CBD Concentrate

Concentrate on CBD!

CBD concentrate products, as their name suggests, are concentrated forms of CBD. With added potency and multiple ingestion methods, CBD concentrates are perfect for anyone looking to reap the benefits of CBD quickly and with added potency.

What are CBD Concentrates?

In simple terms, CBD concentrates are products that contain high levels of CBD—aka, products that contain concentrated CBD.

CBD is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in hemp and marijuana plants alike, and no matter where it comes from, it will never get you high unless it’s mixed with a THC-based psychoactive compound. Still, CBD does act on the brain’s endocannabinoid system, which means does have benefits despite being non-psychoactive.

The potential benefits and effects of CBD concentrate are similar to those of other CBD products. While these effects may vary based on a person’s tolerance and dosage, the possible benefits of CBD include:

• Appetite control
• Stress relief
• Anxiety management
• Anti-inflammatory

That said, CBD concentrates specifically have many other benefits that products like CBD gummies or CBD vapes do not.

CBD Concentrate Benefits

Some of the additional benefits of CBD concentrates in people who use CBD include:

Terpenes

Terpenes are natural compounds found in many plants, giving each one their distinct aroma. In other words, these compounds make your weed smell so nice and skunky. They alone have some benefits for the body and brain, but research has suggested that when cannabinoids and terpenes work in harmony, they trigger a phenomenon known as ‘the entourage effect.’ This increases CBD’s benefits as terpenes heighten its effects.

Purity

A main advantage of CBD concentrates is their purity of ingredients. When processed correctly, there should be no residue or traces of chemicals or other elements left behind in concentrate.

This means that a CBD concentrate will only deliver CBD and other compounds in that specific concentrate, like terpenes.

Potency

Because CBD concentrates often contain many times the amount of CBD naturally found in cannabis, they’re a lot more potent. With CBD concentrates, it is possible to get a higher dosage quickly with less product.

Quicker Kick In

Many people prefer concentrates because of their quick delivery method. A person who inhales heated concentrate takes in CBD more quickly than other ingestion methods. Dabbing or vaping concentrate creates a quicker onset than other methods, especially when compared to CBD edibles, which have to undergo digestion before kicking in.

If you want to experience the soothing effects of CBD as soon as possible, CBD concentrates are for you!

Types of CBD Concentrates

Depending on extraction methods, concentrates can take several different forms.

Some of the most common types of concentrate include:

• Crystal: Powdery, pure CBD isolate that contains nothing but CBD.
• Wax: A sticky, oily substance generally made for dabs or vapes.
• Crumble: A similar substance to wax, but with more moisture and a less sticky, more flaky texture.
• Shatter: It gets its name from its visual similarity to opaque glass. When heated, it melts and bubbles into a thick, honey-like texture.
• Live resin: This is made from flash-freezing buds before extraction and allows for a larger number of terpenes and cannabinoids in the final product. They have an enhanced flavor but tend to be more expensive.
• Budder: Butter-like concentrate with a fluffy, wax-like texture.

Again, the type of concentrate yielded depends largely on the extraction process. Usually, the difference between these products is a matter of preference.

What’s the Difference Between CBD Concentrates, Extracts, and Dabs?

The extraction process for all extracts begins with trichomes.

Trichomes are the fine outgrowths that emerge from cannabis plants—AKA, what makes weed flower look frosty. These resinous glands contain cannabinoids like CBD and THC.

There are many extraction methods that help separate trichomes from other materials in the cannabis plant; these extraction processes create an extract.

The reason for their strength is the fact that they contain the resin from trichomes and no other plant materials. They are concentrated forms of cannabis. In other words, they’re cannabis concentrates.

The terms extracts and concentrates can be used interchangeably—they refer to the same thing.

Most concentrates are consuming through dabbing. These extracts are also called dabs.

There are, however, some extracts that cannot be consumed through dabbing. Tinctures and even kief, for example, can be isolated concentrates of CBD, but they cannot be dabbed.

So, in simple summary, concentrates and extracts are the same thing. All dabs are concentrates, but not all concentrates are dabs. Whether or not a concentrate is considered a dab depends on whether or not they can be consumed via dabbing.

Simpler than you thought, right?

How is CBD Crumble Made?

CBD crumble is one of many highly-concentrated wax products named according to its consistency—it’s flaky wax-like texture makes it easy to crumble under little pressure. For a humorous mental picture, many people who use crumble compare its consistency to that of feta cheese!

The texture of different types of CBD wax reveals how the plant extracts are handled once the cannabinoid-rich oils are extracted from the plant.

