Curious about cannabis concentrates? You’re in good company. Potent, alluring, and flavor-rich, they’re among the most popular items at our family of Montana dispensaries. However, due to their strength, it’s important to approach them with a little knowledge—and a healthy dose of respect.
A little bit of prep can make all the difference between a memorable, high-flying experience and one you’d rather just forget about. As one of the state’s top producers of cannabis concentrates, we’re here to help you enjoy them safely and confidently. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to have a positive, well-informed experience. Some of the topics we’ll cover include:
- What cannabis concentrates are
- How to choose the right one for you
- How to consume them safely
- Tips to make the most of your session
- Common mistakes to avoid
…and much more! By the end, you’ll be a bona fide concentrate pro. Ready to fire up your dab rig?
Understanding Cannabis Concentrates
Cannabis concentrates are products made by isolating cannabinoids, such as THC or CBD, from cannabis flower. Most concentrates also retain the aromatic terpenes that give different strains their specific scents, flavors, and some effects. You may also see concentrates labelled as “extracts”—the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but they have a subtle difference: extracts are made using solvents such as butane or CO2, while concentrates is a broader term that includes both solvent-based and solventless products like hash and rosin.
Unlike flower, concentrates are often enjoyed using a specialized piece of equipment called a “dab rig.” You can think of it as a specialized water pipe, in which “dabs” of concentrate are dropped into the rig and vaporized. Cannabis concentrates are also significantly more potent than bud. While the strongest flower currently tops out in the mid-30% THC range, some concentrates can top 90% THC. That extra strength means it’s crucial to know what you’re working with and how to handle it responsibly.
That said, we know from experience—and from countless customer testimonials—that cannabis concentrates can absolutely be enjoyed safely and with ease.
Choosing the Right Concentrate for You
With so many options and different types of concentrates on dispensary shelves, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. We’ll break it all down for you—here are some of the more common formats, and how they match up with different experience levels:
Hash and Kief
For those already familiar with flower, hash and kief—made of the pressed and unpressed dried trichomes of the cannabis plant, respectively—may be a good starting point. With an average potency of 50% – 80%, they’re a good choice for those just entering the wide world of concentrates.
Wax
As one of the most popular customer choices, this solvent-based extraction has a semi-soft, spreadable texture that’s easy to work with, although spills can become quite sticky. It boasts a strong potency, reaching as high as 90%, and is well-loved due to its overall flavor, versatility, and shelf stability.
Shatter
Glass-like in texture, shatter is brittle and potent, and is usually best consumed using a dab rig; however, tiny pieces can also be added to bowls. Its concentrated THC makes it more suited for experienced users.
Distillate
Created through a process that concentrates only on cannabinoids, not terpenes, distillate offers a highly pure and functional experience. It’s typically dosed via a vape or by oral ingestion, making it a simple and user-friendly way to access cannabinoids.
Live Rosin
Made with just gentle heat and pressure, this terpene-rich and highly flavorful product is popular among those who prefer simplicity matched with a robust aromatic and flavor profile. As with all concentrates with “live” in the name, this cannabis concentrate is made from just-picked, flash-frozen cannabis flowers. As a result, it packs an incredible flavor and aromatic profile.
Top Tips for Safe Consumption
Especially for first-timers, concentrate safety comes down to mindfulness. While consuming too much cannabis is rarely dangerous, it can be unpleasant, and unpleasantness is something we want to help you avoid. With that in mind, here are a few consumption tips to help unlock a positive concentrate experience.
Start Low, Go Slow
This is rule one—not just for concentrates, but cannabis in general. Even high-quality flower can hit harder than you intended. So, start with a very small amount—about the size of half a grain of rice—and wait 15 – 20 minutes after your first inhalation to assess the effects. Remember: You can always have more cannabis, but you can’t have less.
Know Your Tolerance
Everyone’s a bit different, and factors such as age, metabolism, and prior experience with cannabis all have an impact on the overall experience. Again, since concentrates are vastly more potent than even the strongest flower, it’s all too easy to overconsume. That’s why it’s always a good idea to simply sit and wait a few minutes to assess the effects of using a concentrate.
Use the Right Tools
While it’s fairly simple to consume flower in a bowl or a joint, concentrates are a bit different. While consuming them via a vape pen is an easy and intuitive way to access their benefits, dab rigs and e-rigs demand a little more expertise and practice in terms of temperature and management of the materials. Once you’re up to speed, you’ll find that maintaining a clean dabbing environment is crucial for both your health and safety, as well as for maximizing the benefits of your dabbing experience.
How to Maximize the Concentrate Experience
Want to get the most out of your concentrates? Here are a few tried-and-true practices:
Flavor, Freshness, and Storage
While concentrates are fairly shelf-stable, it pays to keep them in the best possible condition so that you’ll enjoy a peak experience each and every session. As with all cannabis products, keeping concentrates in airtight containers in a dark and cool environment is the best practice for freshness and potency. It also helps delay the inevitable degradation of THC. That said, don’t wait too long to enjoy. Even when stored in a controlled environment, concentrates should be used within a year.
Set and Setting: The Right Environment
Simply put, “set and setting” refers to the physical and emotional space you occupy. We recommend enjoying concentrates in a calm, controlled space with minimal distractions to maintain your attention. Be sure to stay amply hydrated—dry mouth is a commonly reported side effect with all cannabis products—and think about having some fresh, healthful snacks on hand if and when the munchies strike.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
In our experience, consumers encounter trouble in a few ways; fortunately, these issues are relatively easy to avoid. Here are three of the most critical.
- Having Too Much: This one is simple, but it happens all the time. Remembering that concentrates are extremely potent out of the gate—and that the full effects may not even come on for a few minutes—it’s always a good idea to pause before taking a second hit. Give the experience some time to unfold, and have a more positive and enjoyable experience.
- Poor-Quality Tools: When working with high heat and potent products, cleanliness is everything. Poor-quality, corroded, or contaminated tools will affect the flavor of the concentrate and degrade the overall experience. In extreme cases, unclean tools can harbor mold and bacteria. Play it safe and keep it clean to ensure you have a great session every time.
- Mixing with Other Substances: While it might sound fun to combine your concentrates with alcohol or other intoxicants, we gently urge restraint. Alcohol has a nearly immediate effect on judgment, making it difficult to assess how impaired you might actually be. We recommend that if you’re working with concentrates, stick with them and them alone, at least until you’re more familiar with their effects.
Taking a thoughtful approach not only helps you avoid a rough session, but it also sets you up for a more consistent, enjoyable relationship with concentrates. With just a few mindful habits, you’ll gain more control and confidence with every use.
Get Started With Quality Concentrates at Seed of Life Labs
Cannabis concentrates deliver a powerful and nuanced experience, but that kind of intensity deserves thoughtful preparation. When you take the time to learn, pace yourself, and use the right tools, you set the stage for a more enjoyable and reliable session.
If you’re still figuring things out, don’t sweat it. Our team of knowledgeable, down-to-earth budtenders is here to walk you through it. Whether you’ve got questions about gear, dosage, or product types, we’ve got your back. Swing by any SOL dispensary across Montana and let us help you make your cannabis experience a confident one.
