Defining Shatter

You might be extremely well-versed in marijuana and marijuana products. You may know about THC, CBD, terpenes, and everything else about cannabis. However, if you haven’t heard of shatter, you don’t know everything.

Shatter is an extremely potent marijuana concentrate, and it is growing among cannabis consumers in today’s market. But what Is it? And how does it differ from traditional cannabis?

The answers may surprise you. Learn everything you should know about this potent drug here.

About Cannabis Concentrate

There are several kinds of cannabis concentrates such as wax, honey oil, and shatter. They provide a much more powerful high than the basic cannabis flower because they have been put through a process that extracts and concentrates THC and CBD, as well as some of the terpenes. Normal cannabis flowers have a THC concentration between 17-20%, but concentrates can have 80% or more THC.

The finished product is an extremely potent wax-like substance that is high in cannabinoids such as THC and CBD. Depending on the strain the concentrate is created from, it can contain high levels of CBD and low levels of THC, or low levels of CBD and high levels of THC. The former can be used for medicinal purposes, while the latter is primarily used recreationally.

Cannabis concentrates are made in one of two ways: solvent and solventless. Regardless of the solvent, the concentrate goes through a process called purging to remove chemicals. The solventless method involves heat, pressure, and filtration to extract cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant. The solventless method takes more time and dedication to the process but yields a more natural product. One isn’t necessarily better than the other, but they are all safe to consume.

What Is Shatter?

Shatter is a type of concentrate that is translucent (or gold-tinted), glasslike, and fragile. Some say that it’s one of the most beautiful and photogenic marijuana products on the market right now. It goes by several names, including shatter wax, shatter weed, and marijuana shatter. The name comes from its tendency to break and shatter like glass.

Depending on the process by which it is made, shatter can have different consistencies. All products will visually look the same, but some are extremely brittle. Others have a taffy-like texture. The texture inconsistencies give insight into its cannabinoid profile, as different textures are reflective of different chemical compositions.

Shatter that has a higher THC content will be a bit sappier than products that have more THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid), which are more brittle. THC is a sappy oil at room temperature, so shatter with high contents of it will be more viscous. THCA is solid at room temperature, so a more fragile piece of shatter is likely to have high amounts of it.

THC vs. CBD Shatter

Shatter is mostly known for its high levels of THC, but CBD shatter has also been made for medicinal purposes. CBD is known for its anti-anxiety, pain relief, and seizure combatting properties. A patient suffering from any of these conditions can get an extra potent dose of CBD by using CBD shatter. It is an excellent option for those who use medical marijuana or those interested in health and wellness.

Consuming Shatter

Dabbing

Smoking shatter is known as “dabbing,” which requires a dab pen, rig, or modified water pipe modified. Dab pens are the most popular choice because they are small and inexpensive, but they sometimes cannot get the concentrate hot enough. This can affect the size of the hit, as well as the flavor of the smoke. Other methods of dabbing may be better to optimize the hit.

Smoking shatter requires a source of high heat to vaporize the substance, so it can be inhaled. You may consider using a water pipe and using a handheld torch to heat up the dab on the nail of the water pipe.

First-time dabbers might want to take a hit and hold in the smoke, but this isn’t necessary. All you need to do is exhale before taking the hit, then inhale the smoke before blowing it back out again. Make sure not to breathe in too quickly or else you will end up coughing, which can be unpleasant.

Smoking

You could also add it to a joint, which is one of the easiest ways to consume it. Just crumble it or roll it onto a snake, then put it on top of the cannabis before you roll the joint. With this method, you won’t be able to utilize the concentrate as much as you might want to. You could also apply it to the end of a cigarette, but you run the risk of it dripping off before it is burned.

Vaping

Finally, you could use a vape pen. Simply open the vape pen chamber and put a piece of shatter onto the coil. Press the button while the chamber is still open to melt the shatter, but not burn it. Close the chamber and put the lid back on, then hold the button down and inhale. Make sure not to inhale too quickly, or you’ll end up coughing.

Is Shatter Safe?

Shatter is simply the concentrate of an already natural substance (cannabis). If you do some research, injuries and accidents occur from people trying to make their own shatter at home. This can lead to explosions and unintentional chemical reactions.

If you purchase from a reputable company, THC and CBD shatter is safe to use.

Final Thoughts

You have likely asked yourself “what is shatter?” and found a lot of misinformation across the web. Despite what controversy you might hear about shatter or other concentrates, they are growing rapidly in popularity and availability. You can find these concentrates anywhere from medical supply stores to recreational dispensaries. It is a safe, novel, and easy way to consume marijuana of high THC or CBD concentration.

Hopefully, this article has educated you about shatter and other concentrates. If you make sure the cannabis concentrates you purchase are pure, manufactured under safe conditions, and are sold by reputable companies, you will have a positive marijuana concentrate experience.