About Cannabis Concentrates
Cannabis concentrates, beloved in the cannabis community, go by various names and forms. What precisely are these sticky, high-potency globs that have made a significant impact on the cannabis world? The story of concentrates is a fascinating journey that has taken the cannabis community by storm.
The origins of Cannabis Concentrates
The history of concentrates is as intricate and fascinating as the product itself! Hashish, an ancient form of compressed cannabis trichomes, dates back thousands of years, originating in India, Persia, and China. Initially serving medicinal and spiritual purposes, it has a rich historical legacy. Hashish oil, extracted using butane and known as BHO (butane hash oil), reached the United States government in the 1950s and 60s. The CIA utilized it in biochemical interrogation methods, administering tobacco cigarettes laced with BHO to elicit a calming and disorienting effect during questioning.
What are Cannabis Concentrates
Cannabis concentrates are purified forms of the plant that contain higher levels of cannabinoids than traditional flower. Common types include live and cured resin badder, crumble, shatter, rosin, and RSO-based concentrates. Patients often choose concentrates when they need stronger, fast-acting relief in very small doses.
Benefits of using Cannabis Concentrates
Harnessing the potency of concentrates translates to needing significantly less product for the desired effects, saving you time, energy, and money. Packed with high THC content, concentrates offer robust effects, making them ideal for users seeking immediate pain management or a pronounced psychoactive experience. Moreover, if vaporization is not your preference, concentrates serve as the key ingredient in DIY edibles and topicals.
Cannabis Concentrates FAQs
“IS THIS STUFF SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE THAT?”
Absolutely. Cannabis concentrates come in a variety of textures and consistencies depending on how they’re made, everything from firm, glass-like shatter to soft waxes and oils. Each type is produced through a different extraction method, but the variations in appearance are completely normal. What matters most is choosing the form and device that works best for your comfort level and medical needs.
A typical concentrate vaporizer includes key components such as a heating chamber or coil, where the concentrate is placed, and a mouthpiece for vapor inhalation. Some devices may also use a cap or cover to help manage airflow and maintain vapor within the chamber. Small metal or glass tools are commonly used to handle and apply the concentrate safely.
Patients should always follow West Virginia medical cannabis guidelines, select approved vaporization devices, and begin with a small amount to understand their individual response.
WHAT TYPES OF CANNABIS CONCENTRATES EXIST & HOW THEY ARE USED?
Cannabis concentrates are highly refined forms of medical cannabis created to deliver cannabinoids in a more potent and efficient format than traditional flower. These products come in a wide range of textures — from soft badder to crumbly resin and solventless rosin, and each type is produced through a specific extraction method. Patients often choose concentrates for fast-acting relief, precise dosing, and compatibility with vaporization devices.
Live Resin Badder
Live resin badder is a soft, whipped concentrate made from fresh-frozen cannabis to preserve naturally occurring plant compounds. Its smooth, uniform consistency makes it easy to load into dab rigs, e-rigs, and portable concentrate vaporizers. Patients often choose live resin badder for its fast onset and user-friendly texture.
Cured Resin Badder
Cured resin badder is created from cured cannabis flower, producing a stable, workable texture. This type of concentrate performs well in most vaporization and dabbing setups and is commonly selected by patients seeking reliable, consistent results.
Live Rosin (Solventless Concentrate)
Live rosin is a solventless cannabis concentrate made through heat and pressure rather than chemicals. Using fresh-frozen material, it produces a thick, butter-like texture ideal for dab rigs, e-nails, and high-quality portable vaporizers. Patients who prefer solventless options often choose live rosin for its clean production method and mechanical extraction process.
Cured Rosin (Solventless Concentrate)
Cured rosin is also solventless but made from cured flower instead of fresh-frozen. It has a stable, easy-to-handle consistency and is compatible with all standard concentrate vaporization devices. This option is often preferred by patients seeking a mechanically extracted product without the use of solvents.
Cured Resin Crumble
Crumble is a lightweight, dry concentrate that breaks apart easily, making dosing simple and precise. Its texture makes it especially well-suited for dab rigs, concentrate pens, and portable vaporizers. Patients who prefer straightforward handling often choose crumble.
Live Sugar
Live sugar features small crystalline structures suspended in a thicker medium and is produced from fresh-frozen cannabis. Its grainy texture loads easily into most dabbing and vaporizer devices, offering fast-acting effects and convenient handling.
