What is a weed dab? Different forms? Benefits? Side effects?

Cannabis has been consumed for centuries and over time has typically been smoked using a joint, hand pipe or bong.

Dabbing has become increasingly popular in recent years as users seek stronger and more potent forms of cannabis.

With this increased use, the popularity of dabs has also increased, and with it, curiosity about the techniques, benefits, and potential health risks.

Here we look at what you need to know about cannabis dabs. We explore what they are, how dabbing works, and much more about the fascinating world of concentrates.

What is a weed dab?

Dabs are a very concentrated form of cannabis or weed, typically containing 60% to 99% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

They are made using solvents such as carbon dioxide or butane to extract cannabinoids from flowers and sugar leaves.

Concentrates resemble honey or butter in appearance and are either brown or golden in color.

The resulting concentrates have many different names depending on their consistency, including shatter, wax and BHO.

These concentrates are typically smoked by heating them on a hot surface (called a nail) and then inhaling the resulting vapor through a dab rig, similar to hitting a bong.

What is dabbing?

Dabbing is the term used to describe smoking dabs.

Dabbing involves heating the concentrate on a hot surface, usually a nail, and then inhaling the vaporized oil through a dab rig.

This method allows for a stronger and more immediate effect and is therefore the preferred choice for patients seeking rapid relief from their symptoms.

Different forms of dabs

Different processes can produce different forms of dabs with different textures, from oils and waxes to a hard, brittle form called “shatter.”

Different dabs can affect the user experience in different ways. The most commonly used forms of dabbing marijuana are:

1. Wax

This concentrate has a similar consistency to ear wax and is one of the most popular forms. Wax is opaque and less brittle than other forms, such as shatter.

2. Smash

Shatter is characterized by its translucent, glass-like appearance and is named for its tendency to break easily. It is often praised for its purity and high potency.

3. Budder

Budder is smoother and softer than wax, with a creamy consistency reminiscent of peanut butter. It is created by whipping the extract under heat, which incorporates air and creates a lighter, fluffier texture.

4. Streusel cake

This form is similar to budder, but has a more crumbly texture. Crumble is dried for longer than other concentrates, which allows it to retain its structure when handled.

5. Living resin

Live Resin is made from plant material that has been frozen immediately after harvest, preserving the original aromas and scents of the cannabis, creating a concentrate that is both high quality and rich in flavor.

6. Butane Hash Oil (BHO)

BHO is a potent oil made using butane as the extraction solvent. This process involves passing butane through the cannabis material to extract the active components, which are then rinsed to remove the solvent.

How are dabs made?

The trichomes used to make dabs are obtained by harvesting whole plants of the Cannabis sativa plant.

The trichomes and other materials are then removed from the plant using a solvent. This is called extraction and can be done using butane gas (most commonly used), propane, carbon dioxide (CO2), ethyl alcohol, and more.

Butane is a highly volatile gas. Using heat along with butane to extract THC can not only cause severe burns, but also potentially an explosion if handled improperly.

What are marijuana dabs made of?

One of the primary active ingredients in cannabis is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is responsible for its psychoactive effects.

THC is the ingredient responsible for the “high” that comes with marijuana use – feelings of euphoria, heightened cognition, increased sociability, sexual desire and relaxation that many users say they experience and enjoy.

Dabs also contain other compounds such as terpenes, flavonoids and other cannabinoids.

Terpenes are naturally occurring chemical compounds found in plants. They are responsible for the aromas, flavors and even colors of different types of vegetation.

Cannabis flavonoids are primarily responsible for the pigmentation of cannabis plants. They may also have a number of beneficial medicinal effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer and neuroprotective effects.

These are all concentrated in dabs, creating a product that is much more potent than dried cannabis flowers.

What are the advantages of dabbing?

The benefits of cannabis are limitless in the medical field, offering instant relief to medical marijuana users suffering from chronic pain. Some other important benefits of dabs are listed below:

1. Smoke-free and healthier

Dabs are smokeless and consuming cannabis dabs is different from smoking marijuana flowers.

Dabbing involves heating a cannabis concentrate to high temperatures to turn it into vapor.

This vapor is cleaner than the smoke from cannabis flowers and users are not exposed to the carcinogens produced by burning plant material.

2. Fast-acting effects

Some dabs can have a THC content of almost 99% – much higher than the 20% THC concentration in regular cannabis. Therefore, dabbing weed produces a much faster and stronger “high”.

