BHO, also known as Shatter, Wax or Dab, is an extremely highly concentrated extract of Marihuana. This stuff is really intense and can consist out of 80% THX crystals or more. For those of you who never tried it themselves, let me tell you: Even as a hardcore longterm weed smoker this stuff is so strong that it can nail you pretty much instantly and the effect is very intense.

The process of making butane hash oil, or BHO, involves extracting the cannabinoids and terpenes from the cannabis plant.

Butane, which is a nonpolar chemical solvent, washes over the plant material and dissolves the plant’s compounds. Other hydrocarbon solvents, like hexane or propane, can also be used.

That solution is then purged of any remaining solvent, and a pure cannabis extract is left behind.

What Are Cannabis Concentrates?

In layman’s terms, this means your final product is 90-100% THC, whereas cannabis flower is more like 15-20% THC. This concentration of beneficial compounds allows the user to consume a far smaller volume to achieve the same effects. This article discusses the different extraction techniques used to make cannabis concentrates.

Cannabis concentrates are incredibly diverse, but are popular because they help users harness the full medical potential of the plant. Plus, concentrates are often a bit more conservative, helping smokers save money in the long run.

Types Of Cannabis Concentrates

Many people refer to concentrates by their consistency, i.e. shatter, budder or wax. However, the consistency of a concentrate alone does not indicate which extraction technique was used. The same extraction method can deliver a variety of final-product consistencies, depending on a number of factors.

The method of extraction and the starting material is far more important than the concentrate’s final consistency, as there are several variables that manipulate the consistency; some are in control of the extraction artist, while others are not. The reason for this distinction is that extraction practices dictate the healthiness of the concentrate, while the consistency is largely preference-based from a consumer standpoint.

For instance, many people debate shatter vs. budder; but shatter can be converted to budder by simply whipping the concentrate on a hot plate. Furthermore, you can derive a buddery consistency via BHO, PHO, and CO2 extraction. It’s the solvent (if any) and starting material that matters. Starting material can range from dry trim to cured buds to fresh frozen whole plants. It’s your responsibility as a thoughtful consumer to inquire from your budtender about the starting material and extraction process used in your favorite concentrate.

Shatter

Shatter is one of the most popular forms of cannabis concentrates made through a butane-based extraction and is considered a form of Butane Hash Oil (BHO). The process involves taking dried cannabis flower and using butane to separate the trichomes (which contain all of the plant’s cannabinoids and terpenes) from the plant material. The trichomes are then processed into shatter, which carries highly concentrated amounts of these cannabinoids (like THC) and terpenes.

The resulting material is hard, but brittle, with a semi-transparent, amber color that gives it an appearance similar to thin peanut brittle. Shatter can be easily broken (hence its name) so that small portions can be used with a dab rig or other vaporizing device, or pieces can be placed inside a joint or blunt when smoking.

Shatter provides fast-acting effects that are long-lasting, and many people prefer shatter to some other concentrates because it often contains at least 85-percent THC. Concentrates in this form are also well preserved and won’t degrade as quickly as softer concentrates and oils.

Wax

Wax is another form of BHO and is sometimes called Budder, named after its soft, waxy consistency and golden color. This form of concentrate often offers high potencies just like shatter, but degrades more quickly and isn’t considered to be as stable as hard-form concentrates. Therefore, wax needs to be used soon after purchase, as opposed to some concentrates that may hold their potency for months or years.

However, the soft consistency of wax makes it easier to work with for many users, since it can be easily separated into doses as needed (as compared to shatter, which is hard to portion because it breaks into unpredictable pieces). The strong, immediate effects are comparable to shatter and other BHO products.

Live Resin

Live resin is one of the newest forms of cannabis concentrates and is also considered to be a form of Butane Hash Oil. It differs from other forms of BHO (and most concentrates) in multiple ways that make it more appealing for some users, especially those hoping to reap the many medicinal benefits associated with the cannabis plant.

Unlike other concentrates, which are generally processed from dried cannabis flower, this concentrate is made using nearly the entire plant immediately after harvest. Making it requires expensive, high-quality equipment (which need to be operated by professionals), so it isn’t the type of concentrate you can make at home.

To make live resin, the stalk, leaves, stems, and flower of freshly harvested cannabis plants are cryogenically frozen, and then blasted with Butane at temperatures below -20 degrees Fahrenheit. The butane-based extraction process removes all of the trichomes from the plant material, which includes the “full spectrum” of the plant’s cannabinoid and terpene profile.

The collected material is then dried in a vacuum chamber at low temperatures, which allows sensitive terpenes (like Myrcene) to be better preserved. The resulting material is a concentrated, full spectrum cannabis product that contains more terpenes than many other concentrate formulation.

Because the product is made from a fresher source (frozen, not dried cannabis) and contains the full spectrum of the plant’s cannabinoids and terpenes, many people consider it to be more “pure” and of higher medicinal value than other products.

An isolate is any concentrate that has been ‘isolated’ to a single cannabinoid. Naturally, if the cannabinoid is THC, it’s an extremely potent way to inhale cannabis. Did you know you can achieve the same fast-acting results with CBD dabs?

CBD concentrates and isolates can be used in any dab rig or dabber to provide high doses of pure CBD for intensive symptom relief in minutes. Derived from organic, non-GMO, sustainably-grown hemp and batch-tested for quality, purity, and potency, CBD isolate is exceptional and effective.