Cannabis Concentrates

About Cannabis Concentrates

There’s a ton of different cannabis concentrates to try, and nearly a ton of ways to consume them.

So what are the best choices for you to look at? We’ll go over a few o them, and also just what they are at the bottom of it all.

What are cannabis concentrates?

They are basically cannabis-derived products where the plant material is discarded, resulting in potency that’s high, and is basically medicinally useful. The most common types for extraction are both THC and CBD, with THC giving a more “euphoric” kind of high, and THC also offering a lot of other benefits, with CBD offering similar effects, mostly being anti-inflammatory and anti-epileptic, all without the psychoactive high that’s created through THC.

There are also terpenes as well that show up in this, which are basically what give the flavors and aromas of some plants, including fruits as well.

Why cannabis concentrates

Some people like this because it’s far more potent, and simply because it’s convenient and distinct. This does offer a very intense experience. They also take up far less space than THC flower, and it doesn’t have the pungent smell that cannabis flower does. It can be vaped, with a dab pen, or even eaten or have it on top of the flower for the best consumption.

Types of Concentrates

There are different kind of concentrates which we’ll go over now.

First is kief, which isn’t chemical in process, and basically the friction and vibration do separate the trichome from the rest of the plant matter that’s less potent. This results in green, sticky “pollen” that’s vaped and smoked.

Then there is hash, which is basically compressed kief into a form that’s semi-solid, creating hash or what is called hashish.

There is also butane hash oil, which is basically concentrated oil with the terpenes and cannabinoids put in there. Butane is basically taken through your cannabis flower, taking the trichomes as well with this. Once completed, it’s then heated to take out the butane. This does come with different consistencies, and it’s popular to consume via dabbing.

Then there is distillate oil, which is cannabis that doesn’t have solvents in it, and is created with this process. Once this cannabinoids and terpenes are pulled via the solvent, the extract is then heated to the lowest boiling point for this, with the vapor then being funneled, recondensed to a pure form of liquid, with the residuals left behind. This can be done repeatedly until it takes out all of the flavors, terpenes, and basically is just pure CBD and THC. This is then combined with terpenes and oils in cartridges, or it can be used with edibles, without requiring a flower to be a part of this.

Shatter is another one that has an opaque amber color where it’s shattered and used for dabbing.

Wax is basically all forms of cannabis concentrates and is another name for it.

Live resin is flash frozen cannabis plant material, where it’s frozen immediately upon harvesting, so the terpenes and cannabinoids are basically the same as in the plant.

Then there is crumble that looks like honeycomb, created by melting shatter, with the extract being whipped to crate air pockets, and the put in an oven vacuum to properly stabilize, so it will crumble when it’s touched as well.

Rick Simpson oil is basically oil with a ton of potency to this, with the concentrate being full-extraction cannabis oil since it does have all of the lipids, fats, and the chlorophyll that are there, and you should never inhale this one.

In the late 90s, something that came forward was cannabis concentrates. They’re potent, and a huge step in the right direction for cannabis users. If you’re looking to possibly consume cannabis more, this could be great. What’s the best concentrate for you to try? Let’s go over each of them, and the benefits and drawbacks of each of these, so you know what you’re going to take.

The difference

When you compare this to flowers, concentrates are going to be much more powerful. Most flowers hit around the 20-30% range in terms of potency and content. But by a comparison, concentrates are almost five times that. A little bit goes a long way, and concentration can last a long time, especially if you want something intense.

They’re very easy to use, and stable to put on shelves, and they offer a ton of benefits. Some people have them through dab rigs, a type of pipe, but others might use oils since that doesn’t require you to buy equipment to use them.

Solvent or Solventless

Solvents are something that’s used to extract the different cannabinoids and terpenes directly from where the flower is. Some people like solventless types, like rosin or hash, as they’re usually better. Some that are created with solvents offer the best flavor and also the best potency.

However, some of the solvents that are used include butane ethanol, or even carbon dioxide. While they do get removed during the extraction process, this can be dangerous if it’s not.

You should always look at the preference you have and if the brands that you have are trustworthy before you decide to purchase these types of compounds.

The types

Here are the most common types that are out there.

First is kief. It’s not technically a full-on concentrate, but it’s basically a product that comes from separating the trichomes from where the cannabis is. The powder is light colored, fine, and you can put this on top of the flower to make it stronger, add this to joints, bowls, and also pipes too.

Then there is hash, or hashish, which is basically dense and sticky kief blocks. This is still used a bit, because it’s potent, and it has a ton of flavor too.

Then there is rosin, which is made through adding heat, pressure, and the like to a flower that’s cured. This is usually the safest and most popular, as this usually doesn’t require equipment in order to make this.

Then there is BHO, or butane hash oil, which is the first concentrate that’s been added for modern usage. The terpenes and the cannabinoids within this are what make it popular. It’s basically made into shatter, which is a fancy name for the candylike types of shards that are dried and are used directly from a rig.

Then there is live resin. This is one that’s made directly from flowers that gets flash frozen. This does have a lot of terpenes, and it feels almost hyper realistic compared to some of the other ways.

These are but a few of the different concentrates, but all of these are great for beginners to start out with. If you’re still not sure about using something, you can always go in, talk to a budtender, and if they have a recommendation, you can try it.

