While traditional flower will forever be the most prevalent and mainstream “form” of marijuana, concentrates have been increasing in popularity in recent years. Of course, for both new smokers and old tokers, this leads to a common question, what are concentrates?
Well, in the simplest terms, concentrates are “concentrated” forms of the marijuana plant. This way, you can bypass the flower and get directly to the good stuff. Think of apple juice, for instance. This beverage allows people to enjoy the best parts of the apple while bypassing the unnecessary aspects (like the seeds, the core, and the stem).
Furthermore, there may even be some health benefits that accompany concentrates. Plus, to put it over the top, users generally get more of a high with this form of marijuana.
If you’re interested in everything that concentrates have to offer, continue reading below…
What Are Concentrates?
As you’re researching your next purchase from the weed dispensary, you’ll find that there is a variety of options to choose from. However, when all is said and done, these concentrates all contain the same attributes.
Specifically, concentrates are a “concentrated” version of the best parts of the marijuana plant (particularly the THC and the CBD). This means these concentrates include more of what get you “high,” meaning they’re stronger and more potent than their flower counterpart. Some concentrates also specifically focus on the CBD aspect of the plant, which is concentrated but doesn’t provide the same psychedelic effects of THC.
Either way, there are a number of benefits that accompany the use of concentrates, specifically the long list of ways they can be consumed. Vaporizers and pipes are the most prevalent ways of using concentrates. Cooking butter and oil would even fall under the “concentrates” category, meaning edibles are technically another way you can consume this potent form of cannabis.
Types of Concentrates
- Shatter
- Rosin
- BHO
- CO2
- Wax
- Crumble
- Honey Oil
- Dabs
- Hash
- Tinctures
- Capsules
Most of these names are pertaining to the texture and shape of the concentrates, and they all differ in concentration and potency. Furthermore, they’re all consumed in different ways, meaning you may require an applicable device. The most common concentrates are generally oil and waxes, and they’re often sold in pre-filled cartridges (which can then be easily inserted into a corresponding battery/devise).
As we mentioned, edibles are also a standard way of enjoying your favorite plant. The concentrated marijuana is simmered into some type of cooking ingredient (like butter and oil), and this ingredient is then transformed into foods like baked goods. These edibles are usually classified in their own segment of marijuana variations, but for posterity’s sake, we’ve decided to briefly include them here.
You can even enjoy concentrates via the plant. If you have a grinder, there’s a good chance that it’ll include a bottom chamber, otherwise known as a “keif catcher.” Keif is the purest, THC part of the plant, and it looks like a yellow dust. While most of the THC will be retained on the plant during the grinding process, some of the pure parts of the plant will work their way into the catcher. This concentrate/kief can then be sprinkled atop your ground weed for some extra potency. Users can also smoke the kief all by itself, although the dust-like concentrate burns relatively quickly (especially when compared to the flower).
Benefits of Concentrates
There are a number of advantages to opt for concentrates instead of the traditional flower. For starters, there’s a clear health incentive when smoking concentrates as compared to traditional flower. The marijuana plant generally needs to be burned or combusted, leading to smoke. This smoke is obviously harmful when inhaled. However, many concentrates can be vaporized, which means users won’t be receiving any of the problems that accompany smoke.
Similarly, vaping and/or smoking concentrates are more discreet and aren’t accompanied by the same odors of traditional smoking. Therefore, these tend to be particularly popular among users who are looking to be a bit more guarded with their weed enjoyment. Of course, if you decide to dab, you’ll have no choice but to do so in the comfort of your own home.
Finally, to put concentrates over the top, a hit from concentrates tends to be more potent than a hit from a flower. This is because the concentrated THC means you’re only receiving the good stuff, and the hit can lead to significantly stronger effects. In other words, if you’re a first-time smoker, you should be a bit cautious when using concentrates.
The downsides? While it’s rarely consistent, concentrates tend to be a bit pricier than their generic flower counterpart. This makes plenty of sense; separating the pure THC takes both time and effort, and the stronger, more potent product should naturally be higher-priced. Furthermore, the accompanying batteries or devices can be expensive, but these will fortunately only be one-time purchases. Either way, if you’re looking to get high on a budget, it might be in your best interest to opt for flower.
How to Consume Concentrates
Nowadays, many concentrates are available in pre-filled, disposal cartridges. These cartridges are then placed in a reusable battery, and users need to do little more than suck into the device and inhale. It’s truly that simple to enjoy your favorite concentrate. However, if you prefer to buy these concentrates separately, you’re going to need some gear in order to use it.
For starters, you’re going to need some kind of water pipe, although you’ll likely want to replace your traditional bowl with a specialized dabbing-attachment (generally known as a nail and dome). However, if you have these various attachments (and your bong is compatible), you can use your water pipe for both traditional flower smoking and concentrate smoking. Depending on your attachment, you’ll also need a tool called a dabber, which makes it easy to load up your favorite concentrate. Finally, you’re going to need a torch; a simple, kitchen-friendly mini torch will do the trick. Propane torches will expedite the entire process, but you’ll have to be especially careful when using this tool.
Now that you have your equipment ready, it’s time to start smoking! Fortunately, it’s a whole lot easier than it sounds.
Aim your torch’s flame right at the nail until it’s a glowing red.
If you have one, place the dome over the nail (not all rigs will have one).
Apply the dab from the dabber to your nail.
Inhale while rotating the dabber (this assures you’re not wasting any concentrates).
And that’s it! While the torch and various attachments may seem intimidating, enjoying dabs is just as easy as enjoying flower.
There’s a whole lot that goes into concentrates, and this is why many users generally ignore this option in favor of traditional flower. However, when all is said and done, enjoying your preferred concentrate is incredibly easy, and there are plenty of benefits that make this option preferable over standard smoking.
Ultimately, the best way to grasp concentrates is to try them for yourself. Test out all of the options, and you’ll surely find a cannabis form that fits your specific wants and needs.