What is cannabis extraction and how does it work? The extraction of cannabis is as complex as how the plant is grown in the Cannabis Processing Industries. From the extraction comes the cannabis extract. The extract is an oily substance that has the concentrates of the chemical compounds from the cannabis plant like CBD and THC. There are many techniques for extracting the cannabinoids from the plant and then creating a concentrate of these chemical compounds. For the extraction process to be completed properly, CO2, ethanol, alcohol, butane, and water are used as solvents. In the end, the marijuana processing industries are able to produce a highly effective end product in the form of budder, wax, shatter, hash, oil, etc. These products are then utilized for vaporizing or dabbing. Moreover, some of the products are still now allowed to be sold or produced legally.
Consuming cannabis extracts & concentrates There are many ways of the various cannabis concentrates. Here are some of the most common ways:
Pills & Edibles: A lot of those who consume cannabis extracts prefer to consume it by eating it. The edibles infused with tinctures (would be explained below) or cannabis oil offers a smoke-free and suitable way of consuming cannabis. On the other hand, the cannabis extract pills are much easier to consume. Further, the effects of these last much longer as compared to when the cannabis extract is inhaled.
Dabs: This is the biggest "new" way of consuming the cannabis concentrate produced by the marijuana distribution industries. In this method, a glass, titanium or metal skillet is thawed allowing the concentrated cannabis to vaporize as soon as it touches the hot surface.
Vaporizers: Being one of the cleanest methods of inhaling the concentrated cannabis, vaporizing (also called vaping) produces a mist which is non-toxic and takes the pressure off the respiratory system. This, in turn, provides a nonintrusive and a very private method of consuming cannabis. The extracts like distillates, shatter, wax, and oil can be vaped easily.
Tinctures: Tinctures are liquid extracts that can be consumed orally as drops. It can be added to the food or even applied to the skin directly.
Smoking: Just like the smoking of the dried flower of the plan, the cannabis extract is also consumed via smoking. This works well for the extracts like kief and hashish. These can be smoked on their own or by putting them in pipes,
water bongs, or added to dried flower or tobacco and then smoked as a traditional joint.
Types of cannabis extraction: Solvent & Solventless In the marijuana processing industries, the cannabis concentrate is obtained by extracting the cannabinoids and then condensing it into the purest form possible. There are many ways in which the cannabinoids are found in plant and then concentrated. The process of extraction that includes solvent gives quality products and is used mostly. On the other hand, the solventless ways are natural and simple, but it is not the most preferred method since it does not provide the same cannabinoid percentages. And there are some methods that still offer enhanced terpene retention, better taste, and a pure product. Below shared are the various methods of cannabis extraction that takes place in the cannabis processing industries. Rosin Press Extraction (Solvent-less) A cannabis concentrate, rosin has a shatter-like or buttery consistency. It is produced without adding any solvents or additives to extricate the trichomes from the cannabis plant. Alternatively, pressure and heat are utilized for extracting the resin that is rich in trichrome. This resin holds the ingredients that are beneficial. Water Extraction (Solvent-less) Also known as bubble hash or water hash, this is produced by combining a set of sieve-like bags to the cannabis plant immersed in cold water and then stirred. Due to the stirring and the cold, the trichomes fall off the plant and then go through a series of tight screens. The final result is a hashish or kief which can be smoked or dabbed. Moreover, it holds about 50% to 70% of THC levels. Dry-sieve Extraction (Solvent-less) In this method of cannabinoids that takes place in the cannabis processing industries, the dried cannabis plants are taken. These are then shaken against a mesh screen or beaten for the trichrome crystals to come off it. These crystals are then collected (known as kief) and can be consumed by smoking it pressed into hashish or mixed with a dried flower. The percentage of THC in this is about 35% to 50%. Quick-Wash ISO or Isopropyl Oil Extraction (Solvent) In the ISO Wash method followed by the cannabis processing industries, the dried cannabis flowers are taken and soaked in isopropyl alcohol. After soaking, the mixture is gently shaken and then strained in a different dish. With the help of the isopropyl
alcohol, the trichomes are stripped from the plant, and this then goes into the solvent. Under 181-degree Fahrenheit, the remaining solvent in the concentrated liquid is then evaporated in a vacuum oven. This is done until potent THC rich oil is left. The demerit of this is that the end product has some parts of the plant alkaloids, waxes, and chlorophyll in it. Moreover, a lot of plant material is extracted if the soak is longer, which is not a good thing. Supercritical Co2 Oil Extraction (Solvent) This is a very popular extraction method that takes place in almost every marijuana processing industry as it separates all the chemical compounds properly from the plant and is the safest (non-toxic and environmentally safe) method. In short, there are no trace amounts left in this method, also making the solvent reusable. Supercritical CO2 is also used in other industries like coffee, tea, etc., as a solvent. Moreover, the same CO2 is used in soft drinks to give the fizz as it is nontoxic. In the extraction process of the cannabis processing industries, the supercritical CO2 is heated for increasing the pressure of the CO2. This is then passed through the cannabis buds to extract the potent cannabinoids. After that, the CO2 that has all the cannabinoids is put in a separator to break all the constituent parts. Then the terpenes and trichomes are collected, and the supercritical CO2 is condensed to liquefy for reusing it in the process again. The extract that is collected is kept outside under room temperature for any left CO2 to evaporate into the atmosphere. There is no special equipment for this process. But since it is safe, it is used a lot in the marijuana distribution industries. Moreover, it is easy to select the proportion of the amount of the chemicals extracted during the process. This process allows the cannabis processing industries to produce wax, budder, shatter, or oil, based on the flow-rate, pressure, temperature and solvent-tofeed ratio. Butane Honey Oil Extraction (BHO) Butane extraction is used a lot in the perfume and food industry, but due to its powerful potential to retain terpene, it is also used for cannabis extraction in the marijuana processing industries. In this method, a column or vessel that has a filter at an end is filled with cannabis. Cans filled with butane are sprayed through the vessels, where the cannabinoid-rich butane is then obtained in another dish. Both the cannabinoid mix and the solvent is then purged in a vacuum oven or is left to evaporate. The process is highly dangerous and extremely flammable due to which there is special equipment for the procedure. With the help of the vacuum oven, the solvent residue is cleaned from leaves and oil. This is done behind a golden colored oil which
has about 80% THC. This method produces many kinds of oils, crumbles, waxes and shatter. Conclusion Even though all these methods are there and the marijuana processing industries use the ones they like the most, the best method is the Supercritical CO2 extraction method. It is not only safe and environmentally friendly, but the output gives the best taste and effect of the chemicals. Moreover, this method also kills all the bacteria in the buds producing liquid, oil, wax, budder, and shatter for vaporizers or E-pens. ICC is a marijuana processing & distribution industry. With the production at large here, the price of marijuana products is at the wholesale level.