Concentrates can refer to a multitude of products in the world of cannabis from oil to wax to shatter. The term is a generic way to reference any cannabis product that has been created through the extraction of cannabinoids from the plant.
Concentrates are growing in popularity and are generally considered some of the most refined cannabis products. Although a few forms of concentrates have been used all over the world for hundreds of years, many are recent innovations created to meet the demands of a newly-legalized mass market.
Cannabinoids are the compounds within cannabis that give the user the effects he or she desires. High concentrations of these cannabanoids, including THC, CBD, CBN and dozens more, are found within the plant itself as well as crystalline structures called trichomes on the cannabis flowers. Concentrates are made by reducing the plant and/or trichomes down to their essential compounds.
Several different kinds of concentrates are available in retail locations. Here are four of the most popular:
CO2 oil
One of the newest and most popular forms of concentrate is CO2 oil. The oil is extracted from the plant through a process called supercritical fluid extraction where pressure and carbon dioxide are used to separate the plant material. Devices like portable vaporizer pens can then vaporize the oil for inhalation. This method is popular with consumers who enjoy the activity of smoking but who would rather not partake in the harshness of smoke.
Bubble hash
Bubble hash is one of the oldest forms of concentrate and is a popular method of cannabis consumption. Hash can be created by grinding cannabis flower to separate the resin from the plant material, and pressing the resin into blocks. Another method involves stripping the trichomes from the cannabis by using ice water or ethanol. Although it is not the most potent concentrate, bubble hash is still a popular consumption method.
Butane hash oil
Butane extraction draws cannabinoids out of the cannabis plant and leaves behind a sticky or glass-like hard amber substance that goes by the name honeycomb or shatter respectively. Butane hash oil is used for dabbing and other vaporization methods. Before consumption, it must be lab-tested for traces of butane, but the oil produced is extremely potent.
Rick simpson oil
Therapeutic compounds in cannabis can be extracted from the plant by soaking it in naphtha or isopropyl alcohol. The tar-like substance left behind after the solvent evaporates is called Rick Simpson Oil.
In 2003, a man named Rick Simpson created the oil to treat his skin cancer. It became somewhat famous in certain circles based on the effects Simpson reported, and is often what people think of when they refer to medical cannabis. Now, many dispensaries sell their own versions of Rick Simpson Oil.
Many people who use cannabis concentrates find relief from pain, insomnia, and other ailments. Concentrated forms of cannabis can be a way to get relief. Keep in mind that different strains and types of cannabis will produce different concentrates, which will in turn show different effects and results.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker
Full Article: What Are Cannabis Concentrates?
Author: Choice Organics
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Website: Coloradoan
