Although whole-leaf flower remains the top category in today’s cannabis market, that doesn’t mean alternative products aren’t gaining attention. Indeed, now that legal marijuana production is regulated, more customers are comfortable giving concentrates a try. These high-potency products offer medical and recreational users a way to feel the full effects of cannabis in seconds.
Unfortunately, there are still many fear-inducing rumors surrounding concentrates like shatter. Often, these “concentrate myths” raise significant safety concerns. Understandably, when new customers read these scary reports, they’re often deterred from giving cannabis concentrates a try.
In reality, concentrates that have gone through proper screening procedures are just as safe as other cannabis goods. As long as you know your product’s potency level and your THC tolerance, concentrates aren’t inherently “riskier” than edibles or flowers.
To help clear the confusion surrounding concentrates, we thought it’d be helpful to correct a few of the most pervasive online myths. This info should give you a more accurate understanding of concentrates’ risk profile.
Hashish Hearsay — Five Myths Related To Marijuana Concentrates
All Cannabis Concentrates Have Some Solvent Residue
Arguably, the most common complaint people have with concentrates is that they contain traces of solvents like butane, propane, or hexane. While some companies use these compounds during extraction, no professionally-made product should have solvent residue.
Indeed, as the cannabis industry becomes increasingly regulated, manufacturers must put their products through rigorous “residual solvent testing.” When you look at your concentrate’s third-party lab results, you should notice zero solvent residue. Chances are, if you’re ordering from a respected brand in a state-approved dispensary, you won’t find any solvents in your preferred concentrate.
If you’re extra concerned about ingesting solvents, please keep in mind there are solventless extraction procedures. For instance, some extractors only use heat and pressure to make concentrates like budder and rosin. Recently, cannabis extractors have also taken an interest in flash-frozen concentrates like live resin.
Bottom line: as long as you’re working with a reputable cannabis company that has third-party lab verification, there’s nothing to fear about solvent residue. As cannabis regulation becomes the new norm, it’s unlikely you’ll find impure concentrates at your state’s licensed dispensaries.
There’s No Safe Way To Take Cannabis Concentrates
Admittedly, using a dabbing rig looks pretty dang dangerous. Whenever there’s a blowtorch involved, it’s going to look unsafe to the uninitiated!
However, that doesn’t mean taking cannabis concentrates is inherently dangerous. As long as dabbers know how to safely light their device, it’s no more or less safe than using a lighter or a gas stovetop. Plus, there are now plenty of safer “e-rigs” that don’t require the use of a blowtorch.
It’s also worth noting that dabbing is only one way to use cannabis concentrates. Indeed, people who don’t feel comfortable using a dabbing rig could drizzle some of their concentrate into a joint. It’s also common for chefs to add a bit of concentrate to their favorite edibles.
However you choose to use your cannabis concentrate, you just have to take the proper safety procedures.
For more info on making delish cannabis edibles, be sure to read this previous "How to Measure the Potency of Cannabutter" blog post.
Cannabis Concentrates Will Always Get You Wasted
Yes, budder is more potent than normal buds. However, that doesn’t mean you’ll always get “baked” after one dab. In fact, if you’re taking a non-intoxicating CBD concentrate, you won’t get stoned at all!
While all cannabis concentrates have higher-than-average cannabinoid counts, that doesn’t mean every variety is intoxicating. Be sure to carefully inspect how many cannabinoids are in your chosen product to better understand its effects. If you can’t find reliable info—or you’re making concentrates at home—you could use a tCheck home THC Potency scanner to figure out your product’s potency.
Once you know the amount of cannabinoids in your concentrate, you could better assess how much is right for you. Simply take the correct dose of concentrate to suit your tolerance level. Of course, anyone new to concentrates should take the lowest possible dose first to see how they react.
You Can Overdose On Cannabis Concentrates
Related to the last point, some people believe cannabis concentrates are so potent they could cause an unintentional overdose. However, this contradicts recent scientific research on cannabis use. Even theCDC admits it’s “highly” unlikely someone would die from taking too much marijuana.
While overdosing on marijuana isn’t likely, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t exercise caution. Indeed, since concentrates have higher doses of cannabinoids, customers must know their limits. Taking too much marijuana too quickly could provoke unwanted side effects like paranoia, dizziness, or mind-race.
Be sure you know your tolerance level and the exact potency count of your concentrates beforehand. Understanding this crucial info will help you have the most satisfying session imaginable.
It’s Not Safe To Make Cannabis Concentrates At Home
When people talk about the dangers of DIY concentrates, they’re usually thinking of the many home explosions triggered by highly-flammable solvents. Unfortunately, there have been cases where inexperienced extractors used chemicals like butane without taking the proper precautions. Even if you have a degree in extraction technology, it’s never a good idea to use these highly volatile chemicals outside of a hi-tech lab.
However, that doesn’t mean cannasseurs should feel discouraged from making DIY concentrates. Indeed, there are a few solventless techniques that are safe for people to test out at home
For instance, rosin has become an incredibly popular DIY concentrate in recent years. All you need to make this concentrate is a hair straightener, your favorite cannabis buds, and some parchment paper.
Using a heat-resistant glove, squeeze out all of that gooey goodness by placing your buds between two layers of paper and pressing with your hair straightener.
Of course, another time-honored technique for making cannabis concentrates is to press hashish. Many at-home cannasseurs are interested in using dry-sifting and cold water extraction to make safe and affordable at-home concentrates.
If you choose to make any of these cannabis concentrates at home, please don’t forget to measure their potency with a tCheck THC Potency Scanner. Our easy-to-use devices will let you know your concentrate’s exact potency without having to send your products to a lab.
Keep Track Of Your Concentrate’s Cannabinoids With tCheck Scanners!
Generally speaking, people who have issues with professionally-made concentrates don’t take the necessary safety precautions beforehand. As long as you know your tolerance levels and the cannabinoids in your concentrates, you shouldn’t have an issue gauging the proper levels for your needs. Be sure to start with the lowest possible dose and slowly increase your concentrate use as needed.
Because concentrates are, well, “concentrated,” it’s extra important for customers to know accurate cannabinoid counts. Thankfully, you don’t have to ship your concentrates to an expensive third-party lab for a thorough analysis. The cheapest and fastest way to gauge your concentrate’s strength is with one of tCheck’s hi-tech potency trackers.
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Generally speaking, people who have issues with professionally-made concentrates don’t take the necessary safety precautions beforehand. As long as you know your tolerance levels and the cannabinoids in your concentrates, you shouldn’t have an issue gauging the proper levels for your needs. Be sure to start with the lowest possible dose and slowly increase your concentrate use as needed.
Because concentrates are, well, “concentrated,” it’s extra important for customers to know accurate cannabinoid counts. Thankfully, you don’t have to ship your concentrates to an expensive third-party lab for a thorough analysis. The cheapest and fastest way to gauge your concentrate’s strength is with one of tCheck’s hi-tech potency trackers.
