Dabbing 101: The Basics

WHAT IS IT, HOW TO DO IT, AND EVERYTHING YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT IT.

You never really knew how many shades of gold you can make out of green until you have seen the cannabis concentrates section of a dispensary or a cannabis convention. Seeing and smelling well-made marijuana concentrates for the first time may make you crave sushi if you love it, as wasabi is one of the only things on this planet that resembles the texture of wax. Or, if you are like me, seeing the strange exotic dab tools covered in bright, sweet, and aromatic substances sends the mind flashing back to memories of eating with chopsticks for the first time; the blow torch may create a craving for crème Brulee, cherries jubilee, or gourmet smores.

If you are relatively new to the concentrated world, let me walk you through some essential basics of the shining gold you have discovered. Dabbing gets its name from the small blobs of concentrate that, when combined with a special rig- a dab rig- can get you wholly and thoroughly high. Dab aficionados across the country use the number “710,” which looks like the word “OIL” if you flip it upside down. This 710 symbolizes the culture of dabbing and vaping concentrated cannabis commonly extracted with high pressurized butane oil or with ice water, the same way the number 420 represents raw cannabis flower smoking culture.

Dabs are typically done as single-serving hits of cannabis concentrate that are usually no bigger than your pinky nail.

And before you say,

“I need more than that tiny dab,”

let me assure you, that is plenty. Dabs are concentrated cannabinoids, and even that tiny amount can get you well and truly messed up. It is one of the main reasons people love dabs-- their increased potency. Another primary compound is terpenes.

Terpenes are very fragile compounds that are extremely sensitive to heat. Some extraction methods allow concentrate manufacturers to create dabs with rich concentrations of terpenes that make for a much more flavorful final product.

Cannabis concentrates have opened up a world of new flavors and textures that provide cannabis with unique ways to experience far beyond what is used to form the flower. While the higher potency of dabs is a pro for some, it can also be a con for others, particularly users who have not tried concentrates before or have a low tolerance for THC.

For these users, the high cannabinoid concentration of dabs can cause negative experiences and side effects such as nausea, dizziness, and paranoia. So, start super small and then go big!

TO DAB RIGHT YOU WILL NEED THESE FIVE ESSENTIAL DAB TOOLS.

1. An "oil rig", is a water pipe designed to smoke concentrates.

2. The dabber is specialized for the task of scooping and dabbing your hash oil or wax onto the nail of your oil rig.

3. This is a small blow torch used to heat the nail for smoking your concentrates or extracts.

4. The nail fits on your oil rig and is where you "dab" your extract. They either come with a dome or are domeless.

6. Simply a container to store your cannabis extract.

You might be familiar with some of these terms, or maybe your favorite budtender has mentioned them before:

Wax is a type of BHO with a thick, sticky, waxy texture similar to crystallized honey. Shatter is a type of BHO with a clear, brittle, glassy texture that shatters easily. Budder is a type of BHO that is agitated during extraction to create a thick, creamy extract with a butter-like consistency. Live resin is a unique extract made with live cannabis buds that are flash-frozen after harvest to preserve different terpenes and cannabinoids than dried and cured buds. Rosin a solventless extract made by pressing dried flowers with a hydraulic press. Due to the lack of butane, this is probably the most preferred for those looking to keep it as clean as possible.

Pretty basic, right? It seems to be, but I was not truly satisfied with the information on the internet. I wanted to get more of a “real feel” to how this process comes to be. Specifically in Oklahoma. So, why not reach out to the makers of the best RSO in the state (IMO). Yes, RareXtracts out of Tulsa. If you have not had a chance to try their products during pop-ups or community block parties, I suggest you do!

From the makers themselves: “Rosin is available in two types “hash rosin & flower rosin.” Hash rosin is usually much more desired than a flower because flower rosin only squishes the flowers forcing resin to bleed off the buds. But hash rosin first captures the resin of the buds with ice and water, then squeezes the resin through a series of lower micron screens, further refining the rosin and raising its demand. Shatter, wax, Terp sauce, buffer, and diamonds are all achieved through the same extraction method. It is post-extraction handling that changes the structures. Shatter is not just a BHO product; it is made with light hydrocarbons. It is made using vacuum pressure to force homogenize the terpenes and cannabinoids; shatter cannot be made without a vacuum chamber. Without this vacuum assistance, they would separate.”

They also stated live resin is also a hydrocarbon extraction. It must always be made with fresh frozen whole plant material. When producing this product, the processor must go through more controlled methods to ensure no moments of thawing can occur. Essentially, live resin extraction is like a staircase you walk down where each step is colder and colder. Fresh freeze biomass, critically freezes solvent, and critically freeze equipment; only after these standards are met can you begin the extraction process.

“Terp sauce is made from live resin. First, you make your solute (extracted hash in liquid form), also referred to as mother liqueur. Then you allow your cannabinoids to fall into their crystal form via pressure, environmental, or temperature assistance. After filtering, you separated your thc-a diamonds from your Terp sauce.”

There are so many ways to enjoy concentrates, and as mentioned above, it is usually done with a dabbing rig. To a novice, low temp dabbing is an overly complicated way of consuming dabs. On the other hand, it is the only way to enjoy quality concentrates as a connoisseur. Low-temperature dabs require a carb cap, patience, and more time than a high-temp dab. However, the results are more satisfying. Flavorful terpenes and potent cannabinoids like THC vaporize at relatively low temperatures. As a result, some of those precious components are burned off immediately during a high-temperature dab. Not to mention, harmful chemicals are released at high temperatures. Hot-temperature dabs are harsher and provide some people enjoy an immediate head rush. However, the effects associated with cannabis do not seem to last as long as they would with an equally sized low-temperature dab.

Honestly, friends, the best way to experiment with dabbing- or any new marijuana endeavor for that matter- is to start small and take it slow. Dabs are concentrated cannabinoids (the minimum is usually 70% THC or CBD!), so it does not take a lot to get high.

If this is your first-time dabbing, try one hit and wait five minutes to see how your body reacts. You’ll typically feel an effect immediately, but those effects won’t reach their peak until five or ten minutes. Be patient. You do not want to overdo it on your first hit. If you do not feel anything or need more to be satisfied, hit the dab rig again and go from there.

I’d love to hear what’s your favorite. My love for rosin, I find that it produces a unique high. While every person experiences cannabis differently, I described the effects as more clear-headed, uplifting, or sedating (depending on the strain) than the high I am used to from smoking flowers. What is yours?