Cannabis concentrates, also known as cannabis extracts or dabs, are trending up in Canada. The market for this type of cannabis has been steadily growing over the past few years, and it now makes up more than 20% of recreational cannabis across the country. With so many products to choose from, how can you make sure you’re getting what you need? For those who are interested in learning more about cannabis concentrates. This article will cover everything you should know about cannabis concentrates in Canada.
Concentrates come in many different varieties and consistencies including shatter, live resin, budder/wax and THCa Diamonds. Let’s explore some tips on how to find out which concentrate will work best for you!
Contents
What are Cannabis Concentrates or Cannabis Extracts?
Cannabis concentrates are the product of distilling down the most desired parts of cannabis plants called trichomes. They contain all cannabinoids and terpenes from the flowers. Ounce for ounce, marijuana concentrate has a greater proportion of these desirable substances than raw flower does! Cannabis concentrates have been used for years as a medicine in some cultures because they’ve exhibited strong anti-inflammatory properties.
Cannabinoids and terpenes are like the spice of life. It’s what makes cannabis so satisfying to consume, whether it be for recreational or medicinal purposes. They’re always present in small structures on plants called trichomes that give marijuana its flavour, aroma, and effects- something you can’t get from any other plant!
The Importance of Terpenes for your Concentrates
The terpenes in cannabis are organic compounds that give the plant its distinctive smell, and terpene profiles affect how we feel when it is smoked. For this reason, terpenes play an important role in concentrates production because they can be extracted to create a more targeted product.
There are terpenes with a calming effect (linalool) and others that can stimulate the mind like limonene. There is also terpene found in cannabis called beta-caryophyllene, which has an anti-inflammatory effect on our lungs. This terpene combination of linalool, limonene, and beta-caryophyllene is called terpsolate.
It’s important for consumers who want terpenes not only to know what kind they’re getting into (CO₂ or Butane) by labelling them accordingly but also try different strains with varying terpene profiles so as not to miss out on all these nuanced smells and tastes!
High terpene full-spectrum extracts (HTFSE)
HTFSE contains a high concentration of terpenes which allows them to capture more flavour and fragrance from these compounds. They have been shown to provide a more complex and balanced experience compared to HCFSE (High Cannabinoid Full Spectrum Extracts) concentrates. For these reasons, htfse may be better suited for medical cannabis patients.
HTFSE comes in multiple forms including concentrates such as Rosin, Waxes, THCa Diamonds and Sauce. HTFSE edibles and oils are also popular with those who want to consume Cannabis but may not be able to smoke it or vaporize it. As a general rule HTFSE tends to be runnier concentrates because terpenes are basically “essential oils”, the runnier is your concentrate and the more terpenes it will have, but most likely the lesser Cannabinoids it will have. It is all matter of preferences here.
Types of extraction methods for concentrates
Solventless extraction
Solventless extraction has been gaining traction as a method to extract concentrates. Trichomes are the glandular, crystalline-like structures on the flower of a cannabis plant. Concentrates made without solvents are produced using mechanical or physical means to gather these trichomes.
Rosin, Bubble Hash, Dry Sift Hash and Kief are some of the most famous Solventless Concentrates. Many people prefer solventless extraction because the process does not use solvents which can alter the terpene profile of the extract and can have negative health implications if not done properly.
Solvent extraction
There are many types of extraction methods for cannabis concentrates. Solvent-based extraction is one method, and it extracts the tricomes from the cannabis by dissolving it in a solvent. The most common solvent used in the cannabis industry are butane, propane, alcohol, and CO2.
- Butane hash oil (BHO): This is the most common solvent-based extraction method. BHO is made by separating the THC from the cannabis plant using butane gas as a solvent. BHO can be dangerous to make at home if not done properly because it requires chemical to extract the THC .
- Propane Hash Oil (PHO): Propane hash oil (PHO): This process is similar to butane extraction, except it’s done at higher pressures and a lower boiling point. THC content: 70-90%.
- CO2 Oil extraction is a method of extracting the oils from cannabis plants that was developed in 2013 and made commercially available in 2014. CO2 extraction is considered the safest method of extraction for most people because it uses natural gas instead of artificial chemical solvents that are flammable, explosive and toxic.
