other dispensary.
BHO/PHO: This stands for “butane hash oil” and “propane hash oil” respectively. This refers to the solvent used during the extraction process. The cannabis flower is exposed to a high-temperature liquid solvent like butane or propane. This strips the plant material of it’s cannabinoids and infuses them into the liquid solvent. WIth the heat, the butane, propane, or CO2 evaporates, leaving a flavorful, potent extract. The resulting extract can form into a wax, shatter, sauce, or somewhere in between. No matter the texture, a quality concentrate will guarantee a potent and flavorful high.
Kief:
You might be surprised to learn that the sticky green dust that accumulates in your grinder is actually concentrate! Kief is the crystalized, powdery trichomes that house all of the cannabinoids and terpenes in cannabis. Arguably the easiest was to use concentrates, kief can be pressed to make hash, or sprinkled on top of your bowls for an extra kick of THC.
Hash:
Hash, also known as hashish, is one of the oldest methods of canna-consumption.Modern day hash is produced by using a combination of ice water and pressure. You might find it being sold as “solventless hash oil.” Hash is a great alternative to traditional dabs, and a good choice for consumers who want a solvent-free experience.
Distillate:
Most forms of concentrate are made with THC distillate. This is an extract that isolates only one cannabinoid, THC. Initially extracted as THCA, heat is applied to the distillate in order to transform it into THC, thus activating its psychoactive properties. Distillate can be eaten or vaped, and its versatility allows it to be consumed in a variety of ways. This is similar to when you make edibles at home, and decarboxylate the cannabis flower using heat. Most edibles that you can purchase at a dispensary are made with THC distillate.
Vape cartridges:
Vapes are a discreet and portable way to get high on the go. Most vape cartridges will have THC distillate infused with the terpenes of the strain it was extracted from. Others are made with only THC, or CBD, distillate. Despite controversy in the media, vape cartridges are a perfectly safe way to consume cannabis concentrate.
RSO:
Rick Simpson Oil, also known as “RSO”, or “pheonix tears,” is a full spectrum cannabis distillate. Similar to other kinds of distillate, RSO is made by extracting cannabinoids using a solvent. However, RSO is unique from other kinds of distillate because it is made using all of the plant material, creating a concentrate of all the cannabinoids present in the plant. RSO was created by Rick Simpson, and can be eaten, applied topically, or even smoked, although eating it is by far the most common method.
Tinctures:
Just as you might find an herbal tincture at the Co-Op, cannabis also comes in the form of tinctures, allowing for a discreet, quick, and precise form of dosing.
Edibles/Etc.:
Any edible you buy will be infused with cannabis concentrate. Other than the sort of candy, snacks, or drinks you may find in a dispensary, you can also eat your concentrate by taking it in capsule form.
Many ways to enjoy
However you decide to consume your cannabis concentrates, rest assured you’re in for a potent and enjoyable smoke-free experience.