Popular Marijuana Concentrates & Extracts and How to Consume Them

Cannabis concentrates & extracts allow you to experience a higher potency compared to smoking flower.

Ounce for ounce, marijuana concentrates have a far greater proportion of cannabinoids and terpenes than raw cannabis flowers. They can be consumed in many ways.

Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned user, our guide can help you find the right concentrate for you.

What Are Cannabis Concentrates & Extracts?

Cannabis concentrates are concentrated forms of the plant’s trichomes, which contain active ingredients such as cannabinoids and terpenes.

As a result, the concentrates are much more potent than cannabis flower buds.

Concentrates come in a variety of colors, consistencies, textures, and potencies, depending on the starting material and extraction process.

Extracts refer to concentrates made using solvents.

The most popular chemicals used for solvent-based concentrates are butane, ethanol and CO2.

Solvent-Based Extracts

Solvent-based extractions are made with chemical compounds such as butane, carbon dioxide, ethanol, or propane.

They are used to dissolve the plant and carefully strip out the cannabinoids and terpenes.

Shatter

Shatter is one of the most popular extracts available. It has a glass-like, translucent, and amber appearance.

Its consistency ranges from brittle to sappy.

These popular concentrates are usually made with harsh solvents like butane.

These products are best created in modern MIP facilities with established safety measures in practice.

While shatter, wax, and other concentrates can be made at home, the process can be dangerous because of the solvents and heat used.

Unlike hash and moon rocks (and sometimes hash oil), shatter and wax are consumed using a dab rig (a bong-like apparatus used for concentrates) or another dabbing device.

Wax

Cannabis wax, is very similar to shatter but has a gooier texture. It is made using hydrocarbons and has a waxy consistency. It has a light and opaque color.

Live Resin

Made from flash-frozen cannabis buds, live resin has a higher concentration of terpenes than most other extracts. It has a golden yellow color and a sticky consistency.

Live Resin can be dated back to 2012-2013 when a team of Colorado growers pioneered the extraction process.

As briefly mentioned before, the process begins by flash freezing fresh cannabis, by placing it in a freezer with dry ice or by being slowly dipped in liquid nitrogen.

The plant matter is then kept frozen until it is ready for extraction, which usually takes place within 36 hours.

Live resin is then extracted using a process that is similar to the ones used to make other extracts.

The precious plant material is ran through solvent which is then vaporized when the product is finally consumed.

The main difference in this process when compared to the process used for making other concentrates, is that the solvent is cooled down for extraction.

The final product is then expelled of solvents at a much lower temperature than with other concentrates.

Distillate

Cannabis distillate refers to an odorless and flavorless oil that has a single cannabinoid, THC or CBD, without any additional terpenes.

Distillate can be made with ethanol or hydrocarbons. It is found in edibles, capsules, tinctures, and vape cartridges.

Budder

Budder is a marijuana concentrate that looks like butter, but not just any butter – peanut butter.

The butane extraction method is used in this case.

Cannabis processors use a whipping technique during extraction to create the creamy consistency.

Hash Oil

Hash oil is also popular, but it is usually more potent than other extracts. Some people include hash oil in their edibles and topicals for high potency.

It can be used in a vaporizeror vape cartridge

The color of the oil can vary depending on the extraction method or purity, but most commonly it’s a golden amber color. Hash oil is made with either cannabis flower or hash.

Making hash oil involves using solvent extraction methods, utilizing one of a wide variety of solvents.

The potency and versatility of this concentrate makes it very popular.

Solventless Concentrates

Solventless concentrates are made without the use of harsh chemical solvents.

Instead, a range of agitation techniques or methods using heat and pressure break apart or melt the cannabis trichomes.

Rosin

Cannabis rosin has a viscous consistency and is made by squeezing raw material such as flower or kief/hash with heat and pressure.

It can be easily made at home with a hair straightener and some parchment paper.

You can make rosin with either cannabis flowers or hash. From this, the person doing the extraction employs heat and pressure to create a rich, potent hash oil.

Most of the rosin made for sale in dispensaries is produced in large quantities using sophisticated industrial equipment, but many people make it at home using simple household devices and materials.