- Ethanol Hash Oil (EHO): It’s done by adding ethanol to a regular batch of cannabis concentrates and letting the ethanol evaporate off at room temperature, leaving pure THC or CBD oil behind in its original form.
Understand concentrate product descriptions
Cannabis concentrate can be a little bit confusing at first. There are various types of concentrates, a jargon that is not always easy to understand. You’ll find below three common information that you will find on labels:
Strains
You should already be familiar with the strains. There are three main types of cannabis strains. Indica, Sativa, and Hybrid. Each type have thousands of specific strains such as Blue Dream, Girl Scout Cookies etc… Choose the one that match best with your needs and preferences
Raw Material
The quality of cannabis concentrate depends on the source material. The resulting cannabinoid and terpene profiles can be altered by changing inputs as well, which may result in different potency or flavour profiles for all products made with this input type.
Trim run is a low quality form of cannabis with high quantities of stems, leaves, seeds, etc. It is the leftover from harvesting the cannabis buds and nugs. The trim run can be made into hash or kief depending on the size of the nugs that are trimmed on it.
Nug run is exclusive high-quality cannabis product in which only bud flowers are processed. This is achieved by simply only trimming off the leafy materials from the plants, without any other steps to produce this type of cannabis.
Live is fresh or frozen cannabis. It is opposed to the usual dried flower. The point of using Live Buds is to maintain the terpene profile from the flower without any alteration.
Texture
The terms that cause the most confusion are the ones that describe the texture. Shatter, badder, crumble, and sauce all refer to its appearance and consistency: whether it is thick or runny. Most of the time these are fairly intuitive, however, when the three parameters strains, material and texture are combined it can get really confusing. For example Blue Dream Live Wax.
The process of extracting THC from cannabis produces a variety of textures. When making concentrates. The resulting texture will have an effect not only upon how they taste but also on the overall experience. Some people prefer runnier concentrates while others may favour something more viscous for scooping purposes. Ultimately, there are no “bad” types since everyone has their own preferences.
Types of cannabis concentrate in Canada
There are many different types of cannabis concentrates or textures, and it’s hard to decide which type is right for you. Here are some options: shatter, live resin, budder, THCa Diamonds…it all depends on your preference!
Shatter
Shatter is the most common form of cannabis concentrate. It becomes hard when it cools down, making shatter easier to break off into smaller pieces for smoking or vaping than other cannabis concentrates such as oil. Shatter has THC levels that can range from 75% to 95%.
Shatter prices are between $10 and $40 per gram depending on the quality and quantities you are looking for. Here are a few guides we created about buying shatter in Canada: Buy Cheap Shatter Online in Canada (including shatter ounces as well), Buy Bulk & Wholesale Shatter Canada, Buy $19 Shatter Canada. Make sure to take a look at it before buying anything, we’ve included deals and the best places to buy shatter in each article!
Live Resin
Live Resin is cannabis that is extracted in a way to maintain all of the cannabis plant’s natural terpenes. The result is a cannabis extract that has an extremely high terpene content compared to most cannabis extracts made today. These terpenes are not just in trace amounts but instead, they make up the majority. People hoping to get the medicinal benefits associated with the cannabis plant tend to go for Live Resin concentrate.
Live resin prices are between $20 and $40 per gram depending on the quantities you are looking for. Make sure to take a look at the article linked above and find the best places to buy live resin in Canada.
THCa Diamonds
THCa Diamonds, The term “Diamond” comes from the crystalline structures they develop in the sauce. The colour is simply crystal clear once the sauce is removed, as for the consistency it is basically like diamonds, hard with sharp edges. When Diamonds are mined, you can clearly see the sauce and the diamonds slowly separating. When buying THCa Diamonds you should look at the product and check if you can see sauce in it, if yes you can be sure that it will be full of terpenes.
Terp Sauce
Terp Sauce is the name for the runny and full of terpene concentrate (HTSFE). Any cannabis enthusiasts enjoy the sweet, velvet texture of the sauce. Concentrate enthusiasts will be familiar with sauce carts, or vape cartridges loaded with terpene-heavy sauce.
