Dabs are a Concentrated Form of Cannabis with High Potency

Dabs or the term “dabbing” is referring to the inhalation process of cannabis that is in a concentrate form. Cannabis concentrates carry broad flavor profiles and this is one of the most attractive aspects about using this form as cannabis. Vaporizing the concentrated cannabis enhances and releases the flavors that naturally occur in cannabis plants.

To “dab”, small amount of cannabis concentrate, or a “dab” is heated to ultra high temperature to vaporize the concentrate, then it is quickly inhaled. The glass apparatus used to vaporize “dabs” is referred to as a dab rig, and the glass structure serves the purpose to slightly cool the vapor and keep it from escaping directly into the air before it is inhaled.

Smoking cannabis concentrates becoming a favored way to experience cannabis. Despite the growing popularity of “dabbing”, there are still many people who don’t understand what concentrates are, how they are produced, or how to use them.

We are here to unveil the mystery.

6 Types of Cannabis Concentrates

Concentrates, or oils, are often named after their textures or their extraction methods. These can include

• Live Rosin
• Bubble Hash (or Ice Water Hash)
• Live Resin
• Butane Hash Oil (BHO)
• Co2 Oil
• Distillate

The texture of the concentrate is also often used as its name (sauce, diamonds, batter, butter, shatter, sugar, wax, etc.), but are ultimately the result of two different extraction methods, which we will discuss below.

Concentrated Cannabis: What are dabs?

Dabs are a highly concentrated cannabis oil created by extracting key compounds from the cannabis plant.  While there are many different processes to create concentrates, all of them are based on extracting the cannabinoids and terpenes of the plant while leaving all excess plant material out. What is left is a very highly THC-concentrated oil, often reaching above 90% total cannabinoids.

What are Cannabinoids?

Cannabinoids are chemical compounds found in cannabis, the most prominent being THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. There are many other cannabinoids, including CBD, CBA, CBG, and numerous that have yet to be researched.

All of these compounds are found at varying levels in the cannabis plant.

What are Terpenes?

Terpenes are compounds that give plants a pungent smell. While they are most prominently mentioned when talking about weed, these compounds are responsible for many other scents plants give off, including pine, lavender, even the citrus smell of an orange peel.

How are THC concentrates, or dabs, made?

 

As mentioned, there are many processes used to create concentrates and, similarly, there are many different types of concentrates created depending on the extraction method.

These techniques essentially boil down to two processes: Solvent-based and solventless extraction.

Solvent-based THC Extraction

Oils are often created using chemical solvents, such as butane, Co2, or a mix of propane and butane to strip the cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant. Isopropyl and chloroform can also be used in the process.

Butane Hash Oil (BHO)

BHO is one of the most popular extraction methods because, compared to other extraction methods which can be destructive to the plant matter, this method is great at preserving the cannabinoids and terpenes that make your favorite strain so tasty.

First, the cannabis plant is placed into a closed-loop system where extremely low-temperature butane (between -20 to -50 degrees) is then pushed through the plant, which is what strips the cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant matter.

The liquid butane (which now contains all of the amazing compounds we are looking for) is then run through a slightly warmed chamber where the butane “burns” off of the other compounds and is then returned to the cold chamber (hence the cold loop system), leaving concentrated cannabis oil behind.

Resin vs. Live Resin

When a plant is flash-frozen whole after harvest, the oils that ensue are known as Live Resins (meaning that the entire plant was flash frozen immediately after harvest).

Because flash-freezing the plants leaves the plant and, more importantly, the trichomes more brittle, extreme care (and of course low temperatures) must be used to ensure no damage is done to the plant during the extraction process.  This is one of the reasons that contribute to a higher price tag.

Live resin preserves the plant’s naturally occurring terpenes, meaning that the flavor is going to contain more of its naturally occurring flavor profiles.

All terpenes can be broken down into two categories: monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes.

Monoterpenes are extremely light terpenes and evaporate off the plant very quickly after the plant is harvested. This is why the flash-freezing method can preserve more of the plant’s naturally occurring flavor profiles; the process freezes these delicate terpenes and retains them. This means that a live resin will be closer to the “true” flavor of the plant than dried cannabis flower will.

Color Remediation Column (CRC)

CRC is a method used to further purify a concentrate. The concern of many is that there are still trace amounts of butane present in the oil after the extraction process. For many, this poses a considerable health concern, which is why CRC was created.

Color Remediation Column is a filtering process where oil is pushed through a screen of three tightly packed substances (T5 bentonite clay, silica gel, and Magnesol) in a filtering column. The process removes any residual butane and any other contaminants still present in the oil, leaving a lovely yellow, clear, and pure oil.

The process has become slightly controversial, as the original oil processed through CRC may be a low-quality, highly contaminated oil which, after the process, looks like a high-quality live resin but is only a low-quality oil that looks good.

Co2 THC Extraction Method

Co2 extraction is also common and uses co2 (which is a famously safe solvent that is present in the air we breathe) to extract the oil.

Similar to butane extraction, the Co2 is put under extreme pressure and cold temperatures before being “pushed” through the plant, resulting in the stripping of the cannabinoids and terpenes.

Regardless of the solvent used, many of the solvent-based extracts are then distilled (turning them into distillate.

Distillate

After the oils are extracted, they are often distilled to leave only the THC or the CBD, resulting in an extremely high concentration of these substances while eliminating all the other cannabinoids and terpenes, making it colorless and tasteless (which is why it is often used in edibles).

Solventless THC Extraction

Solventless extraction is exactly what it sounds like: an extraction process entirely free of chemical solvents.

The main types of solventless concentrates you will find are hash and rosins.

Bubble Hash

Bubble hash is created by putting dried or frozen cannabis into a chamber of water and ice and shaken, separating the trichomes from the plant. The water is then filtered through a series of screens, leaving some delicious hash ready to go.

Rosin

Rosin is the result of taking cannabis flowers or hash and applying a small amount of heat and pressure.

The result is a high-quality concentrated oil.

Because the process of creating rosin is so simple, it is a favorite of many as it can easily be done at home.

Live rosin is the same thing, but applying heat and pressure to a fresh cannabis plant, which preserves a greater amount of terpenes and cannabinoids present in the plant.

How to Smoke Dabs

How To Dab Concentrates are typically “dabbed” or smoked using high heat instead of a flame or through a vaporizer or water pipe.

 

Carts are also a popular form of smoking concentrates, as it is easy to control your dosage and is extremely discreet, allowing you to smoke on the go.

Dabbing, on the other hand, is a more involved process where you heat a specialized glass bowl on a water pipe (known collectively as a “Dab Rig”) to extreme temperatures using a torch, and then placing the oil into the bowl where it is capped, vaporized, and then smoked through the bong.

There are portable dab rigs that do the same thing as a traditional dab rig, but the temperature can be controlled and can be used on the go.

It is recommended to start with a very small amount (maybe even less than the size of a grain of rice) until you understand the full effect concentrates will have on you.

Dabbing is Simple Once You Know a Few Basics

Dabbing Cannabis Concentrates are a favorite way for people to smoke, as it provides excellent taste and an extremely potent effect.  There are two main extraction methods, each with their pros and cons.

Visit a cannabis dispensary near by and talk with a knowledgable and friendly budtender who can help you discover the best dab gear and rig for your needs. A Vibe by California cannabis dispensary near by carries all the the necessary tools for dabbing and has the widest selection of concentrates to choose from so it’s easy to find what’s right for you. Try a dab today and puff away!

Happy Dabbin’!