Licensed Cannabis Medical and Recreational Dispensaries

There are many types of cannabis concentrates on the market today, and nearly as many different ways to consume them. But with so many concentrates and methods available, how can you know how to make the best choices for your situation?

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We laid out everything you need to know about marijuana concentrates to help you decide if they’re right for your routine: what concentrates are, how they’re made, and the different forms they take.

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A cannabis concentrate refers to any cannabis-derived product where plant matter has been discarded so that the resulting substance has a high potency of a medicinally useful chemical compound, called a cannabinoid.

The two most important and prominent cannabinoids sought for extraction are cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Each of these compounds produces different effects:

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Other, less prevalent, compounds called terpenes are often desired during processes of extraction and isolation.

These substances have wide-ranging potential therapeutic uses and are responsible for the distinctive aromatic and flavor profiles of many flowers, fruits, and plants, including cannabis. It’s believed that cannabis has <a href="https://zenleafdispensaries.com/learn/terpenes/">more than 200 possible terpenes</a>.

Why Do People Choose Cannabis Concentrates?

Some cannabis users prefer concentrates over traditional flower for reasons of discretion and convenience. Others enjoy concentrates for the simple fact that they’re more potent and can deliver a more intense cannabis experience than other forms.

Concentrated cannabis products, by their nature, take up a lot less space than the same amount of THC in flower form, and many concentrates also lack (or at least reduce) the pungent, tattle-tale smell of cannabis flower.

<a href="https://zenleafdispensaries.com/blog/cannabis-vape-cartridges/">Concentrates that can be vaporized</a>, discreetly dabbed with a dab pen, or eaten have the edge over smoking flower when it comes to convenient, efficient consumption.

The first cannabis concentrates were produced over a thousand years ago. Hash (or hashish) was mentioned in the text of the story 1,001 Arabian Nights, where the extraction process was described as rolling cannabis flower between your fingers until you had created a sticky little ball that could be eaten. Middle Eastern religious and cultural customs helped spread hashish use throughout the region and eventually into India and Europe.

It was there where its medicinal potential was first documented by Irish medical marijuana innovator William B. O’Shaughnessy. He successfully used cannabis (in hashish form) as an anti-inflammatory, anti-convulsant, and anti-nausea supplement.

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A cannabis concentrate is any marijuana product processed to extract its medicinal and/or psychoactive compounds, used for either medicinal or recreational purposes.

The cannabinoid concentration journey begins just as that of flower. A cultivar is grown to flower, then harvested, dried and cured. Some of this flower is set aside to be packaged as whole bud, while a fraction is destined for additional processing.

There are many different possible methods of processing cannabis flowers and extracting cannabinoids, but all methods fall into the category solvent-free or solventless.

Solvent-free concentrates are crafted using a solvent. A solvent, typically butane, ethanol, or CO2, is used to extract the beneficial cannabinoids and terpenes. After the crude extract is created, the solvent is purged, deeming the end-product solvent-free as it is now free of solvents.

Solventless concentrates are those created without a solvent. These are considered some of the most pure, as they use no external compounds to create the concentrate.

Let’s look at a few prominent solvent-free and solventless concentrates:

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Here are some of the most <a href="https://zenleafdispensaries.com/blog/alternate-ways-to-consume-cannabis/">popular types of cannabis concentrate</a>, along with basic information about the processes used to create them:

With the many different extractions and sub-types available, it’s no wonder cannabis concentrates can be used in a variety of different ways. Here are some of the most popular.

A little pinch of kief or crumble of hash atop a freshly packed bowl of flower has long been considered a special treat for cannabis connoisseurs. Adding concentrated cannabis to your flower increases the potency of your dose while still allowing you to appreciate the natural smell and flavor of the flower and use it in your favorite pipe or another smoking device.

Non-chemical concentrates like the aforementioned kief or hash are probably the most popular concentrate options for adding to flower for smoking purposes, but any form of cannabis extract that can be vaped or dabbed could be tried.

Using a concentrate to boost your usual smoking is a good option when you’re first experimenting with concentrates because it doesn’t require a dab rig or any other special equipment.

Did you know the vape you carry is a concentrate?

The widespread availability of high-quality cannabis extracts has had a lot to do with the rise of vape pens and pods, which most often utilize distillate.

The beauty of vapes is they are a way to microdose concentrates, as most vapes have a max output of ~5 mg per 5-second draw. Cartridges post often come pre-filled with distillate and terpenes to create strain-specific effects and flavors.

Many discreet users favor portable vaping devices like pens and pods because they are easy to transport, efficient to use, and can be carried around in a pocket without giving off a noticeable odor.

Vape pens are extremely simple to use and maintain. They mostly consist of a long, pen-shaped battery, which is usually rechargeable, and then a cartridge unit that screws on. The cartridges are usually disposable or recyclable, but some can be refilled by the user. There are also fully disposable units where the battery and all can be tossed after use.

Vaping can look somewhat intimidating to new users, but entry-level equipment like vape pens are usually quite user-friendly with just one button (or sometimes none at all) and the single interchangeable part being the cartridge that holds the concentrate.

You could make the argument that all edibles are a form of cannabis concentrate because even a classic preparation like cannabutter is technically a form of concentrated cannabis.

High-potency edible extracts like distillate&nbsp; allow for edibles to be made to exacting doses without adding any noticeable marijuana flavor to the product.

A major difference between eating edibles and consuming concentrates through smoking, vaping, or dabbing is the onset time. Orally consumed cannabis can take up to two hours to really kick in, so if it’s your first time experimenting with edible concentrates, give the effects ample time to manifest before deciding to re-dose, and don’t overdo it.

Dabbing is perhaps the most popular method of consuming cannabis concentrates currently. It’s somewhere between vaping and hitting a bong, and it results in an intense high that comes on almost instantly.

A dab rig consists of several elements. The most crucial, the nail (which looks like a small, glass bucket), is pre-heated with a torch or electric nail (a device that applies a steady temperature). The concentrate is then placed directly onto this hot surface, which vaporizes it for use as an inhalant. The vapor is inhaled by the user through an apparatus somewhat similar to that of a bong, and usually made of glass. The nail itself may be made from quartz, ceramic, or a variety of other heat-conducting materials.

Some modern dab rigs are fully electronic, and don’t require the nail to be manually heated with a torch. These approach the convenience of a vape rig while still offering the intense experience of doing dabs. Dab pens, too, are an easy-to-use solution when compared to traditional rigs. With dab pens, you simply load the desired dose to the chamber of the pen for pack-and-go varieties and heat when you’re ready; nectar collector devices work as a straw, allowing you to gently run the hot coils over the concentrate to achieve your desired dose.

While dabbing is typically associated with using potent, high-THC extracts to achieve an intense, instantaneous high, dab rigs and pens can also be used for CBD extracts.

Here at Zen Leaf dispensaries we only carry high quality concentrates, flower, edibles and other cannabis based products. We partner with the top-rated cannabis cultivators and processors in each market to ensure that customers get only the best products on the market to address their medical and recreational needs.

If you’re ready to begin your journey <a href="https://zenleafdispensaries.com/blog/differences-between-marijuana-concentrates-and-flower/">experimenting with cannabis concentrates</a>, locate the Zen Leaf dispensary nearest you. Zen Leaf operates state-of-the-art <a href="https://zenleafdispensaries.com/resources-by-state/">cannabis facilities in several states</a>, and our knowledgeable, friendly staff can help you choose the cannabis extract that matches your goals and preferences.

Choosing and Using Cannabis Concentrates

Danyal Swan

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