Now that concentrates are making their approach into the Utah medical cannabis scene, there are still many questions patients have about these potent formulations.
THC concentrates come in various sizes, shapes, and forms.
We already have tinctures and cartridges at local pharmacies, but the form of THC most people think of when hearing the word concentrates is the type you “dab.” Not the mid-2014 dance move invented by Skippa Da Flippa, but a single serving of hash oil typically vaporized on a hot nail or personal vaporizer.
If the words wax, rosin, shatter, or batter go over your head, read our Salt Baked breakdown below. We go over everything you need to know about the various forms of concentrated THC that’s poised to hit Utah pharmacy shelves.
THC concentrates are considered to be any cannabis product that has a high concentration of cannabinoids. There are many different methods of extraction, which creates several different concentrate forms.
Method of extraction – in other words, how were the active ingredients removed. Active ingredients can be removed with either CO2, butane, or with heat and pressure.
Part of the cannabis plant used – the whole cannabis plant can be used when making concentrates. The buds (flowers), are the most sought after because they are where the resin glands are found. Commercially; however, trim and baby buds, which are found at the lower part of the cannabis plant and are often left for trash, are mostly used for extraction.
The consistency of the concentrate – concentrates can come in many different forms, from liquid to solid, or anything in between.
Here are the most common types of concentrates we’ll find in Utah’s Green Scene:
Shatter
Carmel candy might be the first thing you think of when encountering this glass-typed concentrate. Its glass-like consistency is where the name originated. It’s mostly created from BHO (butane hash oil) and PHO (propane hash oil) extracts, and is known for its high levels of THC and CBD.
Shatter is renowned for its extreme purity. The appearance is typically translucent, though its coloring can range from bright amber to a dark yellow shade. It’s difficult to guess quality of shatter just by looking at it, but if you’re buying it from a Utah dispensary it will more than likely contain 80-percent or more cannabinoids.
Shatter can’t be smoked easily because of its high evaporation point. Generally, you will have to use either a butane torch or a nail rig that you can heat up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit before you can vaporize shatter.
Crumble
Crumble
Crumble is another type of cannabis concentrate that’s made from BHO – like its cousin Shatter. Crumble; however, goes a step further in the production phase than its kin, and is made by purging the oil in a vacuum oven for a long period of time. This allows lower temperatures to be used during formulation. During this process, crumble develops a soft consistency that won’t shatter like glass, and is still brittle enough it will crumble when handled.
If you’re looking for a concentrate that is highly potent, and packed with terpene flavor, this might be your first choice when at the pharmacy. Consumers usually use this product in vaporizers or dab rigs.
Wax
Wax closely resembles a thick honey. Even if you’re not a cannabis expert, you’ve probably seen this black-market favorite. Wax is easy to come by, which makes it the most popular concentrate by far. Although there are many different extract methods for wax, BHO and PHO are the most common.
Wax has gained popularity over regular cannabis buds with regular consumers because of its higher content of THC and other cannabinoids – so beginners beware. Wax is very difficult to handle and requires tools for use in dab rigs or personal vaporizers.
Live Resin
Live Resin
Probably the most difficult concentrate to handle, Live Resin has a similar texture to the sap that spews from trees. This sticky-icky concentrate needs to be treated with care, or it will run away. Known for it’s terpene profiles, Live Resin has a similar potency to the best waxes out there. So, if you’re a beginner, handle with caution – and use some tools. Personal vaporizers and dab rigs are the best approach when consuming.
Budder
Budder
With 90-percent THC and 99-percent purity on average – Budder is the most sought-after concentrate by cannabis connoisseurs. It gets its name from its silky-smooth finish, resembling butter, and is probably the cleanest formulation out there. Budder is usually the priciest concentrate found at recreational dispensaries, and the same can be expected at Utah pharmacies where its available. Prices soar because it’s notoriously hard to make and needs to be vigorously whipped during the purging process. Consume this treat carefully with a personal vaporizer or dab rig.
Tincture
Cannabis Tinctures can already be found at Utah pharmacies and are quickly gaining popularity with local patients because of easy consumption methods. Tinctures are concentrated THC oil that are made by dissolving cannabis in alcohol. There are two forms of consumption. The first is sublingually, by dropping the Tincture directly into the mouth and letting it saturate under the tongue. With this method, the effects of the THC will come on slower than smoking, but the effects last much longer. The second option for consumption is mixing with the Tincture with food or liquid and consuming it directly without saturation. This technique causes the THC to absorb into your body slower – like an edible. Unlike smoking cannabis flower, tinctures do not need to be decarboxylated (burned at a specific temperature) to activate the THC.
