Over the years, shatter, a relatively new way to consume cannabis, has taken over the market and caused a massive uproar in the cannabis community. This begs the question; what is shatter? And why is everyone so obsessed with it?
Shatter is a highly concentrated form of cannabis. And it is often mistaken for other forms of cannabis concentrates in the market. These concentrates have similar color and THC levels. And this makes it easy for someone new to the concentrate industry to get overwhelmed with all the comparable options.
This guide will shed more light on shatter, its uses, and how to spot the subtle differences between the various forms of cannabis concentrates.
What is Shatter?
Shatter is an extract derived from cannabis extracted hash oil. This extraction is carried out with hydrocarbons like hexane, isopropyl, propane, and most commonly butane. It is possibly the most highly concentrated amongst all concentrates.
The name shatter comes from its physical properties. After it has been made, shatter retains a glass-like appearance and can be broken into smaller pieces.
Although shatter has gained popularity and given consumers a new way to consume weed within the last few years, it has been around for centuries. Its origins can be traced to a traditional practice of hashish production.
Hash initially arrived in Europe from the east during the 18th century, and it was first mentioned scientifically by Gmelin in 1777. It's also recorded that the Napoleonic campaigns introduced french troops to hashish in Egypt. And the first description of usefulness stems from 1830 by the esteemed pharmacist and botanist Theodor Friedrich Ludwig Nees von Esenbeck.
The historical existence of shatter has been recognized by several authors. In the late 80s, popular author, D. Gold, published the second edition of his book, titled Cannabis Alchemy: The Art of Modern Hash making, written in 1973.
The book entails full explanations on how to make hash. A year later, in 1974, Michael Starks, a medical technologist, published the second edition of his book called Marijuana Chemistry: Genetics Processing and Potency, which included full details of the hash manufacturing process. These historical details show that shatter has been well known over the years.
Different Forms of Concentrates
There are a lot of cannabis concentrates out there in the wild that weed lovers can choose from. These include; Shatter, wax, crumble, Dabs, Hash oil, and Water hash. We will talk about some of these forms of concentrates below.
Crumble is a form of concentrate created when butane is whipped with wax, creating a soft concentrate that breaks easily when touched, hence the name shatter. Wax is yellowish-brown and is known as the thickest form of cannabis concentrate. It is usually smoked using water pipes.
Next is Hash oil. Unlike crumble, Hash oil is made from CO2, not butane. This process produces an oil that can be consumed—lastly, Water hash. Water Hash is different from Hash oil- here, marijuana is mixed with cold water and ice. It is then sifted manually to eliminate its brittle trichome heads.
How Marijuana Shatter is Made
Shatter is made by cutting and soaking marijuana buds in liquid butane or similar hydrocarbons. The mixture is then extracted and heated up to remove as many hydrocarbons as possible.
After this process, the blend is left to rest, allowing it to form a thin layer of extract. The finished product resembles a honeycomb-like glass sheet. This process might seem simple, but it requires an experienced hand to determine how much hydrocarbons should be purged from the cannabis mixture.
How to Use Shatter
There are several ways to enjoy shatter. You can combine it with flowers, use a hash pipe, vaporizer, or dab rig. For the flower method, all you need to do is add little pieces of shatter in a bowl, add some flower, then mix it with your joint. This is an excellent method to use if you lack specialized gear.
You could also opt for the traditional method of consuming hash, hash pipes.
Vaping shatter is probably one of the easiest and quickest ways to use shatter. The process is quite simple. First off, you grab pieces of shatter; after this, load them up into the open space made for concentrates (You can find this when the chamber of the vape pen is open). Once you are done, prime the chamber before taking a hit, and finally, take your first inhale.
Dabbing also involves vaping shatter but with a special device known as a dab rig. It is a fun way to consume shatter, but newbies might find it overwhelming.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shatter
Is Shatter the Same as Dabs?
A quick answer to this is yes. There's a saying that goes; All Shatters can be dabbed, but not all dabs are shatters. Basically, dabbing is a common way of consuming concentrates through a Dab rig. And since various concentrates can be dabbed, it is not exclusively for shatter.
What's the Difference Between Shatter and Wax?
The basic difference between these two is texture. As its name suggests, wax is softer and more malleable than shatter. Shatter possesses a much harder texture than wax. It is glassy or comparable to caramelized sugar.
In terms of color, shatter has a purer shade of amber and is translucent. Wax is opaque and thick.
What are the Side Effects of Shatter?
Shatter possess no serious side effects when consumed moderately. Like other cannabis products, shatter can make you high. It is a concentrate, so it has exceptionally high THC levels when compared with other cannabis-infused products.
Some side effects experienced when shatter is abused are anxiety and paranoia.
Where can I get Shatter in Washington DC
You can get high-quality shatter, and other cannabis concentrates from The Garden DC. Asides from these, we gift a ton of other marijuana products such as Afghan Hashish, Moon Rock Pre-roll, Stoner Patch Dummies.
Check out The Garden DC Menu and place your order online. You can also visit our store to enjoy in-store shopping or call (202) 815-5663 for any questions. For The Garden DC hours, please check our website. Follow us on Instagram to find out more about 420-friendly and Initiative 71-compliant deliveries.
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