As the use of cannabis rapidly evolves, new cannabis extracts are emerging daily. Unfamiliar with what extracts are? In a nutshell, an extract is any oil that concentrates cannabis compounds like THC and CBD. With the many variations of cannabis extracts on the market today, it’s not uncommon for some cannabis enthusiasts who visit dispensaries in America like the Michigan weed dispensary to wonder why they’re different.
This guide will explain the difference between four popular concentrates (namely: wax, shatter, live resin and crumble) to better help you decide which to adopt. You can visit the Detroit Herbal Center to get these extracts.
Shatter
Shatter is one of the most popular forms of cannabis extracts in dispensaries today, especially the Michigan marijuana dispensaries. It has a flawless amber glass transparency which is sometimes translucent. The color of the extract depends on the extraction process (which is mostly via BHO or PHO) and the type of strains used to produce the wax; however, the most common colors are yellow and golden orange
Although shatter looks like rock candy or Jolly Rancher, it is generally considered to be the purest and cleanest type of extract. It gets its name from the brittle properties of the extract and its ability to break or “shatter” into a thousand tiny shards without much provocation due to its fragility.
Just like other concentrates produced using butane, shatter is made by forcing the chemical through cannabis material which will result in an amber liquid that’s then left to cool. Once the temperature decreases, the liquid solidifies into shatter which has the consistency of thin peanut brittle. You can keep it in the refrigerator to retain the composition for as long as possible.
However, one of the many misconceptions about shatter is that the clearer it is, the more the amount of THC it contains. This is seldom true as several lab tests have shown that clear shatter is not always potent than the cloudy counterparts and that it may even have a higher amount of solvents leftover. And as you may already know, shatter is dangerous to inhale when it has a high amount of solvents leftover.
Wax
Wax is a sticky form of cannabis concentrate. It looks like ear wax and has the consistency of coconut oil meaning; it’s not hard enough to be considered a solid. Much like shatter, wax starts as amber liquid produced by butane extraction and is heated or agitated to produce a soft, opaque material that loses its transparency.
Unlike shatter, the molecules of material crystallize as a result of the agitation to produce a layering that’s more of a jumbled mess. The material can range in consistency from peanut butter to ear wax to honeycomb. However, wax produces a powerful, long-lasting high just like shatter even though their obvious difference is in appearance and consistency.
Crumble
Crumble is one of the newest forms of cannabis concentrates on Detroit dispensary shelves today and its production process is very similar to that of shatter. Perhaps, the key difference is that purged oils with more moisture are used for crumble. The purged oils are also agitated or heated to a different temperature, producing a thick consistency which helps to create its cheese-like body.
Crumble is not so easy to work by hand as it can easily lodge underneath the fingernails, making it a less desired concentrate than shatter and wax for some users. However, it’s just as potent as shatter as studies indicate that its THC levels range from 60% to 90%. Generally, crumble is the driest form of cannabis extract and it can be stored anywhere except at high temperature.
Live Resin
Another relatively new type of concentrate, live resin contains higher terpenes than any other concentrate. While other concentrates use dry plants, live resin uses living plants which are cryogenically frozen (also known as flash freezing) after cultivation to help preserve the terpenes profiles, oils and THC content which are usually lost during the curing and aging processes. The result is a more intense, complex smell and flavor compared to other extraction methods.
Producing live resin requires a full lab setup and trained technicians who will handle the long processes involved. The entire cannabis plant is also used during the production process, and that includes the flowers, leaves, branches, and stalk. Apart from being the favorite for cannabis enthusiast who relies on it for its medical efficacy, the complex requirements for the production of live resin make it a concentrate for users who have expensive taste buds. If you’re a Detroit medical marijuana lover, you can purchase live resin at Detroit Herbal Center to enjoy the full medicinal benefits these extracts offer.
Shatter vs. Wax vs. Crumble vs. Live Resin
As earlier said, there is primarily no difference in THC potency between shatter, wax, crumble and live resin. They all provide a powerful high and can be used in dabbing. The key difference is in how they look which is dependent on how they are produced.
However, when it comes to their use and storage, these concentrates have a few differences worth noting:
Producing shatter involves a complicated process since it requires attention to details while producing wax is easier as you don’t have to be careful while at it. However, producing live resin is more complex as it requires a fully setup lab and trained technicians.
Shatter is more stable and tends to last longer while the case is different with wax as it tends to lose its quality faster. Unlike shatter, wax and live resin, crumble can be stored just about anywhere – except at high temperatures.
Unlike shatter which is typically more difficult to handle or measure because of its brittle nature, wax is easier because of its coconut oil consistency. Crumble, on the other hand, is also a fairly-easy stuff to handle as it dissipates into the fingertip grooves before becoming lodged underneath the nails.
Conclusion
There are a plethora of cannabis extracts today and this can be overwhelming for the average user who doesn’t understand the intricacies of each type. If you’re having a hard time deciding which concentrate to choose after reading thus far, we advise that you get these concentrates at Detroit Herbal Center so you can try them out to discover your favorite.
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