Concentrates, also referred to as extracts, refers to forms of cannabis that have been reduced down from flowers or ‘buds’ to a concentrated substance made primarily of the active ingredients responsible for cannabis’ physical, psychological, and medicinal effects. The specific ratio of cannabinoids (THC, CBD, CBG, etc) and terpenes (that give cannabis its smell and flavor) create each strain's unique effect profile. Various methods of creating extracts aim to preserve this ratio and profile. Some newer forms of concentrates aim to enhance or customize the effect, flavor, and feel of the product by carefully altering the levels of cannabinoids and terpenes present in the final product.

Isolates are a form of concentrate that is limited to a single substance like THC isolate(THC crystals or powder), CBD isolate, CBG isolate or even specific isolated terpenes could be considered isolates. Isolates are mostly used by companies in the creation of products or by more advanced users and those who prefer to mix their own specific compounds for specific effects.

Types of Concentrates for Dabbing and Vaping

Luckily concentrates have been named based on their appearance and consistency, while sometimes indicating their extraction method, which makes things easier to understand.

• Oil or Hash Oil - Many concentrates could be considered hash oil that is hard at room temperature like wax and shatter. The terms can also specifically refer to extracted oils that are a thick liquid at room temperature like CO2 oil.
• CO2 Oil/Extract - A hash oil extracted using carbon dioxide, temperature, and pressure to produce a more liquidy oil. Many CO2 extracts lack the full flavor gained with other processes so terpenes are often added back in, obtained from another source or extracted separately from the original flower material.

• 

  Wax - A hash oil that has been whipped and heated to create a consistency more like wax. Wax or crumble is desirable because it’s easier to handle, it breaks into small pieces for easy use and doesn’t stick to everything. If wax gets too warm for too long it will melt down into a more sticky oil and then as it cools it may become more of a shatter or more of a thick oil type substance.
  • Budder / Badder - A wax with a more moist consistency often due to higher terpenes.
  • Crumble / Honeycomb - A wax with a dryer consistency.

• 

  Shatter - A premium form of Hash Oil, that has been minimally processed after extraction and has been prepared at specific temperatures to achieve its consistency. The name comes directly from its consistency, very dense and often brittle, it can literally shatter when trying to break it apart.  Temperatures are kept low during its creation keeping evaporative losses of terpenes and cannabinoids to a minimum making it one of the purest, most flavorful, and most complete full spectrum concentrates. 
• Rosin - Considered one of the highest grade extracts available due to it’s mechanical extraction process that involves no solvents.  Rosin is also one of the most expensive because it is created in smaller batch sizes. Rosin is typically more of a butter or jelly like consistency and is excellent for Dabbing or for use in concentrate pens. 
• Live Rosin A Rosin produced from freshly cut and immediately frozen cannabis flowers.  This process preserves additional terpenes that may evaporate out during the drying and curing process regular flowers go through before they are turned into Rosin or any other extracts.  This is the most expensive extract to produce and therefore fetches the highest price.  
  • Terp Sauce -  More liquidy Rosin or Live Rosin containing more terpenes but less THC for a smoother more flavorful hit.
  • Diamonds -  Rosin or Live Rosin with larger THC crystal formations "Diamonds" with a thinner coating of terpenes allowing for a more intense hit and quicker effect.

Dabbing and Vaping

Dabbing is a process of vaporizing concentrate using a special heated bowl referred to as a ‘nail’ and gently touching or “dabbing” the concentrate to the nail while the user inhales the released vapor. 

Best products to use for Dabbing: Shatter, Wax, and any type of Rosin. These concentrates have the fullest effects and the best flavor. Newer CO2 based waxes, oils, and shatter that have terpenes re-added are good, but I personally feel like you are not getting the fullest effect, or the most authentic effect compared to Shatter and Rosin.

Concentrate Pen or Dab Pen - A vaping apparatus with a chamber attached to a battery. Concentrate is inserted into the chamber and a button is pushed to heat the concentrate into a vapor which is inhaled much like an e cigarette. 

Best products to use in a concentrate pen: Shatter, Wax, and type of rosin(Jelly) for the same reasons as dabbing.

Vape Pen/Cartridge - Similar to a concentrate pen but more like an e-cigarette, what we’re referring to here is a battery with a cartridge containing an oil or liquid type substance. These most often come pre-filled from the store though users can purchase and fill their own empty cartridges as well. 

Best product to use in a Vape Pen: CO2 Extract with Cannabis Derived Terpenes. For filling a vape pen, this extract has the best consistency without having to add an additional solvent. It can usually be purchased in a syringe and with a little heat it will become very liquidy to allowing the easy filling of vape pen cartridges or devices. More recently specially processed rosin is being used in vape cartridges without any additional solvents. Other concentrates can also be used but usually have to be diluted with a solvent such as MCT oil to make them flow correctly through these devices.

General Usage Tips for Vaping/Dabbing Concentrates and Extracts

One of the huge benefits of concentrates is that most users need very little to obtain their desired effect. This also means it’s easier to overdo it with concentrates compared to smoking or vaping traditional flower.

• When trying a new product always start with a very small amount and wait about 10 minutes to gauge the effect.
• Once you get a feel for a particular product you will know how much you need to use in one sitting.
• Tolerance can build quickly for THC, regularly overdoing it can cause you to need more per sitting in the future to achieve the same desired effect. So again, I recommend starting out easy and to have fun exploring the effects, flavors, and subtleties of the product you are using.