Cannabis concentrates are possibly the newest and most potent form of its consumption.
But what exactly are cannabis concentrates? And how do we consume them?
As the recreational use of marijuana continues to gain steam across the United States, more and more people are gaining interest in cannabis use. And with this growing interest comes new consumption methods.
And if you’re new to cannabis concentrates, you may be unsure how to consume them. We’re going to share everything you need to know about them and the five ways to consume cannabis concentrates.
1. Vaping
Vaping is a popular way to consume cannabis concentrates. It allows you to discreetly inhale it with the use of an electronic vape pen.
When you’re vaping cannabis concentrates, you have a couple of ways of doing so:
- Inhale it in the form of a cartridge. You insert the cartridge into the vape pen and it is heated when it comes into contact with a battery. Once the cartridge is ready, you press the button, put your mouth on the mouthpiece, and inhale. Cartridges are not refillable and should be disposed of after the concentrate runs out.
- You can also use a vape pen with coils. It is applied to the vape pen coils and is heated and inhaled the same way as when you use vape cartridges. Vape coils also need to be replaced frequently.
Vaping produces very little odor and no smoke since it is vaporized concentrate. This means it provides an effective high but won’t attract any unwanted attention.
2. Dabbing
Even if you’ve never tried it, you’ve surely heard of dabbing.
When you dab, the cannabis concentrate is vaporized and inhaled, similar to the vaping methods mentioned above.
However, you dab by using a dab rig. A rig consists of a ceramic, glass, or titanium nail or banger, which is where the cannabis concentrate goes. You then heat the nail with a torch or e-nail to heat the concentrate to the desired level.
Dabbing is certainly not for beginners, however. It is very easy to overheat your concentrate and burn your throat and lungs as you inhale.
Like with vaping, cannabis enthusiasts appreciate dabbing for how it delivers a concentrated amount of cannabis with ease. You get a very potent hit of cannabis that is full of terpenes.
So if you have a particular strain of marijuana with a scent you adore and that makes you feel incredible, enjoying it in its concentrated form can provide a truly exceptional experience.
3. Tinctures
Tinctures are cannabis concentrates that are extracted using alcohol. They are taken orally, unlike dabs and vapes that are inhaled.
People opt to consume cannabis concentrate tinctures if they want a full array of compounds from the cannabis plant. So in other words, they want the hallmark THC and CBD components as well as the actual nutrients from the plant.
You can use cannabis concentrate tinctures to make your own cannabis edibles. This is a smart method for those who are new to cannabis concentrate consumption in general, as it lets you reduce the potency of what can be an overpowering experience.
And trust us, you want to start slow before you mistakenly ruin what could be a very happy experience!
4. Capsules
Cannabis concentrates also take capsule format. But first, the cannabis must be decarbed to activate the plant’s CBD and THC compounds.
Without decarbing, you won’t have these compounds, which, let’s face it, renders the entire experience pointless.
Anyway, after the cannabis is slowly heated through the decarbing process, you are left with a very potent concentrate. This is then mixed with a carrier oil of your choice, like coconut, avocado, or MCT, inserted into empty capsules, and swallowed.
5. Toppings
One of the easiest ways to consume cannabis concentrates is as a topping.
Yes, cannabis concentrate can be a topping! But no, we don’t exactly mean they’re the pepperoni to your pizza.
Toppings are simply concentrated cannabis wax or resin added to a marijuana joint or bowl. When smoked, the concentrated topping increases the marijuana’s potency.
Why Choose Cannabis Concentrates?
There are many reasons why you may prefer to consume cannabis in its concentrated format. As Veriheal points out, cannabis consumption isn’t just to make you high.
For people who suffer depression, chronic pain, and other physical and mental ailments, cannabis can make all the difference in their recovery.
And with concentrates, you can ingest a higher level of CBD quicker.
For those who do consume cannabis to get high, the same goes. You will get higher levels of THC delivered to your system faster. However, it’s also worth noting that cannabis concentrates produce a high that only lasts an hour or two.
This can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your personal preferences.
Another interesting reason people consume concentrates is that it makes better use of the whole cannabis plant. For anyone who dislikes waste and prefers to get the most bang for their buck, making and consuming concentrates is the way to go.
Conclusion
As long as people are consuming cannabis, they will find new and more creative ways of doing so.
And though fairly new in and of itself, consuming concentrates offers a lot of potential benefits, including:
- A more potent head high from greater levels of THC
- A better dose of wellness-boosting CBD
- You can utilize your preferred consumption method (inhaling, smoking, ingesting, etc.)
- Discretion
No matter why you consume cannabis, be sure to give concentrates a try. Start slowly and figure out the right concentrate level and style for you, and you will surely enjoy a fun and relaxing experience you’ll look forward to trying again.
