Cannabis concentrate: quick answer
A cannabis concentrate is a product made by removing plant material from cannabis to raise cannabinoid content. Concentrates can contain THC, CBD, or both. Common forms include hash, wax, shatter, oil, and distillate. Potency varies by form and process. Read the label for cannabinoid content and extraction method.
What counts as a concentrate
Concentrate means the cannabinoid fraction is higher than in dried flower. Makers use solvent or solventless methods. Solvent methods include ethanol, butane, and CO2. Solventless methods include pressing rosin and sifting kief. The final product may be a solid, wax, or liquid.
- Hash: compressed trichomes. THC content often 20% to 60%.
- Kief: loose trichomes. THC content often 20% to 50%.
- Rosin: pressed with heat. THC content often 50% to 80%.
- Wax and shatter: solvent extracts. THC content often 60% to 90%.
- Distillate: refined oil. THC content often 80% to 95%.
Ranges vary by lab, strain, and process. CBD concentrates follow the same logic. A CBD distillate may list 70% CBD or more. Full-spectrum products keep other plant compounds. Isolates contain one cannabinoid.
Potency and labels
Labels should list total THC, total CBD, and batch number. In the US, state-licensed cannabis products carry lab test results. Hemp-derived CBD products fall under different rules. The FDA does not approve CBD as a dietary supplement. Check for a certificate of analysis (COA) from an ISO 17025 lab. A COA lists cannabinoid potency and contaminant tests.
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Safety points
Concentrates are not risk-free. High THC products can cause anxiety and impaired coordination. The CDC linked vitamin E acetate in THC vaping products to EVALI cases in 2019. Do not inhale additives. Keep concentrates away from children and pets. Follow state law. Hemp CBD remains legal under federal law if THC is 0.3% or less, but state rules differ.