By now, you probably know that there are more ways to consume cannabis than simply smoking it, something made possible in part by Marijuana concentrates extracted from the plant. These can be found in various products, from brownies to body oils.
Read on to learn more about the many types of Marijuana concentrates, what they are, and how they're made.
What are Marijuana concentrates?
In short, they are products that come from the extraction of certain specific chemical compounds from Marijuana flowers, through various possible methods.
What are these extraction methods?
Essentially, cannabis extraction can be divided into two broad categories
Mechanical separation (without solvents)
Hundreds of years old , this method involves physically extracting the trichome (the microscopic fungus-like protrusions found on the Marijuana flower, which contain hundreds of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids) from the plant.
Mechanical extraction produces Marijuana concentrates without solvents, such as hashish, dry sift and resin.
Chemical extraction (with solvents)
This method uses a chemical solvent, either propane, butane, hexane, ethanol, or carbon dioxide, to dissolve the plant, forming a solution. This is then distilled to isolate certain cannabinoids or terpenes.
The result? Marijuana Concentrates mostly known as extracts, including mother tinctures, oils, shatter, waxes, distillates and crystals.
A full spectrum of Marijuana concentrates
The extraction method employed will greatly affect the type of concentrate produced. Some aim to keep as many of the plant's original compounds as possible, while others seek to extract just one type of cannabinoid or terpene. Because of this, there is a whole spectrum of concentrate types that can fit into the following categories.
Full spectrum
concentrates “whole plant” , they preserve as much or as little of the original plant compounds as possible. Full spectrum concentrates typically include most cannabinoids (over 100) and over 400 terpenes from cannabis and hemp.
Spirits
these concentrates “broad spectrum,” start out as full-spectrum compounds, but go through a refinement process to reduce or eliminate specific cannabinoids.
This can be ideal if, for example, you are looking for an oil that contains the medicinal properties of CBD and other plant cannabinoids and terpenes, but does not produce the psychoactive effects of TH.
Isolated product
They are Marijuana concentrates obtained from the extraction of a cannabinoid to achieve its purest form, be it CBD, THC or one of the hundreds of different types of terpenes or cannabinoids. Isolated elements are usually produced through a method called chromatography, a technique commonly used to remove all unwanted terpenes, cannabinoids, and plant debris.
What kind of Marijuana concentrate do you want?
So now that you've learned about the different types of Marijuana concentrates out there and how they're made, you might be wondering, "Ok, so which one do I want?" Well, in the end it all depends on your personal preference.
According to Dave Doriot of Lifted (a Santa Cruz, USA-based cannabis company that has been making organic hashish edibles for over ten years), any Marijuana concentrates has its pros and cons, whether achieved through mechanical separation or chemical extraction. .
“To refuse to use the best that western research and science has to offer would be absurd,” he commented, referring to distillates and isolated products, “a lot of these chemical extraction processes are going to be incredibly useful for isolating specific compounds that can be used with medicinal purposes.
In this regard, isolates and distillates will be vital, either in research or for consumers and patients who need very specific compounds for therapeutic or medicinal reasons.
Still, Dave keeps a strong faith in his heart in the power of full-spectrum cannabis concentrates, obtained through mechanical separation.
“Like plants, we come from the earth. We have evolved with them. So from a more Eastern, Ayurvedic, and perhaps even evolutionary perspective, the closer we get to maintaining the natural expression of the plant, the better."
Beware of these methods of extracting Marijuana concentrates
An even more important question is: what types of Marijuana concentrates should be avoided? As in any nascent industry, there are some harmful practices emerging that you have to be careful about.
Hydrocarbon extraction
Use chemical solvents like butane, propane or hexane. It is one of the fastest and most efficient methods of extraction and allows for full spectrum concentrates with a favorable terpene ratio. Sounds barbaric, right? Well, no.
In both the controlled and uncontrolled markets, there are producers who do not use the proper purification techniques to remove residual solvents (the chemicals already mentioned). With which, the final product contains heavy metals, which can be harmful to the health of the consumer or consumer.
Of course, this only applies to a portion of the growers, but safety comes first.
Marijuana concentrates made with uncontrolled buds
If the Marijuana concentrates are made with a flower from the black market , they can be dangerous beyond the method of extraction. Why? Because the flower from which the cannabinoids come has not been tested and may contain pesticides or other harmful chemicals. In the United States, concentrates sold in legal dispensaries come from tested and approved Marijuana flowers.
Of course we're not going to let a couple of bad apples ruin the rest of us. Just because there are some shady characters using these methods carelessly doesn't mean the methods themselves are unreliable. As long as you find someone you trust to buy from, whose product has been tested for heavy metals and solvents, you can find high-quality Marijuana concentrates made with any extraction method.
The important thing is that you educate yourself to know what you are buying. So ask, find out, read and take advantage of the resources you have at your disposal.
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