Cannabis extract: definition and types

Cannabis extract is a concentrate produced exclusively with a chemical solvent. The terms «extract» and «concentrate» are often used interchangeably, but the distinction is important: not all concentrates are extracts, but all extracts are concentrates. Kief, bubble hash or rosin - all solvent-free products - are concentrates, not extracts in the strict sense.

What is cannabis extract?

The extraction process involves combining cannabis plant material with a chemical solvent (butane, propane, ethanol or supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2)) to dissolve cannabinoids and terpenes from the trichomes. The plant material is then separated from the cannabinoid-laden solvent, and the solvent removed by evaporation or vacuum purging. What remains is a mass of highly concentrated cannabinoids.

The most commonly used solvents are :

• Butane the most widespread, produces the BHO (Butane Hash Oil)
• Propane : produced on PHO (Propane Hash Oil), richer in terpenes than BHO
• Ethanol : produces the’EHO (Ethanol Hash Oil), the base of most dyes
• Supercritical CO2 : clean industrial method, no toxic residues

Types of cannabis extracts

Extracts are generally named according to their texture or extraction process. Here are the main extracts available on the market:

By texture

• Shatter Glassy, brittle, translucent texture. One of the purest forms of BHO.
• Wax Waxy, opaque, malleable texture. Easier to handle than shatter.
• Budder BHO: creamy texture similar to peanut butter, obtained by «whipping» the BHO at a controlled temperature.
• Crumble Dry, crumbly texture, easy to dose. Obtained by long purging at low temperature.
• Sauce and terp sauce Liquid, viscous texture, extremely rich in terpenes.

By process

• Live resin Extracted from fresh plants frozen immediately after harvesting. Exceptional terpene profile.
• Distillate Ultra-refined extract by vacuum distillation, concentrated to 90-99 % in a specific cannabinoid (THC or CBD). Free of terpenes.
• THCA Diamonds THCA: pure THCA crystals formed naturally in terp sauce during a slow, low-temperature separation process.
• Full spectrum extracts and HTFSE They faithfully reproduce the plant's complete chemical profile.
• Hashish ISO: extract produced with isopropyl alcohol or ethanol.
• Dye Cannabinoids are extracted in food alcohol. Sublingual or oral administration.

How to use cannabis extract

Most solid or semi-solid extracts (shatter, wax, budder, crumble, live resin, diamonds) are consumed by dabbing The extract is deposited on the heating surface (banger) of a dab rig and sprayed with a torch. The steam produced is then inhaled through the water pipe.

Liquid extracts (distillates, CO2 oils) are mainly used in spray cartridges. Tinctures are taken sublingually (under the tongue) or orally. Extracts can also be added to culinary preparations after decarboxylation, with the exception of distillates and RSO, which are already active.

To find out more about the full range of’extraction, consult our complete guide to cannabis extracts and concentrates.