What does Dab, Dabs, Dabbing mean?

Concentrates, or “dabs,” as they are commonly referred to, are completely different from the flower. are made from all of the leftover material from cannabis, like the stems, leftover shake and things that you wouldn’t want to smoke. All of that material is concentrated into oil using butane. Dab oil has a lot higher concentration than the flower because the extraction method leaves only THC and terpenes. This is why taking a dab gives the user a much cleaner and more potent high.

How do you make dabbing concentrates?

The most common way to make a concentrate is through the butane extraction method, aka Butane Hash Oil (BHO) extraction. The dry flower material is hit with butane. The butane works to extract the cannabinoids, terpenes and other essential oils. The butane evaporates, leaving a thick amber colored oil.

Common names and types of concentrates?

Dabs are also called wax, earwax, honey, honey oil, shatter, and budder, etc. Each name depends on the type of concentrate.

Shatter:

Shatter is named as such because it has the consistency of glass and will break easily when pressure is applied to it.

Budder:

Budder has a thicker consistency, and generally has a lighter color, somewhat resembling cooking cannabutter.

Wax AKA 'Crumble:'

Crumble is a concentrate that will easily break up and “crumble” in your fingers. This feature sometimes allows the crumble to be a fairly malleable concentrate making it easier to portion out your concentrates.

Live Resin:

A relatively new form of concentrate that is made with fresh plants that have been frozen, rather than cut and dried.

CO2 Oil:

This form of concentrate is what is used in e-liquid vaporizers, usually sold in pre-manufactured cartridges in dispensaries.

How long have dabs been around?

Dabs have been around for at least a decade. Dabs have become much more popular in the last couple years as extraction methods have been perfected. Now BHO concentrates are widely available in cannabis dispensaries.

Why do people dab?

Dabbing is considered to be a much cleaner method of using cannabis, as opposed to the traditional method of smoking dried cannabis. Dabs are also more efficient because the user needs to use less BHO concentrate to achieve the desired effect. The THC concentration in dabs is much higher than the flower, giving the user an immediate and more potent high.

How do you take a dab?

Dabs are taken by heating a nail in a dab rig carefully with a butane torch. Once the nail is sufficiently hot enough, the user takes a dabber with the BHO concentrate and puts it on the nail. The dab is vaporized, and the user inhales as they would taking a normal bong hit. For more detailed information on how to take a dab, please see our article on how to take a dab.

How much more concentrated is a dab?

Dabs have a much higher THC concentration than dried flower because of the extraction of cannabinoids. The concentration levels vary depending on the type of plant material used to make the concentrate. Dabs are typically 70-90% THC.

Are there safety concerns?

The only safety concerns with taking dabs come from using a hot torch and breakable glass. The user should be aware of their surroundings at all times. There are some safety concerns with homemade dabs, as the concentrate is made using combustible chemicals. Before attempting to make their own BHO concentrate the user should educate themselves on the process as much as possible by either watching a tutorial, or seeking the help of someone experienced in making dabs.