How Do I Use Cannabis Concentrates?

Concentrates and extracts exist in a variety of forms and include higher concentrations of cannabinoids and terpenes than flower, but without the plant materials. A concentrate, for example, may have up to 90% THC, although the flower you smoke may only contain 10-25% THC. Concentrates can provide the same benefits as flowers but at a lower dose and cost. Not only that, but concentrates often don’t have as strong a fragrance as flower, making them more covert for people who don’t want to advertise their cannabis addiction to the rest of the world.

While concentrates are less expensive and less intrusive, they do not provide the same depth of pleasure as smoking flowers. However, because they include more terpenes, they are more concentrated.

Once you find the concentrate that works for you, you’ll discover there are many ways to use and consume cannabis extracts. Here are seven of the most popular:

Smoking Concentrates

The simplest method to get your feet wet in the concentration pool is to sprinkle some on your bowl or joint and smoke it. This will allow you to experiment with various concentrates and observe how they impact you. You can even smoke hash or kief without flower by using pipes with screens.

Dabbing Extracts

Dabbing is a popular method of consuming concentrates and is ideal for shatter, wax, budder, taffy, live resin, and rosin.

Dabs have a stronger effect than smoking cannabis flower and may be too much for someone who is new to cannabis. Start slowly and with a low dose until you can determine your tolerance level.

You’ll need a specific oil rig installed for your water pipe to take a dab. This kit substitutes the traditional flower bowl and includes a nail, dome, dabber, and flame. Ceramic, quartz, or titanium nails are all options. With the torch, heat the nail until it reaches the proper temperature. Allowing the nail to cool for around 10 seconds after heating is a good idea. Then, using the dabber, apply a small amount of concentration to the hot nail, covering it with the dome to prevent loss.

E-nails are computerized representations of oil rigs. Instead of being heated by a torch, an e-nail plugs into an outlet and can be regulated to a certain temperature, providing a more consistent high. Many people establish a perfect temperature for themselves and want to keep to it.

Vaping Extracts

Everyone and their mother seems to be vaping these days, and you never know if they’re vaping nicotine or cannabis. As a result, vaping is ideal for soccer mothers or professionals who wish to remain discreet. Vaping warms cannabis oil or flower at a low temperature, releasing less carcinogens and tar, making it less harsh and easier on your lungs than smoking.

Tabletop and portable vaporizers are available. Tabletop vaporizers connect to an outlet and can be programmed to a preset temperature. E-pens are small and portable, and they heat up at the press of a button. Oil cartridges that attach to the pens are available for purchase.

Cannabis Tinctures

Tinctures are concentrated extracts made by soaking decarboxylated cannabis in a solvent such as Everclear for several weeks to months and then filtering the liquid. This method has been used for hundreds of years, and practically any herb can be turned into a tincture to gain its medical benefits.

Tinctures are packaged in a tiny glass container with a dropper cap. To use, place a few drops of tincture beneath your tongue and let it absorb sublingually. It should take between 15 and 45 minutes to notice the results. You can also add a few drops to your food or drink, but your liver will have to process it instead of it going straight to your bloodstream, so you can expect to wait 45-90 minutes to feel the effects.

You’ll have to experiment with the dose to determine what works best for you. Begin with a milliliter. If that isn’t enough, try two milliliters the next day, and so on until you find the right dose for you. A tincture high lasts longer than smoking or vaping, but not as long as eating an oil-based edible. Tinctures can be kept for years if kept in a cool, dark environment.

Cannabis Edibles

Candies, chocolates, and baked products produced with cannabis-infused oils or butter are examples of edibles. You may even buy cannabis-infused syrups to add a kick to your beverages. Edibles produce a pleasant body high when consumed in the appropriate amount and are useful for medical patients suffering from aches and pains. There are numerous anecdotes of people using fewer opiates after starting to use edibles.

If you’re new to edibles, start with a tiny dose of 10-20 milligrams and gradually increase to find the ideal dose for your body. Edibles can take 45-90 minutes to kick in, and it’s tempting to eat more during that time since you believe they’re not working. Don’t. One of the quickest ways to green out and have a poor trip is to do so. To get the most out of your experience, start small and gradually increase your dosage.

THC Capsules

Capsules are a convenient and discreet way to consume cannabis. THC oil is commonly used to fill capsules. They provide a comparable high as edibles but without the added sugar, fat, and calories. They are available in most dispensaries and are simple to produce at home using a crockpot. They can take 30-90 minutes to take effect, so follow the same method as with edibles to get your ideal amount.

Cannabis Topicals

Topicals are an excellent way to relieve discomfort or treat a skin disease without getting intoxicated. They reduce edema and inflammation while relieving pain. Most dispensaries sell lotions, salves, balms, bath salts, and even sexual lubricants. They’re great for sports injuries, muscle discomfort, arthritis, burns, psoriasis, bug bites, skin abrasions, and bacterial skin infections. Give your massage therapist cannabis lotion to take your next massage to the next level.