As you become more experienced with weed, it’s natural to want to branch out and experiment with different products and consumption methods. If you’re used to using a regular pipe, this could mean trying vaporizers, water pipes, or joints. You could also try a new form of marijuana in the form of edibles, THC oils, hash, wax, or shatter—a highly concentrated marijuana extract.
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What Is Shatter?
Shatter is a potent, crystallized weed extract. It is consumed by dabbing or vaping since its structure does not work well for bowls or joints. Dabbing and vaping allow the user to experience shatter’s full effect, which is a euphoric high with lower anxiety and boosted creativity. Keep in mind that experiences can still vary.
Enthusiasts have traced the history of shatter to hashish production. In the 1990s, people refined the practice of modern cannabis concentrate production, and shatter came into existence. Budderking was the first to market and sell shatter in Canada at the turn of the Millenium. It has been a popular concentrate ever since. Shatter is available for purchase in Canada from various licensed businesses and multiple forms.
What Makes Shatter Different?
Shatter is glass-like in appearance and, as its name suggests, very fragile. It is translucent and can range in color from yellow, golden, to dark brown. Color does not denote quality; however, it is merely an effect of the extraction factors.
Shatter usually doesn’t have a distinctive smell; this is because the oil’s extraction involves rigorous filtration, resulting in enhanced purity. The filtration process rids the shatter of impurities and terpenes. Terpenes are the aroma-producing chemicals that are responsible for the smells and flavors of cannabis. You may experience a slight odor or taste of terpenes upon heating shatter. Though the filtration process eliminates almost everything, trace amounts of terpenes may remain.
Shatter varies in texture from extremely brittle to taffy-like and malleable. The consistency of shatter can give clues as to the product’s cannabinoid profile. Shatter that is high in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is usually softer than a product with a higher level of tetrahydrocannabinol acid (THCA), which can be more brittle by comparison. THC is a sappy oil at room temperature, so shatter with a high THC content will be more viscous in texture. THCA, on the other hand, is solid at room temperature, which results in a fragile concentrate that easily breaks apart.
Shatter is essentially a marijuana concentrate produced by extracting cannabinoids like THC and CBD, the plant’s psychoactive chemicals. The extraction process involves running a solvent, like butane, carbon dioxide, or propane, through cured or fresh cannabis material that has been ground to pull out the cannabinoids.
The solvent goes through evaporation, and the resins left behind are collected. The process can produce an extremely potent product; for instance, regular weed can have a relatively high THC content of 20 percent, while shatter can contain a whopping 80 percent.
How To Consume Shatter
Shatter can be consumed in the form of a dab. You can choose to consume shatter with or without a dab rig. The choice is yours, but most choose to use an oil rig.
An oil rig is a glass pipe that is similar to a bong. It has a vertical chamber, mouthpiece, and an additional hole. The hole is where you insert a small glass or metal nail. When the pin turns red, you use metal dabbed to scoop some shatter and dab it onto the nail. The oil will combust immediately and produce a thick plume of smoke, which you can consume through the mouthpiece.
After each dab, you may find oil left on the nail. You can either torch the nail until the oil is gone or let the oil collect in your rig. Alternatively, you can wait a while to soak the pipe in alcohol, then boil the alcohol to leave nothing but the oil, which you can dab again.
Another option is to add shatter to a joint. However, make sure to keep oil away from the ends; that way, the flame will not interfere with the shatter. Keep in mind that you may not get the full experience of shatter if it is in a joint or a blunt. For shatter to fully activate, it requires higher temperatures than a regular lighter can provide.
Vaping shatter works in the same way as vaping flowers or other concentrates. If you vaporize shatter, it is best to use a higher temperature than for dried flowers but less than you would use for other cannabis concentrates. So you place a small amount of shatter into your vaporizer, then gently warm it up by pushing the fire button a handful of times.
Shatter Your Weed Experience
Shatter is a potent weed concentrate that you can consume on its own or with other cannabis products. Keep your shatter away from open flames to preserve the cannabinoid content, and be prepared for an intense high—especially if you are new to this cannabis concentrate. If you intend to consume shatter regularly, consider buying an oil rig for it to enhance your smoking experience.