If you are new to cannabis one of its most mysterious aspects might be its different concentrates. When you walk into a medical dispensary or a recreational shop and you want to try something new, any question about concentrates will usually have you faced with a number of new terms. You may not have any idea what type of dosage or quality you are looking for, let alone how you are expected to use these different concentrates. So let’s learn a little more about concentrates!
Concentrates
While many people know concentrates simply as “hash,” what you find in today’s shops looks much different from the hash you may have seen in the past.
While some shops and infused-product manufacturers still make hash using the more traditional methods, most concentrate producers now use a number of solvent-based extraction techniques. These methods strip the essential oils from the plant using either a chemical solvent or a combination of heat and pressure. There are some very important differences in these products and processes, so newer users should not make the mistake of thinking that concentrates are all the same.
Extraction Technologies
CO2 and BHO are two different extraction technologies. One technology isn’t necessarily better than the other as each can be done well, or poorly. Whether one is better than the other really depends on user preference.
The two most common types of solvents used in the extraction process are butane and CO2. While many feel that the extraction process will never fully remove all solvents, users agree that the CO2 extraction process is a safer process. This is because CO2 is harmless to consume, while consumption of butane is quite dangerous. However, even with the criticism, most professional concentrate manufacturers have processes that efficiently remove the butane, making butane extracts safe.
CO2 Oil
CO2 oil is an extract that is created through a process that uses carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is compressed at very high pressures until it becomes a supercritical fluid (meaning it has properties of both a gas and a liquid). At this point, the fluid can then strip the essential oils from the cannabis plant. This results in an orange-colored oil that may be clear or opaque depending upon the process that is used after the extraction.
CO2 oil has a THC content between 50 percent and 75 percent. It is non-flammable, which is why so many users like it, and it contains absolutely no chemical solvents.
BHO
Butane Hash Oil is probably the most prevalent type of extract on the market today. BHO actually falls under a number of different names: It is often called crumble, wax, shatter, oil, honeycomb, nectar or moon rock (among other names). Its appearance will differ in all of these forms, due to different finishing processes.
BHO is made by pressuring the butane in a vessel. It is then washed over the plant material and the solution that results is collected and any residual solvents are removed by heat and vacuum. BHO typically has between 60 percent and 90 percent THC, which makes it one of the strongest concentrates on the market.
Chronic Therapy
If you are in the market for high quality marijuana at a fair price, head to Chronic Therapy. We are continually adding new concentrates and strains to our menu, so come in and check us out today!