Many people favor rosin because it doesn’t use harsh solvents.

You can create homemade rosin with an adjustable flat iron or other heat press, cannabis flower or hash, nonstick parchment paper cut into 4- by 8-inch strips, a collection device (dab tool; small knife; or razor blade), and pieces of 25u micron screen.

Wrap 0.25- to 0.50-gram portions of flower or hash in a 25-micron screen, pressing them flat.

Place the wrapped material onto a sheet of parchment paper, then fold the paper over to fully enclose the screen and its contents.

Next, press the flat iron firmly for 3 to 5 seconds. Apply steady pressure for 4 to 6 seconds, then gently unfold the parchment paper.

Carefully remove the screen and its contents, ensuring all rosin oil remains on the parchment paper. Use a collection tool to scrape and gather the rosin.

Repeat the process as needed until you achieve the desired amount of rosin.

Using lower iron temperatures (250–300°F) produces less rosin but enhances the terpene profile, resulting in a more flavorful experience.

In contrast, higher temperatures (300–335°F) yield more rosin but with a reduced flavor intensity.

Rosin is aesthetically difficult to distinguish from sap or shatter. But, there are differences.

Rosin has no residual solvents because these will usually remain behind after the extraction process that involves propane or butane.

Live Rosin

Live rosin is just like rosin except that it is made with flash-frozen material to preserve the terpenes in the plant.

Hash

Hash refers to the collection of kief that is compressed into a ball or slab.

Hashish, or “hash” as it is commonly called, is the oldest cannabis concentrate and has a history of use that spans thousands of years.

The earliest form of hash, known as “finger hash,” is made during the cannabis harvesting process.

Harvesters rub their hands over the sticky, trichome-covered buds, collecting a thick, sap-like residue.

This residue is then rolled into balls that are highly rich in THC, typically containing 40-50 percent.

Bubble Hash

Bubble hash, also known as water hash, has a crumbly and dry consistency. It is made using an ice water agitation technique and screen filtration.

Either dried flower or freshly harvested flower will work to make bubble hash.

When using fresh flower, the resulting hash is sometimes referred to as “live hash.”

Some people believe that the live hash terpene experience—the aroma and flavor of the hash—is superior to that of hash created with dried flower.

Bubble hash remains one of the easiest and safest cannabis concentrates to make. The resulting hash can either be smoked by itself or combined with flower in a joint or as a bowl topper.

It can also be used in making a tarantula joint. It adds a potent kick when smoked.

Moon Rocks

Moon rocks fall into the cannabis concentrates category and are easy to make if you have the necessary ingredients.

They consist of prime cannabis flowers, hash oil, and kief (the THC-rich, trichome-laden particles that collect in the bottom trap of many cannabis grinders).

To make moon rocks, start with a cannabis flower and thoroughly coat it in cannabis oil, ensuring the flower is fully saturated.

Lastly, roll the oil-covered flower in kief until it’s evenly coated with a thick layer.

Moon rocks are consumed by smoking them, typically using the following methods:

1. Pipe or Bowl:
   Break the moon rock into small pieces using your fingers or a knife. Avoid using a grinder, as the sticky oil and kief can clog it. Place a small piece in a pipe or bowl and light it gently, allowing it to burn slowly for a smooth hit.
2. Bong:
   Similar to using a pipe, a bong can enhance the experience by filtering the smoke through water, making it cooler and smoother. Load a small piece of moon rock into the bowl and smoke it as you would regular cannabis.
3. Joint or Blunt:
   You can mix small pieces of moon rock with ground cannabis to roll a joint or blunt. This helps it burn more evenly and prevents the stickiness from affecting the roll.

The overall effect will depend largely on the type of flower used (indica or sativa), as well as the sour material used to create the oil and kief.

Moon rocks are fun to both consume and create, and they make a nice change of pace over more traditional concentrates.

How to Consume Marijuana Concentrates and Extracts

Cannabis flower has THC levels between 10 and 25%, while concentrate levels can be between 50 to nearly 100%.

Dabbing is the most popular consumption method, but concentrates can also be found in vape carts, tinctures, edibles, and topicals.

