With all the talk and hype around the global trend toward legalization, it’s impossible to go a single day without encountering something cannabis related. From new ways of enjoying your favorite strains to breakthroughs in medical research touting the potential benefits of this medicinal plant.
In the realm of cannabis concentrates, concentrates are at top of the list, because of popular demand. this form of cannabis is both thrilling and potent. If you’re trying to explore concentrates, dabbing is one of the best methods for doing so.
Concentrates, as their name so clearly suggests, are concentrated versions of your herb of choice that provide a powerful way to get your ganja. All you need is the use of a small amount of powerful psychoactive effects.
But, unlike dry herbs (which may be vaporized or smoked) concentrates require a specific method known as dabbing.
There are special tools you’ll need, and fundamental knowledge of what each kind of tool can do. Below we’ve compiled a run-down of everything dabbing, including how to select the most appropriate dabbing tool for your needs.
But First, What Are Dabs?
Simply put, dabs are concentrated doses of cannabis. They are produced by using the solvent (often butane or carbon dioxide) in order to get the active substances of the plant into a concentrated version.
Once the CBD, TCH, and other cannabinoids have been successfully extracted, the result is an oily, sticky mixture that is commonly called any of the following depending on the extraction method used, as well as the consistency:
- Budder
- Shatter
- Wax
- Butane Hash Oil (BHO)
- And other…
What Is Dabbing?
Now that you know what a “dab” is, it’s time to find out what you can do with them. In order to make use of dabs, they have to be heated by a hot surface. This surface is known as a “nail” and is often comprised of glass (such as glass pipes), ceramic, or quartz.
If heated, the smoke and vapor generated by the dab are inhaled. The whole procedure is known as “dabbing” and, while it has been around for a while, has recently gained momentum as a method of enjoying benefits from the abundance of cannabis concentrates coming onto the market.
How Dabbing Works
Dabbing is the process of using smoke concentrates by using convective heating instead of conductive heating. Convective heating is more healthy smoother and more efficient as it does not “burn off” and waste the vital and active ingredients of the substance. Because the materials are burned at a lower temperature as well as using indirect heat rather than a direct flame, the user can enjoy the highest concentration of psychoactive compounds, and a purer, cleaner, and more flavorful hit.
Dab rigs are based on a process involving two key steps. A torch first heats the nail’s surface (also called a “nail”), and next the highly concentrated “dab” is placed on the surface of the heated nail. Inhale the vapor created through the mouthpiece, as you would do with a normal pipe.