Intro to Cannabis Concentrates & How to Smoke Them

Cannabis concentrates, also called dabs, are flavorful cannabis products that contain large portions of cannabinoids and terpenes that make them extremely potent. They are made by extracting the active compounds of the cannabis plants, resulting in a concentrated form of THC and other cannabinoids. The concentrates are often consumed via dabbing, which involves heating the concentrate and inhaling the vapor.¹

The term “dab” is a slang term for cannabis concentrates because of how these products are frequently consumed—via dabbing. The dabbing process involves taking a small amount of concentrate, or a “dab,” and vaporizing it on a hot surface, like the nail of a dab rig. The resulting vapor is then inhaled, delivering a potent dose of cannabinoids.²

Concentrates can have between 50% and 90% THC, making them extremely potent. A few concentrates can even reach 99% pure THC, which is why this product is not recommended for cannabis newbies. It’s important to note, however, that higher THC levels don’t necessarily lead to higher levels of intoxication. A study from the University of Colorado at Boulder suggested that smoking concentrates and smoking cannabis flower could provide similar levels of psychoactivity.³ If you choose to purchase concentrates, pay attention to how your body reacts as that can help inform further purchases.

There are two main methods to extract THC, the other cannabinoids, terpenes, and other plant compounds from cannabis to create a concentrate:

Solvent-Based Extraction: This method uses solvents like butane to extract the THC and other cannabinoids from the cannabis plant’s resinous glands, known as trichomes. The solvents dissolve the cannabinoids, which are then collected and purified. 

Solventless Extraction: This method doesn’t use any solvents. Instead, mechanical processes, such as heat and pressure or ice water extraction, extract the cannabinoids. It’s often considered to be more natural and can produce high-quality, flavorful, solventless concentrates.

Many types of concentrates are available, differing in their extraction method, texture, potency, and flavor. Here are the most common ones.

Budder / Batter / Badder

Budder is a creamy concentrate with a consistency similar to butter or smooth peanut butter. It’s made by whipping the concentrates during extraction. Budder is incredibly potent, with THC levels ranging between 80% and 90%.

Bubble Hash

Bubble hash, also called ice hash or ice water hash, is created using ice water to separate the trichomes. Both concentrates can be dabbed, smoked, vaped, or infused into foods and drinks.

Crumble

Crumble, a dry, crumbly, and very potent concentrate, is typically used as a topper—add it to flower for a more potent experience. 

Hash

Hash, hashish, or dry sift is a traditional brown cannabis concentrate made by compressing the plant’s trichomes.

Kief

Kief is a fine, powdery substance made up of dried trichomes that have fallen off cannabis flower. It can be pressed into hash, used in food, or sprinkled on top of flower.

Live Resin

Live resin has a saucy texture and is made from flash-frozen cannabis plants and retains most terpenes, providing a flavorful experience. 

Rosin

Rosin is made by applying heat and pressure to dried, cured cannabis flower. The potent, full-spectrum concentrate is a flavorful, sticky oil.

RSO

Rick Simpson Oil, or RSO, is a highly potent concentrate that is often sold in pre-rilled syringes. 

Shatter

Shatter is a highly potent THC concentrate known for its glass-like shards. It’s amber-colored and semi-transparent, with THC levels reaching up to 90%. 

Terp Sauce

Terp sauce is a cannabis concentrate with a soaring terpene content, making it one of the most flavorful and aromatic products on the market today.

THC Diamonds

THC diamonds are crystalline structures of pure, concentrated THCA, meaning they aren’t actually THC! They appear crystal-like and translucent–hence the name “diamond.”

THC Distillate

THC distillate is a highly potent concentrated THC that’s almost entirely free of other cannabinoids and terpenes, resulting in a thick, sticky, flavorless, odorless oil with 90-99% THC.

Wax

Marijuana wax is a flavorful, malleable, honey-colored concentrate with a waxy consistency.

Now that you’ve learned a bit about what cannabis concentrates are, you may be interested in the various consumption methods available. The ways in which concentrates are consumed are slightly different from what you may be used to, so here’s a primer to get you started.

Carb Cap

A carb cap is a small device that sits on top of the nail or banger during dabbing, to trap heat, control airflow, and keep concentrates from cooling too quickly.

Dab Mat

A dab mat is a heat-resistant mat made of non-stick material that is designed to use during your dabbing sessions..

Dab Pen

Dab pens are a more portable way to enjoy concentrates. These tools work similarly to vape pens, although the concentrate needs to be manually added during each session.

Dab Rig

The most common method of consuming marijuana concentrate is using a device called a dab rig. Dab rigs are a lot like glass pipes, but they work a little differently.

Nectar Collector

Nectar collectors are straw-like, portable dabbing devices that work similarly to a traditional dab rig but without a nail. Simply heat the tip, press it against the concentrate, and inhale.