So, how is CBD crumble made?

To make CBD crumble, the crude CBD oil is first transferred to a cooling chamber where the plant extract turns solid. The plant waxes are whipped during this process, which is an odd but important step that contributes to texture, consistency, and flavor. Any liquid remaining after the hemp oil solidifies is moved to a separate chamber.

CBD crumble can be sourced from all types of CBD extract, including full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD.

Ways to Use CBD Concentrate Products

CBD concentrates are mainly used for their potency. As a matter of fact, concentrates are roughly three to five times more potent than its average flower equivalent!

Either way, there’s more than one way to use concentrates safely and effectively. Below are some of the most popular methods for using CBD concentrate.

Dabbing

Dabbing is the process of inhaling vaporized concentrates with a special piece of equipment. These include dab rigs, e-rigs, and nectar collectors. The traditional dab rig is made of glass, and even though it closely resembles a bong and also uses water, they are different. In a bong, the detachable bowl holds grinded flower, to which the heat is applied directly. The dab rig equivalent, however, is a nail, and you don’t use it in the same way you would a bowl. A nail needs to be preheated to a high temperature, usually using a torch. Once heated and cooled down to the appropriate temperature, the wax concentrate is able to vaporize once it touches the nail’s surface.

An e-rig works in the same manner, with the exception that an electronic battery and built-in nail heat up the wax without the need for a torch. A nectar collector is, in essence, the portable and smaller version of a dab rig. Think bong to pipe.

Vaporizers

A way to use concentrates that’s surged in popularity in recent years, electronic vaporizers are much more adaptable than dabs. Some models can vaporize concentrate and flower alike, meaning you get two products in one.

Handheld vaporizers also allow for a range of precise and adjustable temperatures, meaning you can make your experience with concentrates 100% personalized. Vaporizers usually use lower temperatures than dab rigs, which can preserve some of the terpenes and elements that burn up with higher temperatures.

Lastly, these are a lot more portable and discreet options for when you don’t want to pull out a torch and make a mess.

Smoking

Although cannabis can be ingested in many different ways, you can sometimes blend them together to create a brand-new experience. Concentrates can be added to flower for a more potent hit when you’re smokin’ old school.

Crumble, for example, is easy to break up and sprinkle into a joint, bowl, or blunt, because of its flaky textures.

Infusions

If you like to ingest your CBD via edibles, this is the method for you! Concentrates can be melted into carrier oils or butter, and then used to make tinctures, infused meals, and even topical creams and balms.

A key difference between this and other methods, however, is that when you eat CBD, even it if’s CBD concentrate, the compound must be broken down in your stomach through digestion, meaning that the onset time may be longer. Usually, edibles kick in within the hour, as opposed to a few minutes when it’s inhaled into the lungs.

How Long Do the Effects of Concentrates Last?

This largely depends on how you ingest your concentrate.

As we’ve said before, CBD concentrates take less time kicking in when inhaled than when eaten. The same is true for the longevity of their effects.

If you inhale concentrates by dabbing or vaporizing, the effects can last anywhere between two and four hours. If you’ve infused your food with concentrates, however, the effects can be expected to last from eight to twelve hours.

A concentrate that’s been added to a cream or balm, however, never reaches the bloodstream, and you may notice the effects of these topicals last for a couple of hours.

Are Concentrates Dangerous?

Concentrates in and of themselves are not dangerous. That being said, there are always small chances of risks and side effects when you use CBD.

CBD concentrates contain high doses of CBD and sometimes other compounds. While side effects may not occur in everyone, they are still a possibility.

Some people may experience adverse effects from higher doses of CBD, including:

• Sleepiness
• Drowsiness
• Diarrhea
• Changes in appetite
• Changes in weight

The most important thing to consider when using CBD concentrates is their strength. Although it’s true that CBD is a non-psychoactive compound, ingesting concentrates may not be right for those who are sensitivity to CBD or don’t usually use cannabis products.

It’s crucial to start low and slow when it comes to CBD concentrates, even if you’ve used CBD before and experienced no adverse effects. It’s not like you’ll have a bad trip, but someone who takes a large CBD dose with no prior experience could potentially encounter discomfort.

Final Thoughts on CBD Concentrate

CBD concentrates are the ideal product for those who truly love CBD. With added potency and a faster onset time than other methods, CBD concentrate is multifaceted and versatile.

It can be dabbed, vaped, smoked, and even added to food and topicals. No matter how you use it, however, one thing’s for sure: concentrates will undoubtedly fulfill all your CBD needs!