In addition, the use of dabs ensures that cannabis becomes quickly available to the body's cannabinoid system.

People report using swabs to treat their symptoms or relieve chronic pain or anxiety.

Dabbing is the best method to provide quick, immediate and effective relief for some health symptoms.

3. Cannabis with full flavor

One of the greatest benefits of dabbing is its positive qualities.

You can enjoy rich cannabis terpene flavors while dabbing by controlling the temperature of the dab rig.

A great dab carries the original aroma of the plant and makes consuming dabs a multi-layered cannabis experience.

What side effects can taking a dab have?

Because dabs are much stronger than marijuana flowers, they can have far more serious negative effects on your physical and mental health.

1. Higher risk of addiction

Due to the higher THC content, short- or long-term use of dabs can lead to a significantly higher risk of marijuana addiction or dependence.

Regular dab users may find that they feel depressed and lethargic when they try to quit.

2. Higher tolerance

A higher THC concentration leads to the problem of increased tolerance.

If you have a tolerance to marijuana, it means you need to take more and more of it to achieve the desired effects.

Unfortunately, this also means that you will experience more negative side effects.

3. Health risks

In addition, the production of some oils uses chemical contaminants and solvent residues that can be considered harmful to health.

In addition, the extreme heat used to produce the fumes can cause lung damage and other respiratory illnesses.

Many people who dab also report a dry, wheezing cough, which can later lead to serious illness if their lungs become irritated or infected by bacteria.

4. Psychological side effects

Other side effects of smoking dabs include bloodshot eyes, vomiting, poor memory, tremors, blackouts, paranoia, and anxiety. In some cases, it can also lead to hallucinations, psychosis, or panic attacks.

While the physical symptoms of smoking dabs are similar to those of smoking regular cannabis, dabs are much more potent. This means that the negative effects of the drug are greatly exaggerated.

How to smoke a dab? Different types of dabbing devices

Smoking a dab is completely different from smoking a regular joint – it requires a completely different technique and equipment.

While you can sprinkle some dab into your joints, it is much more effective to smoke it with a dab rig.

Since dab smoking has become very popular in recent years, you can find all kinds of dab rigs and other devices for dab smoking.

1. Traditional Dab Rigs

Dab rigs or oil rigs are a type of water filter pipe used to vaporize wax and oil concentrates. They are usually made of glass or silicone.

Dab rigs are similar to bongs, but instead of a bowl, they use a nail onto which the dab is placed after being heated with a butane torch.

As soon as the swab is placed on the heated nail, it begins to vaporize and is inhaled.

2. Electric Dab Rigs

Electric dab rigs, or e-rigs, are portable, convenient, electronically powered dab rigs that offer powerful temperature control.

Using a battery or a wall outlet, electric dab rigs heat a heating element using electricity, allowing dabbing without flames or other tools. Extremely convenient and perfect for dabbers on the go.

Electric dab rigs even come with glass chambers with percs – for an additional layer of filtration and to really bridge the gap between traditional dab rigs and these electric hybrid dab rigs.

3. Nectar collector

A relatively niche dab rig variant, a nectar collector (dab straw or honey straw) is not as popular as the traditional dab rig, but is just as effective.

Nectar Collector are vertical and small dab rigs with a tubular design that are easy to transport and disassemble if needed.

Instead of dropping a small dab of extract into your glass dab nail, a Nectar Collector requires you to heat the tip of the device and carefully apply it to the concentrate in your glass bowl.

Nectar collectors are available in electronic and manual versions. You can use them to dab all kinds of concentrates. Some even have a water filter function.

4. Stippling pens

Unlike dab rigs, a dab pen does not require a lighter because it has an internal heating element that vaporizes the dab wax almost instantly.

Dab pens can be used for dabbing THC oil and all types of waxy dabs including shatter, budder, crumble, live resin, etc.

Many people prefer the dab pen over the dab rig because the process is faster, no burner is required, and it is much more portable and discreet.

Diploma

Dabs are a great alternative to smoking traditional cannabis flowers as they provide the most effective and fastest way to consume marijuana.

However, their high lasts a little shorter, they are more expensive and the likelihood of hallucinations is also higher.

The best part is that you can choose the type of dab: shatter, wax, oil or resin.

Make sure you use clean and tested products to avoid any contamination.

The high THC content can be overwhelming for some people, so it is recommended to start with a small amount and see how your body reacts.

In addition, a high-quality dab rig, dab straw or dab pen is recommended to enjoy the best concentrates.