What are the Benefits of Cannabis Concentrates?

Today we're looking at the benefits of cannabis concentrates. Fruit juice made from concentrate doesn't have the best reputation. Concentrated fruit juice strips away essential vitamin C and fiber while retaining high levels of sugar. However, cannabis concentrates merit a better reputation. Cannabis concentrates get rid of unnecessary materials and serve up the crown jewels of the plant: therapeutic cannabinoids and terpenes.

What Is a Cannabis Concentrate?

Cannabis concentrates are potent, THC-rich and excellent for medical marijuana patients under a doctor's care. Aromatic and flavorful terpenes are present in dense amounts in cannabis concentrates, as are cannabinoids which serve medicinal purposes.

Creating a cannabis concentrate involves distilling the most valuable part of the plant - the trichomes. Cannabinoids and terpenes thrive inside these frosty white structures that coat the whole plant surface but are most prevalent on the buds. As the trichomes go through the distillation process, the pulpy plant material is discarded.

The result is a smooth, golden-hued cannabis concentrate sky-high in psychoactive THC. For perspective, ordinary marijuana contains up to 25% of the cannabinoid, while THC concentrate levels can climb as high as 80 percent. By some accounts, THC levels could even skyrocket to 95 percent! Indeed, cannabis concentrates offer the mother lode of THC.

How Do I Use Cannabis Concentrates?

The traditional consumption media of vaporizers, edibles and topicals are all good ways to enjoy cannabis concentrates. In addition, you can experiment with dabbing, a method that delivers the most powerful THC hit.

Start with a dab rig, which resembles a bong, and spread some concentrate onto the surface nail or banger. From there, heat, vaporize and get ready for a wallop of temporary mood-altering effects. Go slowly, as less is definitely more with the intense dabbing method.

Types of Cannabis Concentrates

Cannabis concentrates come in many varieties and are made through different methods, such as solvent and solventless. Here are some of the most popular kinds to sample:

Hash: Short for "hashish," made with a solventless method using ice water, then compressed into a ball

Rosin: Another solventless concentrate in pure form, extracted as oil directly from the cannabis plant

Budder: Whipped waxy extract, sometimes called badder or frosting for its creamy texture

Crumble: Wax that's not as whipped as budder, has a sandy consistency

Shatter: Thin, glassy, brittle, made from raw extract

What Are Cannabis Concentrates Good For?

Cannabis concentrates provide many distinct advantages over other consumption methods. For instance, if you would prefer a smokeless experience, cannabis concentrates can be integrated into many recipes including peanut butter and ghee. For those who are concerned with the potential health consequences of long-term vaping, cannabis concentrates may offer a safer alternative.

Because cannabis concentrates are so high in THC, they can work wonders for those seeking transient psychoactive effects. Plus, because of the condensed form of concentrates, you only need a small amount to produce a strong effect.

If your physician recommends cannabis concentrates, you may find these products beneficial to your mood. THC is known for infusing some users with energy and even bursts of creativity. Beyond mood boosting, THC has shown in numerous studies to provide physical health benefits.

THC for Pain Relief

Relief from chronic pain is one of the most common reasons people apply for a medical cannabis card. While both CBD and THC have shown in studies to have analgesic (pain-relieving) properties, the latter is of particular interest. But levels of pain relief vary, with moderate amounts of THC appearing to lead to better outcomes than higher amounts. THC-rich cannabis products like concentrates may also help multiple sclerosis (MS) patients achieve pain reduction.