THC Distillate
THC Distillate is a Cannabis concentrate that is used for a variety of purposes, from vaping to cooking. The consistency is thick when is stored in a cold place but becomes runny when warmed, making it easier to use in cooking and baking. The colour of THC Distillate is from clear to dark amber. The THC levels for THC distillate is 90% on average but can go up to 99%.
There are almost no terpenes in THC distillate, so if you are looking for a flavourful experience with the entourage effect of a specific strain that might no be your type of concentrate
Wax, Budder, Badder
Wax, Budder, Badder are all just synonyms for this type of texture, Some person will make a difference between each terms but really it is mostly the same. Budder will often have the same consistency as wax but will slightly vary in stiffness between different batches. The wax concentrate offers high potencies, but degrades more quickly and isn’t as stable as shatter for example which comes in hard form. Its buttery texture makes it malleable and easy to handle. Its colour can vary from sunny yellow to orange.
Hash
Hash is a dried cannabis resin that’s been compressed into small brick. It comes in different forms and colours, depending on the extraction method used. Dry sift hash is made by rubbing marijuana over screens or sieves to create a powdery smokable material also known as kief. Bubble hash is cannabis material that’s been mixed with water then filtered through bubble bags. The water breaks up the trichomes from the plant and in turn they gather together on bubble filters which are then removed and dried. Bubble hash is usually a light brown colour but can also be dark green depending on how it was filtered (i.e if left to settle).
Hash can be black, brownish, green or yellowish. The colour depends on what plant matter was used for production as well as how much chlorophyll was present during processing.
Kief
Kief refers to the crystallized resin glands that fall from dried marijuana flowers. You can collect kief by passing dry cannabis over a screen or using an ice water extraction technique where cold water is poured through ground buds placed in mesh bags.
Kief is a flavorful substance. It has a high concentration of THC compared to cannabis flowers because it is only trichomes where all the cannabinoids come from. The potency can vary depending on how you collect kief from your marijuana, but it will always be stronger than your average weed. High-Quality Kief should be light brown which is basically the colour of trichomes. The greener is the kief the more plant material it carries and the lower is the quality.
Popular Ways to consume Concentrates in Canada
Dabbing – Most common
Dabbing is by far the most common consumption method in Canada when it comes to concentrates. The term dabbing refers to using cannabis concentrates via this process of heating up nails, vaporizing them and then taking in the resulting fumes by breathing it into your mouth rather than smoking it out of a bong or a joint like you would for weed.
Most people use a Dab rig to consume cannabis concentrates. To use the dab rig you have to heat up the nail, which is basically a bong bowl, with a torch or an electronic lighter. Then you place the concentrate on the hot surface, your concentrate will instantly turn into an inhalable vapour.
Vape Pens – Discreet
Vape pens are considered to be the most discreet. You can use it for vaping cannabis concentrates or even THC-free CBD oil.
To do this, you need to unscrew the tank section from your vape pen, then fill it up with concentrate by using either a dab tool or concentrate syringe that fits into the top opening on an empty cartridge (these cartridges usually come pre-loaded). Screw back together before proceeding with any other step in order to avoid leaks!
If you don’t have concentrates and you don’t want to manipulate them you can simply buy cartridges that already have concentrates in them. That is the simplest way for you to consume marijuana.
Vaping offers benefits such as no lingering smells, easier cleanup and easy portability which leads many people who partake in concentrates to use vape pens.
Edibles – Longer Effects
Edibles are a popular way of consuming cannabis concentrate. Edibles come in many different forms, such as gummies, chocolates and cookies. If you want to medicate on a budget you can easily find Cheap Edibles in Canada. Note that beginners should start with 5-10mg edibles, while the strongest edibles can go up to 1250mg of THC. Please take a look at the Best Edibles in Canada if you are interested in it!
Eating your Cannabis concentrates will give you the same high that smoking or vaping would but there are also some other benefits to consider:
- You won’t have any smoke when you’re eating an edible which means no coughing or yellowing nails!
- It can take up to two hours for edibles to kick in and it stays longer in your body. If you are looking for a safe way to medicate Edibles may be best for you.
The distillate is usually the main ingredient for edibles. If you are looking for the entourage effect of a specific strain or type of weed (sativa, indica, hybrid) you should pay attention to the label and make sure your edibles have terpenes in them.
