Indigo Dispensary takes much pride in being the number one recreational adult-use cannabis dispensary in Brooklawn, NJ. It thrills us to provide our customers with a heightened sense of calm, relaxation, and well-being, with a substantial helping of good times.
While many people immediately associate cannabis with flower strains and big, trichome-glistening buds, these aren’t the only available cannabis products.
Instead, the above cannabis products have more potent counterparts–those being cannabis concentrates, namely shatter, oil, and wax.
Concentrates pack a memorable punch, and this can take you to places with your cannabis experiences you never expected to go. It can be a double-edged sword, though. “Too much” can quickly become a reality when you’re unfamiliar with these heavyweight haymaker concoctions.
Below, we’ll delve into tips and recommendations as you dip your toe into the exhilarating waters of cannabis concentrates.
Understanding Cannabis Concentrates
Trichomes are the microscopic, crystal hairs covering cannabis plants, surrounding the budding flower, and producing cannabinoids [1].
Multiple varieties of trichomes are present and can be extracted, resulting in cannabis concentrates containing substantial amounts of THC (the psychoactive component of cannabis).
Several methods entail the concentrate consumption method, including vaping and dabbing, but we’ll delve more into that topic momentarily.
Concentrates can be produced with modern equipment by applying multiple methods, such as:
- Water-based processing.
- Utilizing nonflammable carbon dioxide solvents.
- Using flammable solvents (e.g., lighter fluid, ether, alcohol, or propane).
- Combining pressure with heat.
- Dry ice processing.
- Dry processing.
Flammable solvents tend to yield the highest THC levels with the longest-lasting effects. Plus, the process is functionally sound and cost-efficient. The most commonly used solvent is butane, known for extracting butane hash, the most hard-hitting cannabis concentrate.
The Broadness Of Cannabis Concentrates
There isn’t only one type of cannabis concentrate–it’s an umbrella term for a wide range of products extracted from the cannabis plant.
Concentrates and extracts are often used interchangeably (we’ll be doing that), but many passionate enthusiasts apply separate definitions to both.
Extracts are characterized as being produced via non-solvent methods.
A dab is something some believe is solely produced from butane hash oil (or shatter), but many will use the term for many other extract types.
Other post-production methods contribute to different forms and variations of concentrates.
Another concentrate type is wax, reported by some sources as the purest cannabis form around, reaching up to 99.7% pure THC [2].
What Are The Primary Benefits Of Cannabis Concentrates?
In cutting to the chase, we’ll say it plainly: cannabis concentrates hit hard, and they hit fast. There’s no two ways about it. They are not for the weak at heart or people who want to dabble with some easy-going cannabis.
None of that is to say cannabis concentrates aren’t an absolute blast. They very much are–if they suit your preferences and you’re strategic with your doses.
You also have multiple options for consumption, such as vaping, edibles, and dabbing.
Recreational consumers seeking therapeutic benefits might get the results they desire from concentrates like shatter. The heightened THC levels contribute to a more cerebral experience, which can help with anxiety and depression symptoms [3].
Consumption Methods And Tools
Dabbing requires a device called a rig, which can be a tube of glass/quartz called a straw, or it could be electric. Generally, dab rigs have a “nail” attached to them.
Here’s a concise breakdown of how to use a dab rig:
- Secure your nail to the dab rig.
- Heat the element with your torch, applying it directly to the nail.
- Allow the nail to cool so the heat disperses through it. Let it cool twice as long as you heat it.
- Apply the dab to the nail with your dabber.
- Slowly inhale after covering the carb cab.
Vapes are less labor-intensive than dabbing and come in pen, desktop, and portable forms. They come with cartridges filled with concentrate, reaching a heat necessary to vaporize the concentrate soothingly. It’s far less harsh than other methods.
You can also infuse concentrates into edibles. In this instance, consider these tips:
- Pair edibles with the appropriate dishes (strong ones like RSO won’t be good in savory dishes but go well with sweeter offerings).
- Use canola or vegetable oil (or another high-fat oil) as an infusing base.
- Be sure to calculate your dosage correctly due to the strength of the concentrates.
Concentrate Dosage Guidelines
We’ll stress once more the vast potency of cannabis concentrates and the need to approach them with caution. Start small and gradually increase as you get used to it.
This strategy is known as “gradual titration,” meaning seeing how your body reacts to a drug by slowly increasing your dosage amount.
Note how the recommended edible dose–at most–is 10 mg of THC for gradual titration. However, portioning this amount of dabs isn’t an option.
A concentrate with 800 mg of THC–which isn’t uncommon–would yield a 25mg dose for a dab the size of a peppercorn.
We suggest slightly heating your concentrates to make positioning easier and help you estimate the approximate dab size better.
Enjoying Social Activities With Concentrates
Enjoying cannabis concentrates in a social setting can be its own complicated notion. The heavy impacts of these products can yield varying results amongst a crowd. Be careful if you’re sharing with novices. Provide disclaimers and warnings, and ensure everyone is cautious and safe in their dosing approach.
We suggest our Kind Tree Chemlatto live resin dablicator if you’re hanging out with pals because of the happy feelings and fun it produces.
Conclusion
Concentrates are a powerful subset of cannabis products, packing a heavyweight potency punch. They come in many shapes and forms (wax, shatter, oil, etc.) and can be enjoyed in multiple ways (i.e., dab rig, vape, and edibles).
We sell high-quality concentrates at Indigo Dispensary.
We rigorously comply with all state regulations and testing standards, ensuring you only get the best from us. Explore our vast cannabis menu for our top-tier concentrates and take your cannabis adventures to new and exciting heights.
Sources
- https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/cannabis-marijuana-concentrates
- https://www.ihs.gov/california/tasks/sites/default/assets/File/BP2014-3_MarijuanaWax_Palacios.pdf
- https://westwindrecovery.com/recovery-blog/dangers-and-side-effects-of-the-shatter-drug/#:~:text=Shatter%20drugs%20can%20have%20up,conditions%20like%20anxiety%20and%20depression.
