Cannabis Concentrate Sources

Cannabis concentrates are refined products derived from the cannabis plant. Concentrates are extracted differently to create a variety of that include oil, dabs, hash, tinctures, dabs, that are easily dosed for a clean but potent experience.

Good quality concentrates are effective, and you don’t need much to get the desired effect. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea as a consumption method, but cannabis concentrates are driving innovation in concentrate products and technology. A concentrate’s overall quality is ultimately determined by the cannabis from which it is extracted.

A concentrate’s overall quality is ultimately determined by the cannabis from which it is extracted. So, not all concentrate products are created equal and it is a broad term for different substances derived from cannabis. Extraction processes and the chemicals involved differ to extract the relevant compounds. The only time cannabis concentrates pose a risk to health is when they are made with cheap or incorrect chemicals using an improper process managed by inexperienced extractors.

This article explores the different source materials for concentrates.

Nug Run

As pot smokers will know, a nug refers to the cannabis flower harvested from a matured plant. These buds or nugs are extremely potent with terpene-rich flavors that make them highly appealing for making concentrates. A nug run is an oil extracted in a concentrated form from dried cannabis buds that had their fan leaves trimmed. This is a rich concentrate packed with trichomes that are loaded with THC, terpenes, and other cannabinoids. A nug run concentrate is derived from cannabis buds especially cultivated for extraction.

You get different nug runs such as Colas, being the big buds with matured trichomes, Larf (light, airy, really fluffy nugs), which comes from immature buds, and Popcorn Nugs, which are similar to Colas but smaller. Concentrates with the nug run label means the product was created from a hydrocarbon extraction process and are typically considered to be very high quality.

Trim Run

Cannabis growers will be familiar with this source material. It is essentially the trimmed leaves from harvested buds that are covered in cannabinoid resin. So, instead of pushing these aside for edibles, they are put to good use in making more affordable cannabis concentrates. Concentrates from a trim run will have fewer cannabinoids when compared to a nug run but if butane hash oil is produced from a trim, the potency is comparable with other concentrates.

Live Resin

Live resin is produced when the extraction process happens before drying and curing the cannabis plant. Using fresh plants that just harvest gives the advantage of harnessing the full benefits of terpenes, which can easily dissipate at room temperature. As a way to preserve the fragile yet volatile fragile terpene profiles, the harvested buds are frozen and stored until extractors are ready to process them.

Live Rosin

This is the latest technique used to extract cannabinoids into concentrates. No solvents or chemicals are used in the process and instead uses pressure and heat to extract a potent sap from dried cannabis plants or hash. It is a thick oil that doesn’t need purifying making it naturally clean while being high in THC.

Full-spectrum versus Isolate Extracts

Cannabis concentrates can be full-spectrum meaning they contain a variety of compounds or they can be an isolate containing a specific formula of only one compound. Full-spectrum concentrates have a complex mix of terpenes and cannabinoids in the same ratio as produced by the plant. The result is a product with full-bodied flavors.

In contrast, isolates are products containing a pure cannabinoid in a crystalline or powder form. If an isolate is made with just THC, all other compounds will be removed. Isolated concentrates offer the most potency and best purity of a single cannabinoid.

Sauce

Also known as Terp Sauce is a sticky substance containing high-levels of terpene, which is that extracts terpene-rich concentrate. In the extraction process, other cannabinoids naturally separate from the terpenes. Sauce concentrates may differ in consistency with diamonds floating in golden syrup or others having a gritty texture like raw honey. Sauce is a deconstructed shatter where terpenes and cannabinoids are not be distributed evenly, so each dab from a sauce won’t necessarily produce the same effects.

Concentrates versus Flower

Concentrates will be significantly more potent than the cannabis flower and people new to dabbing concentrates should be cautious and start with small doses. Having too much of a concentrate won’t kill you but it won’t be worse than the effects of drinking too much. You would probably experience paranoia, nausea, and/or feel lethargic for a while after which time the sensations will subside.