There are a lot of exciting things happening in the world of cannabis right now; one of those is the rise in hydrocarbon extracts. You have probably heard this called BHO or Butane Hash Oil, so what is BHO? BHO is a potent cannabis concentrate made from a process that combines a hydrocarbon and cannabis. The process of making BHO is very dangerous; amateur producers of the product run the risk of causing explosions or poisoning those who use their final product because of a lack of lab testing and safety equipment. If you purchase it from a professional dispensary, BHO has gone through a process with safety checks and proper equipment so you can leave with a safe but potent product.
How It’s Made
In order to create BHO, cannabis will go through a closed-loop system that utilizes a hydrocarbon (butane, propane, or a combination of both) to get to its final state. Both of those hydrocarbons are highly flammable, which is what makes this process so daunting if done wrong. To properly create BHO, extraction rooms must be designed to handle any accidental explosion or other potential risks. The process of making BHO requires attention to detail, and it is costly to have the proper equipment and safe extraction room. For those who use BHO, the extra costs of the final product are well worth it.
The first part of the extraction process is called “the wash,” and it occurs in the second chamber of the closed-loop system. During this part of the process, cannabis is submerged in the hydrocarbon that comes from the first chamber. For a BHO, the hydrocarbon is butane. Cannabinoids and terpenes (trichomes) are removed from the cannabis and mixed with the butane. This butane solution is drained from the second chamber leaving behind the cannabis plant. In the third chamber, the solution will undergo a winterization, filtration, or de-waxing process to remove lipids, fats, and waxes. The type of process it undergoes will ultimately depend on the kind of equipment the extractor is using.
Once that process is complete, the solution then moves onto the fourth chamber. The fourth chamber is where most of the butane is removed by heating the solution. The last part of the process depends on what the final product will be. Extractors will either whip the solution for several hours or place it in a vacuum oven to remove any remaining hydrocarbon.
The Final Products
There are quite a few different hydrocarbon extracts that come from this process, including shatter, wax, budder, crumble, and pull ’n’ snap. These extracts are forms of dabs. Dabs are more well known for its high THC potency, but you can find them available with low levels of THC and high CBD. All forms of dabs require unique equipment in order to smoke the product. These products should not be consumed raw or orally, as it can be dangerous, especially if the BHO was not produced properly.
So what is shatter, budder, crumble, or the other extracts? Shatter is a concentrate that when made looks like a glass-like sheet of caramel or honey. Wax is an extract that has a softer wax-like consistency. Budder has a butter consistency. All of the extracts are named for what they look like and how they act, with no real surprises. When you buy any of these extracts, you should look for one that has a potency you are comfortable with and that you are confident smoking.
How Do I Smoke BHO?
The most common method of smoking a dab is with a rig. There are a few different kinds of rigs that you can purchase, but they will all have a piece you heat that you add the concentrate/extract to. They are also shorter and smaller than traditional bongs, even though they are similar in appearance and performance. When you buy a rig, you will often have to purchase additional parts so that you can smoke the concentrate, which can sometimes be pricey or daunting.
Rig
While rigs will vary in shape, size, and form, they will all have a chamber for water, a nail, and a mouthpiece. Additional things they might have are recyclers, 90 or 45-degree joints, and percolators. The rig you purchase will depend on your personal preference and price point.
To use your rig, you need a nail and dome (or dome-less nail), a dabber tool, and a torch. Some rigs come in kits with all of those included, but others will have just a nail and dome. When you purchase your first rig, talk to your retailer so you know exactly what other items you may need for it. If you choose a rig that does not come with a nail, or it comes with a nail you would prefer not to use, you have other options.
There are three types of nails you will find. One is titanium, the next is ceramic, and the third is quartz. Titanium nails heat quickly, retain heat, and last longer, but they need to be seasoned as they are not food or medical grade. Ceramic nails take a longer time to heat but hold heat for a long period of time. They are medical and food safe but break easily under heat or stress. Quartz nails heat the quickest but do not hold heat long. They are medical and food-grade, but can also break from overheating or from being dropped.
So now that you have your rig, smoking it is pretty simple. You will first use your dabbing tool to collect some of your concentrate and then set it aside. Now, you can heat your nail using the torch until it is red hot, but let it cool for a couple of seconds before you use it. Finally, while using your dabbing tool to apply the concentrate to the nail, inhale through the mouthpiece.
Nectar Collector
Your next option is a nectar collector, also called a nectar keeper. These are pretty easy to transport and are designed to perform like a dab rig by vaporizing concentrate. Nectar collectors have a body with a water chamber, a detachable neck (the mouthpiece), a clip to keep the neck attached, and a removable tip. The tip is similar to the nail on a rig and is quartz, titanium, or ceramic. For the nectar collector, you need less equipment than you would on a rig, but you will need a dish for the concentrate, the nectar collector, and a torch.
To use one, start by preparing the concentrate by putting it in your dish, then using your torch heat the tip of the nectar collector until it is red hot. At this point, you should give your nectar collector a little bit to cool before applying the tip to the concentrate in the dish. When you apply the concentrate either tap the tip against it until you have pulled enough of the vapor through the chamber or hold the tip against it. If you choose to keep the tip against it, you will be inhaling a more significant amount of the vaporized concentrate.
Twaxing
If you prefer more traditional methods of smoking cannabis, you can try something called “twaxing.” The word may sound weird, but it is simply just adding cannabis concentrate to a joint. By doing this, the joint will burn slower, and more cannabinoids are released. You can add wax, crumble, or budder to the inside of the joint, or you can apply shatter or sap to the outside of the joint.
Vape
Your fourth option is to smoke the concentrate using a vaporizer. Vaporizers are a preferred smoking method over rigs, nectar collectors, and joints because they make cannabis last much longer as they heat the cannabis at a lower temperature, and they require less material in the chamber.
They are also easy to transport and are more discrete. Vaporizers come in all shapes and sizes, with many unique features so its best you do your research before purchasing one. Make sure the vaporizer you choose has the ability to support wax (softer hydrocarbon extracts) vaporization as many do not.
Duration
Once you have purchased your smoking device and have obtained your concentrate, it is now time to smoke. Remember to start slow and with small amounts of your chosen concentrate, give yourself time to figure out how it will affect you, especially if it has a high THC potency. It will take only five to ten minutes to effect so you will know right away if you need/want more, and can last up to two-three hours.