Just remember to keep in mind that with these kinds of products, t can be quite potent, and a lot of people do notice the difference when they take these so always start off with a little, and from there, see where you go with it, and make the decision from there.

What does “Getting Stoned” mean

For a lot of people, they hear the term getting stoned, and this is something that’s highly associated with cannabis. Some strains are able to create a high sensation more than others are, and it’s not something you want to confuse with getting high necessarily. This is a very different type of experience, and it’s one that’s a bit more profundo than just a mere high.

What does it Mean and Why is it called that?

Essentially, it’s consuming enough cannabis that you feel a state of deep sedation, and relaxation, almost sedative in nature. Some people wonder where the word comes from, but there’s no specific answer to this.

Some say it comes from back in the day when people who committed crimes got rocks thrown by them. As the 20s and 30s happened, the term described a person who looked bruised and battered after drinking, almost as if it’s some sort of punishment.

Some say it comes from stonato, an Italian word that means confused and foggy. Others say it comes from the action of using cannabis with stoned pipes.

Life Magazine actually did use the term initially back in 1952, and it was defined as a captivated, almost drunk and ecstatic state, which you send out to the world around you.

This then got put into the Oxford English dictionary. This then later got further defined by “under influence of drugs” and this is something that’s pretty notable.

It usually comes from the feeling that cannabis has for people. It can make a person feel so heavy, like they’re made from rocks.

What does it feel Like

Lots of times, it feels like everything is at the slowest speed possible.

It also may come with the following side effects:

Ease
Lethargy
Hunger
Drowsiness
Laughter and amusement towards things
Having a more sensitive taste, touch and smell
Feeling like you’re in incredibly slow motion

This is something that isn’t determined just by marijuana consumption, and usually, the type of the cannabis that you have doesn’t determine just how you feel.

Some people may feel this really fast when they vape or smoke cannabis, but it also passes a whole lot faster.

Using edibles, or taking cannabis oil, can make it feel a whole lot longer, like it’s incredibly drawn out, to the point of extreme relaxation, especially if you’ve got the right amount of cannabis within you.

You can also feel stoned after you’re high too, so it can be pleasurable for a lot of people, and it can lead to trips that are incredibly productive for the person involved.

High Vs. Stoned

High and stoned are not the same thing. High is more of a creative, almost energized and euphoric type of experience. This is something you feel a lot during sativa-dominant strain consumption

Stoned is a whole lot more grounded, and it involves a more body feeling than just a head feeling. Hence why a lot of indica strains are considered strains that make you stoned.

The differences also may involve the amount of THC, CBD, and even various terpenes. Anything with myrcene for example, is going to make you feel a lot more stoned than high for example.

Those that are lower in THC levels are good for those looking for stoned experiences. CBD in much higher levels can also make you feel a lot more tired. THC does cause more anxiety too. The terpenes also play a part in a lot of peoples’ consumption. Whatever the case, consider all of these factors.

Can Cannabis Treat Pain

One of the main reasons people use cannabis, is of course, to treat the pain that you have. it’s a drug that’s used for a lot of reasons, whether it’s for recreational, or other uses, and some have even managed to legalize this for even medical concerns too.

Pain is something that most people who use medical cannabis want to use for, and usually, those who use medical cannabis use it for this. Those who self-medicate for example, are more likely to use this for pain.

While cannabis is used for pain, you might wonder just how good and effective it is for this. In truth, new studies show that there is still a lot to learn about this, and we don’t really know everything about this.

One journal from the AMA even claims that it’s just a placebo, and it doesn’t really relieve the pain.

They looked at some controlled trials that were randomized, where the cannabis that was there got compared to a placebo that was used for treatment of clinical pain. They looked at the studies that compared the pain, and the intensity that was before the treatment, and after treatment, and it involved 290 studies that involved about 1500 different people.

These studies looked at various conditions of pain, including neuropathic pain, and even multiple sclerosis. They looked at the cannabis types too, whether it included CBD, THC, or the synthetic forms of cannabis that are used for prescription drugs.

They also looked at the means to administer them, whether it was via a pill, oil, a spray, or even smoked as well.

Most of the people who did this were those who were female, that were between 33 and 62 years old. This also was conducted in different places around the world.

Some analysis showed that the treatment of this actually was on the same level as the placebo, and they didn’t find major differences between the cannabis consumed, and the option of the placebo used for pain.

There was another meta-analysis that also found that there were better studies that offered blinding procedures that were better, where they looked at the researcher and the recipients that weren’t aware of the persona and the substance they were receiving. Through this, they found the placebo’s response was higher. This also shows that some cannabis trials that were controlled by the placebo aren’t correct with eh blinding, and there might be a bit of overestimation in terms of how good medical cannabis could be.

Another study looked at cannabis and the placebo, and while they had the same appearance, odor, and even the taste, they weren’t able to actually choose one or the other. The researchers made sure that they made it clear when they were getting the substance, and not to show what both of these were to make sure the study was accurate.

There is also new media coverage, and in fact, it was discovered that the coverage of media usually leads to a more positive response, rather than what the research says it’s true.

There are still other studies that look into the placebo response, and how it compares to the cannabis that’s consumed.

While there is still more work to be done, and people blame the coverage from the media of the response of the placebo being high, it was found that the placebo offered was just as effective as the cannabis that they consumed for pain, but it also showed the importance as well of the effects of the placebo and external influences too.