What Are the Benefits of Cannabis Concentrates?

For the average cannabis consumer, the idea of operating a dab rig or choosing from the wide variety of cannabis concentrates might seem like more trouble than it’s worth. It can be confusing to navigate the different terminology, dose correctly, and choose the right device, especially if you’re used to smoking pre-rolled joints or using a vaporizer.

Still, there’s a reason why cannabis concentrate sales have increased by as much as 40% in recent years in certain markets.

The main appeal of concentrates is their high potency. Concentrates don’t contain the plant materials found in other cannabis forms and deliver much higher amounts of therapeutic cannabinoids and terpenes.

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What are cannabis concentrates?

Cannabis concentrates are generally much stronger forms of cannabis than the standard flower, tinctures, and transdermal creams you’ll find at your local dispensary. This makes cannabis concentrates an excellent choice for people using medical marijuana who want higher-strength solutions.

Concentrates are rich in cannabinoids, especially tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).  Cannabinoids are naturally occurring chemical substances that create the medical effects of cannabis.

On average, concentrates have levels between 50% to 90% THC, whereas flower typically contains around 10% to 35% THC.

Concentrates also contain high amounts of terpenes. Terpenes give cannabis its unique smell and help produce the medical effects of the plant.

Because concentrates contain multiple cannabinoids and terpenes, they offer the entourage effect — the meaningful combination of benefits you get from consuming all of the valuable compounds in cannabis together at one time.

Types of cannabis concentrates

Cannabis concentrates come in many varieties. Here are some of the most common forms of cannabis concentrates sold in dispensaries:

• Budder: A whipped, waxy extract known for its creamy texture and delicious terpene flavor.
• Crumble: A concentrate similar to budder that has not been whipped, giving it a crumbly texture similar to feta cheese.
• Hash: Short for hashish, a concentrate that involves pressing powdered cannabis into a ball or brick.
• Live resin: A full-spectrum, thick liquid extract made from fresh, flash-frozen flower.
• Rosin: A concentrate extracted as oil directly from the cannabis plant.
• Shatter: A thin, glassy, and brittle concentrate that’s stronger than budder, crumble, and wax.
• Wax: A concentrate that has a waxy consistency and offers high potency.

The more concentrated the product is, the more potent its cannabinoid effects will be. On the other hand, higher-THC concentrates like wax often have slightly weaker flavor profiles, as the process of creating them reduces some of the terpenes’ aroma and flavor.

While you should always read the labels on cannabis products before buying them, this step is especially important with concentrates. Overconsuming cannabis concentrates is likely to lead to an uncomfortable experience.

What are cannabis concentrates good for?

Cannabis concentrates provide certain advantages over other forms of cannabis:

• Only a small dose is needed: Because cannabis concentrates are high in THC, they can work well for those seeking temporary psychoactive effects. Plus, because of the condensed form of concentrates, you only need a small amount to produce a strong experience, making them cost-effective.
• Versatile consumption: If you prefer a smokeless experience, cannabis concentrates can be used in many recipes. They blend well with peanut butter, coconut oil, or ghee, and several types of concentrates can be used instead of cannabis oil when making homemade edibles or topicals.
• Can lead to improved mood: In high doses, THC may produce euphoria, relieve anxiety, and even increase your creativity and energy levels. Beyond mood-boosting properties, it’s been suggested that THC can provide other physical health benefits.

It’s also important to remember that high doses of THC can result in increased anxiety in some people, as well as sedation and over-intoxication.

Some people using concentrates also find that their tolerance to THC increases dramatically, which could reduce their cost-effectiveness, since more may be needed to create the same effects. Therefore, it’s ideal to use cannabis concentrates carefully and sparingly.

Other benefits of high-THC concentrates

Cannabis concentrates may provide benefits for certain medical conditions or symptoms:

• Chronic pain: Relief from chronic pain is one of the most common reasons people apply for a medical marijuana card. THC-rich cannabis products like concentrates may help people achieve pain reduction.
• Migraine: Cannabis concentrates may be even more effective than flower in reducing headache intensity in people with migraine.
• Nausea: Several studies have demonstrated that cannabinoids like THC may help regulate nausea and vomiting. In moderation, cannabinoids may be especially useful for people with cancer who experience chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

These are just a few ailments for which THC-rich cannabis concentrates may be beneficial. Research has also suggested that cannabis use generally — not necessarily in its concentrated form — may benefit people with conditions ranging from Alzheimer’s disease to sickle cell anemia.

Where to start with concentrates

The best way to learn about a cannabis concentrate is to talk with a budtender or patient care representative at your local dispensary.