On top of your joint or Pipe – Easy Way
By adding kief or wrapping a joint in wax, you can up your smoking potency to an extreme level. This is easy and takes little effort on the user’s part with both substances requiring only a small amount of extra work for hefty benefits!
If you’re looking for a way to add more flavour and potency to your joint, look no further. You don’t need any of the expensive equipment or dabbing supplies required when using concentrates in other ways. The following methods are easy-to-follow tips that will offer everything from increased flavours to extra puffs without costing an arm and leg!
Buy Cannabis Concentrates Online in Canada
The Price of Extracts
For Canadians, concentrates are an expensive route of administration. On average $30-$50 per gram is the median price for solvent-based products like shatter or waxes. Kief and hash may cost less at around $20 a gram but potency will be lower than purer extracts such as THC oil’s 90%+ purity rate
Concentrate prices in Canada can vary depending on their origin and what they’re made from, with some being more affordable than others due to differences in potencies
Online Dispensaries for Price and Variety
MOM Dispensaries for online purchases of Cannabis concentrates are your best option in Canada. They have a wide variety, high quality and cheap prices that are competitive with the grey market. With over 300+ Online Dispensaries in Canada please believe that everyone wants to come with the cheapest price to satisfy and get new customers. We have a list of the best online dispensaries in Canada, as well as a complete list of MOM in Canada. Before buying anything make sure to take a look at those articles. In the meantime we can give you a few of the best MOM dispensaries for concentrates:
- Low Price Bud
- BuyWeed247
- BuyMyWeedOnline
- Cannawholesalers
The reason why online dispensaries are so great is that they ensure you’re getting exactly what you ordered when it arrives at your doorstep. There’s no risk of purchasing contaminated products. The safety net set up by online dispensaries means there’s absolutely nothing to worry about when ordering online, which is always nice, isn’t it?
Bulk & Wholesale Concentrates are available for purchase online also! Bulk means that you will get a discount if you buy more than one item while wholesale indicates that the price is cheaper when buying bulk packages of product. Some products like shatter can be as low as $10 per gram which sounds pretty great right? Online dispensaries offer the best prices because they don’t have any overhead costs from renting out space (since their not an actual physical location).
Online Dispensaries make it easy to find exactly what you’re looking for on their website by using filters like brand name, type of cannabis, THC content level
Coupons & Deals for Cannabis Concentrates
Deals and coupons are available all year round so it never feels like a bad idea to buy online from an online dispensary. We’ve gathered the best offer and deals from reliable online dispensaries in Canada. Always keep this info at hand before placing your next order of Cannabis concentrates.
20% Off Your Order + Free 8th
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Concentrates in Canada: Legalization and Regulation
The legalization of cannabis in Canada is now a reality. With the Cannabis Act, passed by Parliament on June 19 2018, recreational marijuana is now legal for purchase. The Cannabis Act outlines major limits such as the legal age at 18 or 19 depending on the province,
Cannabis use is prohibited in cars and other public places. which are in line with current restrictions that exist around tobacco and alcohol use while providing reasonable access to legal recreational marijuana.
Possession Limits for Concentrates
The possession limits in the Cannabis Act are based on dried cannabis. To help keep things simple, they also established equivalencies for other forms of this plant so it would be easier to understand what an individual’s legal limit is for these products as well.
One gram of dried cannabis is equal to:
- 5 grams of the fresh cannabis
- 15 grams of edible product
- 70 grams of liquid product
- 0.25 grams of concentrates (solid or liquid)
- 1 cannabis plant seed
This means, for example, that an adult 18 years of age or older, can legally possess 7.5 grams of solid or liquid concentrates. For more information about limits check this ressoure For more information about concentrates and edibles regulations in Canada: this resource.
Final Thoughts
You now know everything you need to know about Cannabis concentrates. This means that you can confidently buy them online with confidence and avoid the inconvenience of having to travel for your purchase or buying weed illegally from a dealer on the street. Now it’s time to find out where you should go shopping!
Our resources will help you identify which brands are reputable, what type of extraction process they use, and how much their products cost in Canada. We also have an extensive list of Online Dispensaries and Deals for all Canadian provinces so be sure to take some time checking them out before making any final decisions.
