Know Your Cannabis Concentrates

Patients with an Arkansas marijuana card have a lot of choices when it comes to their cannabis.

Among all those choices are concentrates, and with all the different types, names and definitions, things can get overwhelming.

In this article we’ll break down what the different kinds are, how they work, and how to use them.

What Are Cannabis Concentrates?

Concentrates are the product of reducing cannabis down to the most desirable parts and removing unnecessary or unwanted plant material.

Concentrates are really just “concentrated parts”.

Just like orange juice concentrate, which removes the extra pulp and water, cannabis concentrate removes different materials and leaves some compounds like THC, CBD or terpenes.

There are a lot of advantages to concentrating materials.

You can isolate the exact levels of CBD or THC, add or reduce different terpenes for flavor profiles, and really dial in the final product with precise data and measurements.

Concentrates are also a great way to get very specific amounts of compounds like THC or CBD into a smaller, more potent product.

Concentrates can come in all different types and are usually identified by how they’re produced.

Solvent vs Solventless Cannabis Concentrates

Some concentrates are solventless - they don’t use any chemicals in extracting their material.

Rosin, kief and live resin are all solventless products.

Some concentrates are solvent based - they use solvents to extract the materials and require further refinement to remove the chemicals used in the extraction method. Common solvents that are used are butane, propane, isopropyl alcohol or CO2.

Shatter, crumble, sugar and distillates are all solvent based.

What Cannabis Concentrates are Available in Arkansas?

Once the concentrate has completed the extraction process, all undesirable parts and chemicals have been sufficiently removed (including the chemicals used in extraction) and it’s ready for processing into a final product.

Concentrates are used to make all kinds of products like extracts, tinctures, oils, and even edibles.

All of which are available in The Natural State.

When you make cannabis butter for edibles, you’re concentrating specific elements of cannabis by removing all the bulky flower and stems.

Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) is a potent solvent based concentrate favored by many cancer patients and is taken orally.

THC & CBD topicals are used commonly for arthritis, joint pain, and muscle pain.

Extracts like shatter, crumble and sugar are used for dabbing, a process that involves heating up the extract to specific temperatures and inhaling the vapor.

Vape cartridges and distillates in Arkansas are typically preferred for ease of use and portability.

Many solvent based concentrates are available, though solventless extracts for dabbing and vaping are a little less common right now.

That might change in the near future, with the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission (MMC) recently approving a license for Shake Extractions, an affiliate of Shake Brands Corp.

They are a company interested in bringing more organic products to The Natural State, and that includes concentrates and rosins.

The door is wide open for solventless concentrates, and we expect to see much more demand and competition for them soon.

Which Concentrates Should I Buy in Arkansas?

With such a wide range of products, types and uses, it can get a little confusing deciding which ones to purchase and how much to use.

Here’s a top-down look at what to keep your eyes out for and what some common starting dosages can be.

Please note you should consult with your physician and local budtender to determine the right dosage for you. Everyone is different and not all dosages will be appropriate for all patients.

Edibles

Chocolates, gummies, and candies are widely available in Arkansas. Usually ranging from 100mg to 200mg of total THC, edibles are frequently broken into smaller pieces to consume, with a common starting dose of around 8 to 10mg THC.

Effect can be very strong depending on dosage, and activation time can vary heavily from between 30 minutes up to an hour and a half.

Extracts

Shatter, crumble, and sugar are commonly available in Arkansas for dabbing. These are highly potent products that will deliver a strong immediate effect that can last anywhere between 1 to 3 hours. They often range from 60% to 90% THC and a common starting dose is around 0.1 grams due to the high THC content.

Tinctures

Tinctures, which are liquids taken orally with a drip applicator, are available in bottles between 100mg to 200mg of THC.

A common starting dose is usually between 1 to 3 drops and the effect can range from mild to strong, with an activation time between 20 to 45 minutes.

Topicals

Topicals are available in Arkansas, often coming in 50ml to 100ml bottles with THC ranging from 100mg to 200mg.

Because topicals are applied to the skin, THC doesn’t get absorbed into your bloodstream.

This means there is no high produced from topicals, so dosage is relative to the area you are applying it to.

Note: Sometimes you’ll see labels like “1:1” or “3:1” listed on products like tinctures and salves. This refers to the ratio of CBD to THC.

For example, a 1:1 product has an even ratio of CBD to THC.

A 3:1 product would be 3mg of CBD for every 1mg of THC.