Not only do budtenders work hands-on with the products you’re browsing, but they may be medical patients themselves. Therefore, they might have firsthand knowledge about the cannabis concentrate products you’re considering and be able to provide helpful insights.

That said, everyone is different, so what works for one person may not necessarily work for you. You may need to undergo some trial and error before you find the best cannabis concentrate for your needs.

How to use cannabis concentrates

Concentrates are usually associated with dabbing, a method that delivers the most powerful hit of THC.

Dabbing requires a special device like a dab rig or electronic dab pen, which flash-vaporizes the concentrate at an extremely high temperature. This melts the thick product into an oil that can vaporize easily, providing intensely strong hits of THC concentrate that can be felt within minutes.

Get the proper equipment

Cannabis concentrates aren’t like flower. You won’t be able to simply grind them up and throw them into rolling paper or a pipe. Instead, you’ll need to make sure you have the proper equipment to use them.

First, you’ll want to get a device made specifically for dabbing, which provides control over the temperature applied to the concentrate. For concentrates like waxes, shatter, or crumble, you’ll need to heat the product to a high temperature to consume it.

Some concentrates need higher temperatures than others to melt properly. For instance, shatter typically melts at a higher temperature than wax. Of course, if you heat your concentrate too much, you may very well burn it and ruin any benefits that it has.

Another thing to consider is the device itself. Devices come in an endless variety of shapes, sizes, and styles, including:

• Dab rigs
• E-rigs
• Dab pens
• Nectar collectors
• Vaporizers

Vaporizers may be a good choice for those who want a device that’s more user- and travel-friendly, and offers exact temperature presets for a more controlled dabbing session.

There are also accessories like dab tools, which help you transfer often messy concentrates. For example, a scooper tool would be much more effective than a pointed dabber tool when it comes to something sticky like wax, while a pointed tool might be your go-to option if you’re looking to break up shatter into smaller shards.

Start low and go slow

If you’re not experienced with cannabis concentrates — or if you’re trying a new concentrate for the first time — the low and slow approach is key to figuring out your proper dosage, especially given the high THC content of concentrates.

Always start with a tiny amount of any new concentrate product.

Rushing into things too quickly, especially with concentrates, can lead to unpleasant side effects. Just be sure to check the label, research the product, get the proper tools and equipment, and start with small amounts before building up to larger doses slowly over time.

Figuring out your optimal concentrate dosage can be a complex process dependent on several factors, including your age, sex, tolerance level, other medications, and more.

The bottom line: Enjoy the benefits of cannabis concentrates with some planning

Cannabis concentrates are very strong forms of cannabis that can be cost-effective and may provide powerful relief for certain symptoms with just a small dose.

Precise dosing is more important with concentrates than perhaps any other cannabis product. High THC levels mean that you may want to seek out a cannabis physician who can help you find the right dosage.

Given so many different concentrate types, strains of cannabis plants, and equipment to choose from, using cannabis concentrates may take some planning and experimentation.

Experience the benefits of cannabis concentrates by applying for a medical marijuana card with Leafwell today.

Frequently asked questions

Is dabbing dangerous?

When done properly, dabbing is not dangerous when compared with other cannabis consumption methods. However, due to the higher potency of concentrates, there is the risk of getting too intoxicated, which can cause paranoia, lightheadedness, and other unwanted side effects. And, because dabbing devices operate at very high temperatures, you need to be careful to avoid burning yourself.

What’s a good cannabis concentrate for beginners?

While each type of concentrate has its own advantages, many beginners prefer wax.

Cannabis wax is relatively easy to divide into individual portions and offers a generous strength without being the strongest type of concentrate in terms of THC content.

Do concentrates come in different strains, like cannabis flower?

Virtually all concentrates are sold in the same strain variety as cannabis flowers. That’s because most concentrates are derived from whole-plant material.

Resources

• Effects of medical marijuana on migraine headache frequency in an adult population: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26749285/
• Marijuana concentrate sales up 40% as more consumers turn to the product category: https://mjbizdaily.com/marijuana-concentrate-sales-up-40-percent-as-more-consumers-turn-to-the-product-category/
• Medicinal properties of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids in cannabis, and benefits in migraine, headache, and pain: An update on current evidence and cannabis science: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30152161/
• Regulation of nausea and vomiting by cannabinoids: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/pmc3165951/
• Short- and long-term effects of cannabis on headache and migraine. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/s152659001930848x
• The anti-inflammatory properties of terpenoids from cannabis: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/pmc6308289/

Get Your Medical Card

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• 

  Larger purchase limits

• 

  Access to higher potency strains

• 

  Save up to 40% on product taxes

• 

  Enhanced legal protection

Select State

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