How Cannabis Concentrates Work: Shatter vs Wax & More
How Cannabis Concentrates Work: Shatter, Wax, and More Explained
What's your favorite way to enjoy cannabis? There are dozens of different options, from gummies to flowers to resins, and they each offer a unique experience. Concentrates offer a highly potent dose of CBD and THC from extracts, and they are a convenient, versatile way to enjoy cannabis. But whether you're new to exploring cannabis products or you want to try out concentrates for the first time, understanding the different concentrates on the market, such as
shatter vs. wax, can help you find your new favorite faster.
At Flo Dispensary, we offer a wide range of concentrates and other cannabis products, and you can use this quick guide to zero in on the difference between shatter and wax and what to try next.
What Are Cannabis Concentrates?
Cannabis concentrates like shatter and wax are a category of products made from extracted, heavily concentrated cannabinoids. They offer much higher levels of THC than flowers because manufacturers extract the compounds with solvents or a combination of heat and pressure. As a result, they offer stronger physical and psychoactive effects. Research into shatter vs. wax shows that the primary differences result from the varied preparation methods, resulting in different textures.
While cannabis concentrates all center around the core concept of concentrated doses, they come in many different options, such as budder, crumble, oil, shatter, and wax. Some are liquid, some are solid, and they each have different textures. Depending on your preferred style, you can add concentrates to flowers, add them to edible recipes, vape with them, or dab them.
How Each One Works
Two of the most popular cannabis concentrates are shatter and wax. Here's how they work:
Shatter
To make shatter concentrate, manufacturers use solvents to extract THC and terpenes from cannabis plants and make an oil. Next, they refine the oil, removing solvents and fats, to create a solid but brittle product. You can dab shatter by heating it up and vaporizing it, making a potent dose of cannabinoids every time. If you want to try shatter, common tools are dab pens, vape pens, and dab rigs.
Shatter breaks easily into shards but is very shelf stable. It tends to have a much higher concentration of THC than wax, but the extra filtration processes reduce the presence of terpenes.
Wax
Manufacturers also produce wax by using butane or other solvents to extract cannabinoids from cannabis plant material. After extraction, manufacturers purge and refine the oil, producing a smooth resin-like substance instead of a crumbly or brittle one. If you want to dab wax, you can use a dab rig to vaporize the wax concentrate and then inhale the smoke. The highly concentrated THC reaches your brain quickly, resulting in potent and near-immediate effects.
Wax is pliable and easy to handle and create specific doses, but it isn't as shelf-stable as shatter. It's potent but not as potent and tends to have a stronger terpene profile.
Effects of Different Concentrates
When you're comparing wax vs. shatter, it's important to consider the effects. Shatter delivers highly concentrated doses of THC through inhaled smoke, and the THC quickly reaches your brain, binding to the cannabinoid receptors and causing effects like happiness, euphoria, and relaxation. However, some users may feel paranoia and increase their heart rate, so it's important to avoid overconsumption.
Shatter tends to have more concentrated amounts of THC, resulting in a stronger high than wax (though both products deliver concentrated cannabinoids). Not only are the effects strong, but many people find that the high lasts longer.
Contact Us to Learn More About Our Cannabis Concentrates
Both shatter and wax offer a fun, powerful high. Comparing shatter vs. wax by trying different products can help you zero in on your preferred products and cannabis options. At Flo Dispensary, we offer different products, accessories, and setups. Find us in The Rez of Basom, NY.
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fukume // Shutterstock
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