TwoGreenBudz
420 Member
“Weed today is stronger than the weed when I grew up!”
The battle-cry of modern prohibitionists. I hear this so often it has become cliche, but it’s somewhat true and thank god. Cannabis from the days of prohibition was grown illegally, usually very far from local, and quality was often (not always!) not the growers main priority. The modern market is overflowing with very high quality flowers with high THC contents and complex flavours. The “new” kid on the block is the modern concentrates scene.
Though Cannabis concentrates are ancient (really! The first marked use of the term hashish was in the year 1123!) The modern market is filled with varying extraction methods and consumption methods that can be truly daunting for those getting ready to dip their toes in when Canada legalizes in October. So what do people need to know about these developments and most importantly how do you navigate them?
Firstly, concentrates are just another form of hash. While traditionally hash is the extraction of the trichromes full of cannabinoids of the cannabis plant rolled into a solid and smoked, these modern forms are simply using a little chemistry to create essentially the same outcome.
Most modern methods tend to use a solvent such as butane that attaches itself to trichomes. This allows the part of the plant that contains the cannabinoids (THC, CBD, THC-A, CBG, etc. more on these in another article!) and essential oils called terpenes to be removed from the leafy plant matter and enjoyed with less by-products. I know, I know, I don’t want solvents in my cannabis either; but fret not because the solvents are purged by heat or a vacuum leaving only what the plants naturally produce.
So why concentrates? First of all is potency. High potency concentrates are often over 80% THC with some THC distillates reaching >95%. This sounds terrifying to new smokers but the devil is in the dose. The smallest bit of vaporized concentrates have a huge effect. Rather than smoking multiple inhalations of smoke which contains some toxic gases produced by combustion, you can reach the same effects with a tiny amount of vaporized concentrates. Afraid to get too high? Understandable, but the rule of thumb with cannabis use is start low and go slow. A piece the size of the tip of a pencil is plenty for a first timer. Need more? Have another. Leave the 1g dabs to the heavy hitters of YouTube. My second reason for concentrates is flavour. While a joint of beautifully cured flower can taste amazing, I’ve never been a fan of the taste of rolling papers, or butane from your lighter. Not to mention the other components of smoke that aren't desirable such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide. Vaporizing concentrates releases significantly less of these vapors while keeping those beautiful essential oil compounds called terpenes that give cannabis its bouquet. Lastly I’d recommend concentrates because of its discretion. Yes it’s soon legal in Canada but many of us have kids, or judgey neighbors, or maybe we aren't lucky enough to live in a region where it’s legal. Concentrates often produce a less definable smell that lingers less than smoke and dissipates more quickly. For apartment tokers, parents, or simply those who choose not to advertise their choices, concentrates are an excellent choice.
Now there are many types of concentrates and I wouldn’t even be qualified to try to explain them all. My first recommendation is to go to your local dispensary and learn about what they carry. A good Budtender is knowledgeable and an excellent guide, while keeping it simple and accessible for all. When choosing your concentrate the best advice I can give is follow your nose. What smells best to you is often a great choice. Start low, go slow, and enjoy!
Much love!
TanksForAllTheFish
The battle-cry of modern prohibitionists. I hear this so often it has become cliche, but it’s somewhat true and thank god. Cannabis from the days of prohibition was grown illegally, usually very far from local, and quality was often (not always!) not the growers main priority. The modern market is overflowing with very high quality flowers with high THC contents and complex flavours. The “new” kid on the block is the modern concentrates scene.
Though Cannabis concentrates are ancient (really! The first marked use of the term hashish was in the year 1123!) The modern market is filled with varying extraction methods and consumption methods that can be truly daunting for those getting ready to dip their toes in when Canada legalizes in October. So what do people need to know about these developments and most importantly how do you navigate them?
Firstly, concentrates are just another form of hash. While traditionally hash is the extraction of the trichromes full of cannabinoids of the cannabis plant rolled into a solid and smoked, these modern forms are simply using a little chemistry to create essentially the same outcome.
Most modern methods tend to use a solvent such as butane that attaches itself to trichomes. This allows the part of the plant that contains the cannabinoids (THC, CBD, THC-A, CBG, etc. more on these in another article!) and essential oils called terpenes to be removed from the leafy plant matter and enjoyed with less by-products. I know, I know, I don’t want solvents in my cannabis either; but fret not because the solvents are purged by heat or a vacuum leaving only what the plants naturally produce.
So why concentrates? First of all is potency. High potency concentrates are often over 80% THC with some THC distillates reaching >95%. This sounds terrifying to new smokers but the devil is in the dose. The smallest bit of vaporized concentrates have a huge effect. Rather than smoking multiple inhalations of smoke which contains some toxic gases produced by combustion, you can reach the same effects with a tiny amount of vaporized concentrates. Afraid to get too high? Understandable, but the rule of thumb with cannabis use is start low and go slow. A piece the size of the tip of a pencil is plenty for a first timer. Need more? Have another. Leave the 1g dabs to the heavy hitters of YouTube. My second reason for concentrates is flavour. While a joint of beautifully cured flower can taste amazing, I’ve never been a fan of the taste of rolling papers, or butane from your lighter. Not to mention the other components of smoke that aren't desirable such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide. Vaporizing concentrates releases significantly less of these vapors while keeping those beautiful essential oil compounds called terpenes that give cannabis its bouquet. Lastly I’d recommend concentrates because of its discretion. Yes it’s soon legal in Canada but many of us have kids, or judgey neighbors, or maybe we aren't lucky enough to live in a region where it’s legal. Concentrates often produce a less definable smell that lingers less than smoke and dissipates more quickly. For apartment tokers, parents, or simply those who choose not to advertise their choices, concentrates are an excellent choice.
Now there are many types of concentrates and I wouldn’t even be qualified to try to explain them all. My first recommendation is to go to your local dispensary and learn about what they carry. A good Budtender is knowledgeable and an excellent guide, while keeping it simple and accessible for all. When choosing your concentrate the best advice I can give is follow your nose. What smells best to you is often a great choice. Start low, go slow, and enjoy!
Much love!
TanksForAllTheFish
) these days, so there is probably more sinsemilla in the market today, on average. OtOH, there seems to be more unstable genetics in the market currently - which can mean more expressions of hermaphrodism and, thus, seeds. IDK, flip a coin on that one.
. (How do you get the best fried chicken dinner in the universe, complete with the flakiest-crust apple pie? Well, first you build a time machine... )
. Or (I suppose) you happen to be trying to smoke in a very low-oxygen environment, in which case you might taste something (from the incomplete combustion process) in the seconds before you pass out from oxygen deprivation. Otherwise, what you are "tasting"...
