The concentrates for cannabis are
growing in popularity with it outselling the traditional buds in
retail lately. Much of this change is in the popularity of Vape Pens
and different forms of using marijuana such as edibles. Concentrates
are just like the name refers to, a concentrated form of the
cannabinoids in the buds to give a higher concentration of THC and or
CBD. Here are some different forms of concentrates.
Hash
The oldest form of concentrate, and
probably the least potent. Hash is made by collecting the plants
resin, or kief and pressing it together. Ice water or ethanol
sometimes is used to effectively collect the crystals better to make
a higher concentration of the cannabinoids, stripping away the
non-desirable materials of the plant.(Source)
Butane Hash Oil (BHO)
Very dangerous way of making
concentrate in the fact that butane is highly flammable. (Source)
BHO creates a very potent form used for vaporizors or dabbing. The
result of heating to extract the cannabinoids leaves a sticky “wax”
wax or a solid “shatter” with a high concentration of THC. BHO
when tested shows traces of butane and therefore is not the
healthiest way to ingest cannabis. (Source)
CO2 Oil
 |
| CO2 Vape Juice |
The newer, less dangerous, less toxic
and best way of preserving terpenes and other healthy flavors and
cannabinoids is CO2 extraction. The process is more expensive to get
a botanical extractor that uses pressure and carbon dioxide to
extract the benefits of the plant into a concentrate. This method is
used for vapor pens. (Source)
Rick Simpson Oil (RSO)
A cancer patient in 2003 named Rick
Simpson made a concentrate from hemp by soaking the cannabis in
naphtha or isopropyl alcohol. The THC and CBD are extracted to make
a tar like liquid when the solvent evaporated. RSO, or also known as
Phoenix Tears can be applied directly to the skin like a salve. Some
companies now produce this concentrate and to have more THC or more
CBD.(Source)
Tinctures
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| Cannabidiol CBD Tincture |
Tinctures,
were popular before the prohibition of 1937. This method is done
soaking the buds, leaves and stems in ethyl alcohol extraction to get
the beneficial cannabinoids extracted out. The usual way of
administering this is a couple of drops under the tongue.(Source)
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