Terp Pearl

Nectar collectors are straw-like, portable dabbing devices that work similarly to a traditional dab rig but without a nail. Simply heat the tip, press it against the concentrate, and inhale.

Vape

Instead of purchasing a concentrate on its own, you can buy a pre-filled vape cartridge that contains liquid extracts like live resin. They’re typically offered in reusable and disposable devices.

Selecting the perfect temperature for your concentrates depends on what type of experience you want: high flavor, high impact, or both. Here is a guide for selecting the right temperature.

Setting your concentrate consumption tools to high temperatures will encourage maximum cannabinoid - THC, CBD, etc. - extraction, leading to a more powerful experience. However, since terpenes boil off at these temperatures, you won’t be able to experience as much of the flavors and aromas of the concentrate.⁴

When in doubt, use a standard temperature for just about all concentrates. Extracts like live resin, shatter, and crumble that are heated to this temperature will remain flavorful and potent without scorching the valuable terpenes.⁴

Selecting lower temperatures for concentrates will provide you with the most flavorful experience as the concentrates will melt without boiling the terpenes. However, since not all of the concentrate will be hot enough to vaporize, you’ll likely end up with more waste.⁴

It’s best to start somewhere in the middle and adjust from there to find your ideal temperature setting.

Best Way to Store Concentrates

There’s nothing worse than investing money in good quality concentrates only for them to go bad. The best way to avoid this is to store your concentrates properly. 

In general, you want to protect your concentrate from heat, light, and air, and the storage solution will change based on the length of time you intend to keep them.⁵

• Short-term storage: If you plan on enjoying your concentrate over a couple days, you only need to keep it wrapped in parchment and stored in a cool, dry, dark place.
  
  
• Medium-term storage: If you want to keep your concentrates for a couple of weeks, you’ll need to put your parchment-wrapped concentrate into a sealed bag. This lets you squeeze the air out of the bag before tucking it into an airtight container. Then, put it in a cool, dry, dark place.
  
  
• Long-term storage: If you want to keep your concentrates for a while, or if you just live in a hot location with no AC, you’ll want to keep your concentrates refrigerated or even frozen. Wrap your concentrate in parchment, place it into a sealed bag, squeeze the air out, and then tuck that into an airtight container. Then, put it in the fridge if you plan to use it over a couple of months, or put it in the freezer if you want it to last even longer. Just remember, when you take it out, let it come to room temperature before you open the container. This will help to keep moisture out of your concentrate.
  
  

Want to know more about these ever-popular cannabis concentrates? Ask your budtender, or check out these commonly asked questions:

Is there a difference between concentrates and extracts?

Concentrates can be made using a solvent-based or solvent-free extraction process, but extracts are only made via solvent extraction. That means all extracts are marijuana concentrates.

How potent are marijuana concentrates?

Cannabis concentrates are highly potent, with THC levels ranging from 60% to 90% (or higher). In comparison, the average THC content in cannabis flower is 10-30%.⁵

Why are concentrates more potent than flower?

Concentrates are made by extracting, concentrating, and purifying the active compounds of cannabis, such as cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, resulting in a much stronger product than flower.⁶ 

How many types of concentrates are there?

There are many different types of THC concentrates, each with unique properties and extraction methods. Some favorites are hash, rosin, budder, crumble, shatter, wax, and THC distillate.

What temperature is needed to smoke concentrates?

If your dab rig or vape pen allows you to set a temperature, we recommend starting somewhere between 500 - 570 degrees fahrenheit. This standard range will provide you with a flavorful experience, and you can adjust accordingly from there.

Can dabs get moldy? 

Yes. Dabs that have not been stored in a cool, dry place can be exposed to moisture. Moist dabs can become moldy dabs. If you notice mold on your concentrates, toss them. Consuming moldy concentrates can be dangerous.⁸

Do you need a dab rig to smoke concentrates?

There are a variety of tools available to smoke concentrates, including dab rigs, dab pens, nectar collectors, and vape pens. If you’re unsure of which tool to choose, ask a budtender at your local dispensary.

Do concentrates lose potency over time?

Yes. Over time, concentrates will start to degrade, which causes them to lose their flavor and potency, and change color.⁹

Can you freeze concentrates?

You can freeze concentrates if you are looking to preserve your concentrates for longer periods of time or if you just don’t have a good, cool spot in your house to keep them. Just make sure that you wrap them up and vacuum seal them.⁵

Purchasing Cannabis Concentrates

Cannabis concentrates can be purchased at state-licensed dispensaries, ensuring the products are legal, safe, and of high quality. Talk with your favorite budtender if you want to know more about the potency of concentrated THC and the variety of marijuana concentrates available.