Cured Sugar
Cured sugar is similar to live sugar but made from cured cannabis. It offers a stable, crystal-like consistency and works well with typical concentrate vaporization setups. Patients appreciate its ease of use and predictable texture.
Kief (Trichome Concentrate)
Kief consists of collected trichomes from the cannabis flower. It is a fine, powdery concentrate that can be gently vaporized or used in very small portions for microdosed approaches. Its simplicity and versatility make kief a beginner-friendly introduction to concentrate formats.
RSO (Rick Simpson Oil) – For Oral Ingestion in West Virginia
RSO is a fully extracted cannabis oil formulated for oral ingestion, not vaporization.
In West Virginia, RSO is commonly used by patients seeking long-lasting effects and is also the primary option for DIY edible-style preparations. Patients may add small, carefully measured amounts of RSO to food. Because RSO is highly potent, a “start low and go slow” approach is strongly recommended.
For dosing guidance and patient-friendly recipes, visit our RSO education resources.
Topical Cannabis Concentrates
Cannabis topicals are applied directly to the skin for localized relief. These non-psychoactive products are not inhaled or ingested and are commonly used by patients seeking targeted support for specific areas of discomfort.
HOW ARE CANNABIS CONCENTRATES MADE?
Cannabis concentrates are created through specialized extraction processes that separate cannabinoids and other desired compounds from the plant. These methods require trained professionals, controlled laboratory conditions, and strict safety standards. The three primary extraction categories are:
1. Solvent-Based Extraction
This method uses approved solvents — such as hydrocarbons or alcohol — to dissolve the targeted compounds from the plant material. The solvent is then carefully removed in a controlled environment, leaving behind a purified concentrate. Products made with solvent-based extraction may include BHO (butane hash oil), live resin, and certain high-purity oils.
2. Solventless Extraction
Solventless methods rely on mechanical separation, not chemicals. Techniques such as ice-water agitation, heat, and pressure are used to separate trichomes and press them into concentrates. This category includes rosin, ice water hash, and kief. These products are valued for their straightforward, mechanical production process.
3. CO₂ Extraction
CO₂ extraction uses pressurized carbon dioxide to separate cannabinoids from the plant. This method allows for controlled temperatures and pressures, resulting in a clean, efficient extraction process. CO₂ is non-toxic and reusable, making it a common method for creating various oil-based cannabis products in regulated markets.
ARE CANNABIS CONCENTRATES MORE POTENT THAN FLOWER?
Cannabis concentrates typically contain higher levels of cannabinoids than traditional cannabis flower. Because of this increased potency, patients often find that a very small amount of concentrate can provide meaningful therapeutic effects. The quicker onset and efficiency of concentrates make them a suitable option for patients who require stronger or more targeted relief. As with all products, patients should start with a low amount and increase only as needed to achieve their desired therapeutic outcome.
WHAT IS LIVE ROSIN CANNABIS CONCENTRATE?
Live rosin is a solventless cannabis concentrate produced through a clean, heat-and-pressure extraction process. It is made by pressing freshly frozen, uncured cannabis material, which allows the concentrate to retain more of the plant’s naturally occurring compounds. Because no chemical solvents are used, live rosin is often chosen by patients seeking a concentrate created through a straightforward mechanical process. This method preserves the integrity of the source material and yields a concentrate valued for its purity and plant-forward characteristics, without additives or solvent-based extraction.
WHICH TOOLS CAN I USE FOR CONCENTRATES?
West Virginia patients may use vaporization devices, including:
1. Dab Rigs (Vaporization Rigs)
Dab rigs use a heated nail or banger to gently vaporize concentrates.
Patients apply a small amount of concentrate to the heated surface and inhale the resulting vapor through the rig.
Electronic nails (e-nails) allow precise temperature control for consistent results.
2. Dab Pens / Concentrate Pens
Portable and easy to use.
Load a small amount of concentrate into the chamber and inhale as directed by the device.
3. Portable Concentrate Vaporizers
Offer preset temperatures and more heating power than a pen while still being travel-friendly.
4. Desktop Vaporizers
Provide the most stable temperature control and smoothest vapor.
Designed for home use and often use a whip or balloon-style delivery system.