Growers Guide to Cannabis
Growers Guide to Cannabis - Everything you need to know to grow

Cannabis concentrates are highly concentrated mass extracted from the cannabis flower. They are much potent than standard cannabis flowers. They look like honey and butter and are more commonly known as “honey oil” or “budder.”

Marijuana concentrates can contain extraordinarily high levels of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) which is responsible for the psychological effects of cannabis or they can be rich in intoxicating compounds called CBD (cannabidiol).

Types Of Cannabis Concentrates

Cannabis concentrates are more potent than regular cannabis, allowing a more economical way of consuming cannabis. Due to their high potency, they allow quicker and more efficient relief to patients with medical ailments. Moreover, they are available in an array of flavours ensuring better taste among its users.

Here are some popular cannabis concentrates:

1. Kief

These are composed of the trichomes of the cannabis flower using specialised filtering screens. They are generally considered to be lower grade concentrates where THC concentrates can range from 20-60%.

Dry sift, are a more refined version of kiefs that are filtered through multiple screens so as to obtain only the trichome head. This process gives the largest trichome head and omits all of the stems and plant matter that are responsible for the low quality concentrate of kief. The most pure dry sieve hash should melt completely when exposed to heat, known as full-melt dry sift hash.

2. Hash

Hash, or hashish, is derived from kief and dry sift, where the trichome heads are collected and pressed together to obtain the concentrate. The quality of hash is determined by the size of the trichome heads and the extent to which it melts when it is heated.

The highest quality of hash is extracted from the trichome heads alone, which contain the essential cannabis oil, and excludes other plant matter than may cloud the concentrate. Usually the cannabis seeds are removed from the bud before extraction, as it may affect the final product, and utilised or cultivation or in edibles.

3. Oil

These concentrates are usually sticky with honey-like consistency and is usually used in vape pens. The most common oil concentrates are BHO(Butane Hash Oil) and CO2(Carbon Dioxide Oil).

BHO – These concentrate sare made using butane as the main solvent. Shatter, budder, sap and honeycomb are all forms of BHO, named according to their different textures. The THC levels are extremely high in these concentrates and can range from 80-90%. They are used by medical marijuana patients to treat chronic illness.

CO2 Oil – CO2 is a supercritical fluid, meaning the gas turns into a liquid form when pressurised. It is usually extracted using supercritical filter method where the supercritical CO2 rapidly diffuses into the cannabis and dissolves the trichome head that is to be extracted. It is then passed into a vessel at lower pressure where the extracted material settles out. The gaseous CO2 can then be cooled, recycled or discharged to atmosphere.

4. Rosin

Rosins are obtained using a simple process that separates the resin from the plant material using both heat and pressure. Rosins are usually transparent, with a sappy consistency and the concentrate usually ranges from 10-15%.

No solvents are required during the extraction process making it a quick and affordable process to produce quality solventless hash in a matter of seconds. It is the only concentrate that can be made at home just by using a hair straightener and wax paper.

Live rosins, on the other hand, requires specialised equipment and proper knowledge for its preparations. They contain a high amount of terpenes, which are unsaturated volatile hydrocarbons, responsible for better aroma, better medicinal effects and the fresh and fruity flavour of live rosins. It is darker in colour as compared to rosins and the concentrate can range from 80-90%.

5. Tinctures

Tincture, also known as green dragon, is an alcohol based cannabis concentrate that is obtained by using the entire cannabis plant, including the leaves and flowers. They make a great entry point for first time marijuana users as a few drops under the tongue will suffice as a single dose.

They are available in a wide variety of flavours and can be added to all kinds of food and drinks like juices, salads, ice creams etc. They provide a healthier alternative to smoking or vapourising cannabis for both recreational and medical users to reap the benefits of weed.

How Safe Are Cannabis Concentrates?

The THC levels in these concentrates can range from 40-80% which is four times higher as compared to any high grade marijuana which contains around 20% THC level. So, obviously the effects will be much more intense and prolonged.

To understand the safety of cannabis concentrate better, it is important to know the process through which they are extracted. Usually, concentrates extracted without the use of chemicals are considered to be the most healthy and purest form of concentrates. Concentrates containing chemical solvents are also relatively safe provided that the quantity of chemicals retained in the concentrate, after the extraction process, is low.

Caution should be taken to avoid concentrates that are extracted cheaply, using improper methods or by amateur extractors. Make sure you know the THC concentrate in the product as well as the suggested dosage. It is advisable to start with low dosage initially to understand its effects and then adjust consumption accordingly.

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