4/20 is celebrated far and wide to advocate and honor the cannabis plant; most of us celebrate twice daily. But 7/10 is the elusive weed holiday that is specific for the concentrated products of the plant, especially the “dabbable” kind. 

7/10, or "Dab Day," specifically honors cannabis concentrates. The term "710" spells "OIL" upside down, signifying the oil-based cannabis products that have gained immense popularity. 

The History of Cannabis Concentrates

The origins of cannabis concentrates date back thousands of years, with ancient civilizations using rudimentary extraction methods to create potent cannabis products. Traditional methods involved sieving or hand-pressing the resin from cannabis flowers, producing hashish, a concentrate still cherished today. Find more information at the Hash Museum. 

The modern era of concentrates began in the 1940s and 1950s when advancements in chemistry allowed for more sophisticated extraction techniques. This happened during the LaGuardia Committee Report of 1944, which was a study implemented by then New York Mayor LaGuardia and the New York Academy of Medicine to refute the recent 1937 Marijuana Tax Act (the extremely racist policy that was not overturned for 33 years in 1970 by Timothy Leary (which made room for Nixon’s war on drugs in the form of the current Schedule of Controlled Substances.)  

So back to early 1940, chemist Roger Adams and his University of Illinois team identified and synthesized cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN). In 1942, he was granted a patent on his method for isolating CBD and during the LaGuardia Committee Report, was the first to identify tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). 

However, it wasn't until the 1990s that concentrates gained mainstream attention with the advent of Butane Hash Oil (BHO). BHO's potency and purity revolutionized the market, leading to an explosion of interest in dabbing. Read more about the beginnings of BHO from “Honey Hash Oil.”

Types of Cannabis Concentrates

Today, the market boasts a variety of concentrates, each offering unique characteristics. To understand the various products and their names, its easier to explain the methods of cannabis extractions and their products: 

• Water is a Solventsome text
  • Water is a natural solvent. 
  • Products are favored for their purity and simplicity: bubble hash and rosin, ‘solventless’ concentrate, rosin is produced by applying heat and pressure to cannabis buds or hash
  • Method: Fresh frozen & ice water for hash; then heat & press into rosin
  • Find more information about bubble hash and traditional hash
  • Find more information about traditional hash and temple balls
    
    
• Hydrocarbon - (BHO Extractions)some textsome text
  • This method uses solvents like butane or propane (combustible) 
  • Products are quite a variety based on textures and starting bulk products: some textsome text
    • Shatter
    • Sauce
    • Sugar
    • Diamonds
    • Budder
    • HTE - high terpene extract
    • HTFSE - high terpene full spectrum extract
    • Live resins - This concentrate is made from fresh cannabis plants frozen immediately after harvest, preserving more terpenes
    • Distillate (in some products, terpenes are added back), often called “cannabis oil” in edibles, drinkables, and vapes. 

• Ethanol - (Alcohol Extractions)some textsome text
  • This method uses alcohol-based solvents (ignites, lights on fire; not combustible) 
  • Products: some textsome text
    • Crude oil that is great for medical patients needing high-concentrated whole-plant product called Full-Spectrum Oil or FSO and RSO, Rick SImpson Oil. 
    • When the crude oil is refined we have a product called Distillate which strips all the plant away except for the cannabinoids you want to keep whether thats THC, CBD, CBN, CBG, et cetera. These are then blended with other products to make tinctures, topicals, edibles, and vape carts. Flavors and aromas are usually added back in.
      
      
• CO2 Extraction some textsome text
  • Its flavorless and not full spectrum
  • Not a method favored by cannabis connoisseurs 
  • Read more about CO2 here 

With countless options available, choosing the right concentrate can be daunting. Do your research and stick to craft brands that are usually family-owned and transparent about their processes and open to questions and ready to educate. 

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How to use Concentrates: 

Be mindful of temperatures. Check out this site for temperatures and charts.

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Dabbing with a Traditional Rig with a Banger

Equipment needed:

1 Rig= glass pipe chamber (like a bong)

2 Banger & banger balls

3 Carb Cap

4 Dabber tool

5 A torch & fuel (like for creme brulee)

6 Dab Mat

7 Temperature Gauge

8 Alcohol and Mops (qtips) for cleaning

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How to use a traditional dab rig:

Step l: Pour water into water chamber.

Step 2: Heat banger with torch.30-60 seconds

Step 3: Wait for banger to cool 10-15 sec - check temp

Step 4: Add concentrate.

Step 5: Place carb cap on the nail or banger.

Step 6: Inhale.

Step 7: Clean banger

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How to use a Nectar Collector:

Equipment needed:

! Nectar Collector

2 Heat safe cap or bowl

3 A torch & fuel (like for creme brulee)

4 Dab Mat

5 Temperature Gauge

6 Alcohol wipes for cleaning

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Step 1: Add concentrate to heat-safe cap/bowl

Step 2: Heat tip of nectar collector with torch.

Step 3: Wait for collector to cool - check temp

Step 4: Place tip to concentrate

Step 5: Inhale through the top like a straw

Step 6: Clean after use when applicable

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Dabbing with an Electric Rig

Equipment needed:

Electric Rig

Carb Cap

Dabber tool

Dab Mat

Alcohol & Mops

How to use an Electric Rig:

Step 7: Add water to the rig's chamber

Step 2: Turn on rig (see rig's instructions)

Step 3: Once ready, add concentrate

Step 4: Inhale through mouthpiece

Step 5: Clean after use when applicable

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Using Concentrates with Flower

• Use concentrates as a topper to enhance hits from the bong or glass pipes

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Use concentrates when rolling to enhance joints

• Sprinkle hash on the flower before rolling

• Use gloves and roll out a rope of wax to line paper

• Make a Hash Hole

• Or this Hash Hole How To

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As the cannabis industry continues to innovate, the world of concentrates expands, offering enthusiasts new ways to enjoy this versatile plant. This 7/10, explore the rich history and diverse products of cannabis concentrates that we have to offer, and find the perfect option to elevate your experience.

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