710 and the rise of hash and dab culture in Canada
Dab culture is becoming mainstream.
The consumption of hash, also known as cannabis concentrates or dabs, used to be reserved for the most experienced connoisseurs. In order to be accepted into the dab culture, one needed extensive knowledge and a range of elaborate accessories.
Now the culture surrounding dabs – and the people who enjoy them – is evolving. There is a visible shift in consumers from shattered snobs to canna-nosy ones trying to make a pull down. The culture is changing – and it comes for the status quo.
Is the 710 the new 420?
710 is not to be confused with the popular stoner holiday 4/20, based on the code ‘420’ for the time to get high – 4:20 p.m. The advent of the dab culture has spawned a new so-called holiday – 710, they happen every day at 7:10 pm and spell the word “oil” on the head.
While July 7th, 10th or 10th is not as well known as April 20th, the holiday is an example of the increasing popularity of concentrate consumption. Not only is the advent of 710 an excuse to stoned the day, it also shows how dab culture has become mainstream.
The myth of the dab
While the old adage “start low and go slow” is always good advice, concentrate enthusiasts say the popular notion that dabbing – usually a solvent hash like BHO wax on a dab rig – is guaranteed to blow your mind, is a misunderstanding.
“I think it’s a clearer high [than smoking flower] because it’s the sophisticated form of terpenes. We get the full flavor profile without the plant material burning, ”explains Steph Martens, Phyto Extractions Marketing Director.
“You don’t burn tar or chlorophyll [the extract], and that creates a bold taste profile. The effect is not as strong or as mind-altering as a joint. “
“For some of my non-cannabis friends, it opened their eyes – and established itself in a much more normal and mainstream way. It’s pretty cool to see. ”
Phyto Extractions Marketing Director Steph Martensto
If you are new to concentrates, 710 is a good time to try a new product. The good news is you don’t have to drop hundreds or more on a dab rig to enjoy them, either.
For consumers who are used to flowers and want to broaden their horizons, rolling shatter into a joint or crumbling something into a bowl is a great way to sample a taste. Martens recommends chilling it in the refrigerator beforehand so that it crumbles easily.
The art of dab accessories
The legalization of cannabis in 2018 led to a drastically increased demand for stylish smoking accessories. Aside from the previously limited options that put function over form, the current cannabis accessories market is teeming with gold-plated grinders, bongs-cum-décor, and Instagram-ready rolling trays.
The same goes for dab accessories, a set of hot knives or a makeshift dab rig just don’t work. A growing appreciation and culture for extracts has spawned a bustling subculture of artisans creating pieces that will be displayed in a gallery alongside Chihuly.
“There’s such a cool artistic culture around dab culture,” says Martens.
Look no further than a local head shop to see notable examples of functional artwork like this prawn rig from Becky Feather, this owl from Four Winds Flameworks, or this fruit salad from Glass by Boots.
Martens cites Netflix’s Blown Away glassblower series as an example of the increased visibility of artisanal cannabis accessories.
“For some of my non-cannabis friends, it opened their eyes – and established itself in a much more normal and mainstream way. It’s pretty cool to see, ”she says.
The democratization of the dab culture
The increasing popularity of concentrates, which used to be the territory of cannabis connoisseurs, has greatly contributed to the democratization of dab culture.
While it was initially one of the more expensive (and therefore least accessible) types of products, the price of licensed offerings has dropped dramatically since the second wave cannabis products first launched in December 2019.
“The original Shatter, which came out through Fireside, was $ 89 a gram or half a gram or something ridiculous, but they’re not like that anymore. They’ve dropped dramatically, ”says Martens.
“Phyto Shatter costs a gram for $ 40 MSRP in Ontario and BC, so that’s a really decent price. If you are new to consuming – at a lower price – you wouldn’t fret if you buy this product and don’t love it the first time. “
With education comes accessibility
Education has also played a huge role in making dab culture safer and more accessible to the average weed lover – and the budget tenders are starting.
“It’s not that easy to just sell flowers. There is a larger component of education to making sure the budget tenders are comfortable [concentrates]“Says Martens.
“We have had feedback from some head offices and retail managers that they need more focused training, so we have more product knowledge videos and consumer-themed sessions.”
As concentrates begin to lose their mystique and become more mainstream, the future of dab culture could simply be to be reintroduced into cannabis culture as a whole.
It might take a while for a glass of shatter to become as ubiquitous as a glass of flowers. The cultural shift suggests that it may not be as far away as we imagined before legalization.
“Concentrates and supplies and education really worked together,” says Martens. “There is so much to learn.”
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