How are the cannabis concentrates obtained?
Cannabis and cannabis concentrates has been used for medical, recreational and spiritual purposes for centuries and continues to make headlines. Today the term “concentrates” is quickly becoming a popular topic amongst the cannabis community, these concentrates vary in flavor, quality and form; from dabbing to drops under your tongue; so let’s break it down and understand cannabis concentrates and their benefits.
One of the main reasons for concentrates becoming so popular is it’s a pure therapeutic combination of cannabinoids and terpenes to deliver a high potent flavorful medicine, containing 80-100% THC as opposed to 15-20% in plant matter allowing the user to consume less with far better results.
There are two groups of concentrates, Solvent and Solvent-less what this means is concentrates like BHO, PHO and RSO use a solvent to strip the plant matter of its essential compounds where concentrates like Rosin, Ice- water hash and Kief do not require any harmful solvents to extract the essential compounds.
The consistency of concentrates alone does not indicate which extraction process was used; the same extraction method can deliver a variety of consistencies. The healthiness of the concentrate will depend on the solvent, if any, starting product and the purging process if needed.
Solvent Concentrates
• BHO (Butane Hash Oil)
This is one of the most popular of the concentrate family; using butane to strip the plant matter of its goodness, typically consumed for dabbing and vaporizing. This process should be done by a reputable extractor to ensure proper purging so to avoid residual butane resulting in harshness and unpleasant aftertaste.
How BHO is made:
Making BHO is quite simple: the plant matter is placed in a column (glass or PVC) with a filtration screen at the end; butane is then passed through the column which strips the plant of its cannabinoids and terpenes. The butane cannabis compound is then placed in a vacuum oven to evaporate or purge the butane and any other foreign contaminants.
The final product may vary in consistencies such as Shatter, Budder, Snap and Pull, etc.
Always try to purchase this product through a lab tested supplier to ensure proper purging.
• PHO (Propane Hash Oil)
This one is typically known as budder, due to lower purging temperature the result is a buddery consistency as opposed to shatter. Much like BHO, this concentrate has varied final products.
How PHO is made:
Similar to that of BHO, the solvent used here is propane. The extraction is also done at a higher pressure stripping different ratios of plant waxes and oils.
• CO2 Oil
Unlike BHO and PHO, this concentrate leaves behind no residuals or risk of toxicity. The Golden liquid used is used in almost every pre-filled vape cartridge and also sold in disposable cartridges containing CO2 oil and a medical grade solvent called polypropylene glycol. CO2 Oil is a clean dab-able product however lacking in flavor due to the terpene content or lack thereof. If the process is done well then the trepenes should be preserved and taste delicious.
How CO2 Oil is made:
CO2 Oil is made with expensive botanical extractors that use pressure and carbon dioxide, one of the most effective ways of reducing the plant matter to essential oil. This process also kills any mold or bacteria that may be present in the plant matter.
So in my opinion the CO2 Oil is of the healthier concentrates.
The last of the solvent concentrate we will be discussing is RSO, Rick Simpson Oil.
• Alcohol – RSO, Rick Simpson Oil
This concentrate is used more orally and in tinctures however can be vaporized – it will possibly lack in flavor.
How RSO is made:
The plant matter is washed in isopropyl alcohol; a short wash is all that is needed to isolate the cannabinoids and terpenes. The plant matter is then strained leaving behind a runny liquid which is then filleted and purged over a low precise temperature. Once the solvent has completely evaporated a tar like liquid is left behind, RSO Oil, the oil is safe to make and use.
So that’s the basics on solvent concentrates, next let’s take a quick look at the solvent-less concentrates.
Solvent-less concentrates are safe and easy to make and in my opinion most enjoyable and highest quality. With the exception of rosin tech, the goal of solvent-less extracts is pure glandular trichome head isolation.
• Dry Sift or Kief
Unlike the solvent concentrates, Kief or Dry Sift is most natural and unobtrusive way of producing concentrates and is very easy to make, however with low yields making it expensive and rare. The resin glands found on trichomes of the cannabis flower contain terpens and cannabinoids that bring a diversity of flavors and effects. This dry sift is also commonly used to make hash or pressed into a dab-able sheet with light heat and pressure.
How Dry Sift is made:
The process uses a series of taut silk screens to separate the trichome heads from plant matter that can also be collected in a 3 way grinder.
• Ice Water Hash, Bubble Hash
The process here is similar to that of Dry Sift but incorporates ice water to break off the trichome heads.
How Ice Water Hash is made:
It is super easy and safe to make at home, it simply requires mixing your dry (frozen) plant matter into ice water, agitating it with an egg beater / cake mixer or wooden spoon for 15-20 minutes and then using a filtration system of micron bags varying is micron sizes. The hash is then collected in each part of the filtration system as each bag collects a little bit of hash. The quality of the hash will vary in the different bags.
The last of the solvent-less concentrates we will be discussing is Rosin Tech or Solvent-less Has Oil (SHO)
• Rosin Tech, SHO
Rosin Tech is also a safe and easy concentrate to make, the method used can be used to extract the essential oils from lower grade of Ice Water Hash and Dry Sift; turning “trash” to “treasure”.
How Rosin Tech is made:
The process utilizes heat and pressure to extract the essential oils. Simply place the plant matter in between non-stick parchment paper apply heat and pressure for several seconds. The lower your heat the more flavor you will achieve, however this also results in less yield. Using a 25u micron screen and temperatures around 120-150◦C your final product will be more stable and “shatter” like.
Rosin Tech allows anyone to easily create their own quality solvent-less hash at home for a pure clean medicine in a matter of seconds.
So that’s a wrap on the basics of solvent and solvent-less concentrates. Feel free to leave a comment of your experience or if you have any further questions and I will gladly assist where I can.
For now happy vaping all, love and blessing
Mary Jane – Vape Store
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