Cannabis

5 Things Medical Cannabis Users Should Know About Concentrates

Medical cannabis dispensaries around the country offer patients a variety of products in many forms. Patients can purchase raw flower or vape cartridges. They can also buy edible products, capsules and tablets, gummies, tinctures, and oils. All such products are considered concentrates.

Just like any other form of concentrate, a medical cannabis concentrate contains concentrated levels of the key compounds. In some cases, you might be looking at THC concentrates up to the legal limit of that state. In other cases, it could be CBD or another cannabinoid. Even terpenes can be concentrated to offer certain effects and desired flavors.

If you are a medical cannabis patient, there are five things you should know about concentrates. These are listed below, compliments of Pure Utah, one of the more recently opened medical cannabis pharmacies in the Beehive State.

1. More Potent Products

The most important thing to know is that concentrates are more potent than raw flower. A typical raw flower offers THC potency somewhere in the range of 50% to 80%. Concentrates can easily surpass 90%. Of course, all of this is subject to state law. The point is that you will get more kick from a concentrate. Therefore, it is important that you use your medicine as directed by a medical cannabis pharmacist.

2. Names Mean Things

Concentrates come in multiple forms and delivery methods. It’s all in the name of a particular product. Unfortunately, there are a lot of names to learn and remember. You can buy rosin, resin, shatter, oil, hash, etc. Why all the different names?

A name can designate a particular concentrate’s delivery method. It can also designate how its compounds were extracted from either marijuana or hemp. You are not expected to remember all the names and what they mean. Pharmacists and medical cannabis dispensary technicians are the experts. They can discuss each product with you, telling you exactly what it contains.

3. Multiple Delivery Methods

Raw flower uses by either smoking or dry heating. When it comes to concentrates though, there are a lot more options. Capsules, tablets, and gummies can takes orally. Tinctures also can take orally, by placing a single drop under the tongue. Vaping liquids can utilize with special vaporizers that transform them into an inhalable aerosol mist.

Vaping is the preferred method if you are looking for near instant results. Other delivery methods take longer to kick in. Again, this is something to discuss with your pharmacist.

4. Flavor Profiles Vary

One of the best things about concentrates is the fact that processors can create their own formulas as long as they stay within the confines of state law. Processes refer to work with different types of terpenes in order to manipulate flavor profiles. Thus, you might end up choosing a product because you like its flavor profile compared to another product with similar THC or CBD levels.

Producers use flavor profiles to create their own branded products. Flavor profiles are one way to separate themselves from the competition.

5. There Is No Plant Matter

Finally, concentrates do not contain any plant matter. Processors extract cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds from raw biomass and then use them to create their products. The spent biomass is either discard or put to use elsewhere.

Concentrates are where it’s at in today’s medical cannabis industry. The more processors learn about extraction methods and formulations, the better they are getting at creating individualized products that meet specific needs. And when you are talking concentrates, you’re talking products about non smoking products. That makes an enormous difference to some people.

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