1. Pipes and Joints

Cannabis concentrates can be easily added on top of packed bowls of cannabis or inside/outside of joints and blunts to give you an extra dose of potency.

Add kief on top of bowls or gently heat cannabis wax to make it easier to add inside or outside of a joint.

2. Dabbing

One of the best ways to enjoy cannabis concentrates is with a traditional dab rig or an e-nail. Dab rigs are usually made of borosilicate glass and look like a bong.

However, instead of a bowl piece, it has a nail that you heat up with a blowtorch. Then you apply the dab to the nail surface for vaporization. Water can go inside the rig to filter the vapor.

E-nails are more convenient and efficient ways to dab cannabis concentrates. They have a temperature control box and coil that keeps the nail at a specific temperature without having to use a blowtorch.

An oil or dab rig allows you to smoke the wax dabs you’ve either extracted yourself or purchased.

Using a dab rig may seem daunting at first glance, especially the torching part, but it is super easy and safe. If you don't want to deal with torching your nail, you can invest in an electronic nail for easier dabbing.

Here are step-by-step instructions on how to use a traditional dab rig:

1. Fill up the water pipe with sufficient water and then attach the nail to the pipe's intake.
2. Use the torch on the quartz or titanium nail, heating it until it is red hot. Try not to overheat or the nail will be damaged.
3. As soon as the nail is sufficiently heated, allow it to cool for between 20 to 30 seconds.
4. Then, it is time to place a small dab on the dab nail.. For a good dab hit, you only need a small amount of dab because of its heavy concentration.
5. Place your carb cap on top of the dab nail and inhale through the mouthpiece until all the vapor is gone.
6. Exhale and repeat as necessary.

Pro tip: Clean your dab rig and dab tools regularly to ensure you have a flavorful experience time after time.

3. Vaporizers

Cannabis vaporizers allow you to add a dab of concentrate to the heating chamber, which turns it into a vapor. Then, you just inhale and enjoy. Some vaporizers can work with both dry herb and extracts.

Pre-filled vape cartridges contain cannabis oil and can screw into a 510-threaded battery or you can buy disposable vape pens that already come with a battery.

Disposable vapes usually have one temperature setting.

Vaporizers can have a range of pre-set temperatures or the ability to zero in on a specific temperature degree to get the maximum level of terpenes and cannabinoids.

4. Edibles

All the edible products on dispensary shelves are made with cannabis concentrate. Enjoy the benefits of a concentrate with non of the smoke.

Edibles have a longer onset time (1 to 2 hours) and duration time of effects (6 to 8 hours). The experience will depend on your tolerance, amount consumed, metabolism, and potency of the product.

5. Topicals

Cannabis concentrates can also be made as topicals such as salves, creams, and lotions. A topical infusion can be applied directly to the affected area for relief.

Topicals do not absorb into the bloodstream or cause intoxication.

Become a Cannabis Extraction Expert

Gain a complete understanding of the process by enrolling in Cannabis Training University’s (CTU) online cannabis college.

Students receive well-rounded education in cannabis extracts and concentrates:

• Introduction to cannabis extraction
• Preparing the cannabis
• Cannabis infusion and extraction processes
• Straining, filtering, and purging
• Cooking with cannabis
• Cannabis recipes

Learn from the top cannabis extraction technicians and chefs. Start making your own extracts and infusions today!

If you want to know more about other marijuana concentrates, check out the Cannabis Training University where you can enroll as a student at the leading cannabis training college!

Fred Hernandez

Fred Hernandez is a highly accomplished and versatile writer, boasting an extensive background in the cannabis industry. With an in-depth understanding of various sectors including cultivators, processors, retailers, and brands, Fred's expertise spans across the entire cannabis landscape. As a prominent contributor to CTU, he consistently delivers insightful articles exploring the latest developments, news, and regulations shaping the cannabis industry. Whether it's delving into the intricacies of cannabis products, cannabis strain reviews, or providing comprehensive analyses of cannabis laws, or sharing expert insights on cannabis cultivation techniques, Fred's wealth of knowledge positions him as an invaluable writer and educator for all cannabis-related subjects.