Hash
Hash, or hashish, is the product of collecting the resin stalks, trichomes, or THC, from cannabis plants. This classic form is commonly collected by growers when they handle the mature plants. The resinous trichomes of the plant rub off on their hands, thus creating the common terminology for it: rub. In some areas it''s referred to as finger or scissor hash. When the plants are trimmed after curing, they also trickle down trichomes. Growers tend to trim over a silk screen, and the sieved product is what''s commonly referred to as kief. It''s also collected in grinders with screens inside, though without a filter through a proper silk screen, it''s not truly a hash. Another common collection technique utilizes several silk screen bags(bubble bags) and ice water to separate the trichomes from the cannabis plant matter and filter them through the screens. This yields a solventless bubble hash, full melt, or ice wax.
Concentrates
Concentrates refers to the product of cannabinoid extraction processes. The goal of concentrates is to eliminate all plant matter and extract the medicinal cannabinoids. Concentrates can refer to hash or hash oils. There are various forms of concentrate:
- Cannabis butter/oil
- Tinctures
- Budder/Super Melt
- Wax
- ISO Hash
- Bubble Hash/Full Melt
- Shatter/Amberglass/Sexy Oil
- Scissor/Finger Hash
- Dry Sift/Kief
Wax
Wax, or earwax, is the product of a butane hash oil extraction. It''s usually the failure of a budder extract. In comparison to budder, it''s stickier and not formed. Also known as BHO, or butane hash oil.
Budder
Budder is the product of butane hash oil extraction, and often techniques to whip the oil into a more stable consistency. It has yellow hue and crumbly texture. It''s also referred to as super melt, for it''s incredibly clean burn.
Learn how to make budder!
Bubble Hash
Bubble hash, or full melt, is the product of ice water extraction. It''s one of the ''true'' forms of hash, as the water simply removes the trichomes from the plant(similar to sieving kief), rather than an oil absorbing the THC. The product is a stable, grainy texture.
Learn how to make bubble hash!
Cannabis Butter / Cannabis Oil
Cannabis butter or oil is the product of butter or oil extraction. It''s one of the most natural concentrates available. An excellent way to conserve cannabis, and change the experience, cannabutter is often eaten or baked/cooked into various foods. Though when consumed orally, cannabis becomes 4 times more potent, as the THC gets converted to a more psychedelic form.
Learn more about edibles here! Learn how to make cannabutter here.
Kief
Kief is the product of sieving dry plant matter through a screen. Kief is essentially the trichomes(THC) from the plant. It is not a hash however, until it''s been sieved through a proper screen. This finer form of kief is called dry sift. Kief burns faster than flowers, so it''s best to be vaporized, converted to a more stable finger hash, or combined with flowers in a joint, blunt, or bowl. Kief is commonly collected in grinders with screens. Learn how to make dry sift hash! Buy a grinder!Hash oil is the product of solvent extraction. It''s generally characterized with poor quality extract, either from low quality cannabis, or inefficient techniques. Learn how to make ISO hash!
How to use hash?
Orally
The healthiest options for hash consumption are always oral. Most hash can''t be eaten in it''s current state. Only cannabis butter/oil, tinctures, and true rub are orally active. Edible hash may be used for cooking, as long as the temperature doesn''t surpass approximately 350 degrees Farenheight. THC and other cannabinoids vaporize at this point, making the edibles less potent and wasting weed.
Vaporizing
Vaporizing your hash/concentrates is another healthy option for medicating. There are several devices and apparatuses that allow for vaporization. All forms of hash and concentrate may be vaporized, including edibles.
WARNING: Smoking or even vaporizing cannabis butter/oil may leave dangerous residue in the lungs. It''s not suggested for health reasons, but it is possible to get high.Vaporizers in general are an excellent start. A
vaporizer is a device designed to heat up to the exact temperature that THC and other cannabinoids vaporize. It''s the healthiest and tastiest way to ''smoke''. Depending on the quality of the concentrate and it''s extraction, there may be residue(resin) left over in the vaporizer. Check out our vaporizer guide.
Smoking hash with a bong or bubbler is also an option, using attachments that replace the bowl/slide called skillets or
hash nails and
vapor domes. With a skillet or nail, the stoner has to heat it with a torch, and then drop their concentrate onto the skillet/nail(see below). The process is commonly called a
dab or dunk. The metal or glass nail/skillet is heated to a temperature near THC''s vaporization point, providing less harmful smoke and more flavor. Depending on the quality of the concentrate and it''s extraction, there may be residue(resin) left over on the hash nail or skillet.
Another popular attachment for bongs and bubblers is a concentrate bowl(see below). It''s a bowl/slide with holes on the sides, rather than one on the bottom, so that the hash can melt to the bottom of the bowl and the vapor gets sucked through the holes. To smoke with one of these specialty bowls, hash is placed in the bottom of the bowl. Generally a glass ''wand'' is heated with a torch and when it comes in contact with the hash, the wand vaporizes the hash.
Soldering irons may also be used for vaporizing. Lighters and hemp wicks are also an option, but do no achieve the proper vaporization temperatures, causing combustion(and harmful smoke).
Soldering Iron
Hash/concentrates and even flowers(plant matter) may be vaporized with a proper
soldering iron(
see the FAQ for more information on picking the proper soldering iron). The ceramic tip of the soldering iron heats up to a temperature slightly above the vaporizing point of THC and other cannabinoids. This process minimizes the amount of harmful smoke consumed by the stoner. To use the soldering iron, it''s simply pressed against the hash/concentrate/flowers in a bong, bubbler, pipe, etc. You may also place hash directly onto the soldering iron and using a whip(hookah hose), straw, or even your lips to suck the smoke in. The process is similar to a ''hash cup''.
Hemp Wick
Another healthier option for consuming cannabis is the
hemp wick. Although this method doesn''t vaporize, it''s still healthier than burning a bowl or sparking a joint with a lighter. By using the hemp wick, the stoner benefits by avoiding
harmful chemicals released by lighters(such as butane).
Smoking
All forms of hash may be simply smoked in any method used for flowers. In a bowl, blunt, or joint, the concentrates may be mixed with marijuana to burn evenly and slower. Salads of kief and flowers are common, also known as "supercharging" a joint or blunt.
How to make hash?
Hash can be fairly easy to make, and many of the processes are safe. When dealing with chemical extractions(alcohol, butane, etc), incredible care must be taken into the process. The product may contain harmful chemicals if mistakes are made, and explosions/harm can occur from mishandling of chemicals. It''s also important to note that any form of chemical extraction is generally illegal, so check your local and federal legislations before attempting the extractions.
