The spirit of adventure is present in all avid weed smokers. From the time you smoked your first joint, then your first bong rip, cannabis consumers are always willing to try something new.
By now you’ve probably heard of marijuana concentrates. Going by different names and forms, such as wax, butane hash oil (BHO), shatter, live resin, etc., these are extracts that tout an almost pure form of cannabinoids, such as THC or CBD.
But for this article, we’ll shift our focus to the most beautiful of them all, the shatter. Shatter has an almost hypnotic look to it. Clear as glass and brittle as a snowflake, it’s also one of the most potent of concentrates.
Often above 80% THC, smoking shatter is like walking on thin ice. You can either walk successfully across and have the greatest feeling of exhilaration ever. Or the ice shatters, and you fall into the deep, cold water below.
Figuring out how to smoke shatter takes a while before everything gels together. Read on to learn the most popular ways to smoke this wonderful product.
What Is Shatter?
Cannabis concentrates vary in consistency and texture. But whatever form they take, the extraction process is mostly the same.
A solvent runs through the cannabis buds to extract and concentrate the active ingredients. The solvents used are usually butane (BHO), CO2, and propane. When the solvent is evaporated, you’re left with a very potent oil.
The physical characteristics of the oil depend on different factors such as heat, moisture, and terpene content. The nicknames of marijuana extracts are based on their appearance when the oil cools down.
For example, wax refers to opaque extracts but they can also be called ‘budder’ if they’re gooey like butter or honeycomb if the texture is harder. Most attribute the opacity to the agitation of molecules from shaking or whipping during the production process.
Shatter has flawless transparency and amber color. When hot and fresh out the oven, it looks like clear, pure honey. As it cools off, it becomes solid like an amber stained glass window.
It’s also fragile as glass and shatters if dropped or tapped, hence the name.
Do the Dab
No, this isn’t the dance that was popularized by Cam Newton two years ago. And for the love of god, don’t do the dance today, it’s just embarrassing.
For many, the dab is their first foray into the world of herb concentrates. This is the traditional and most popular way of smoking extracts.
The three basic parts of a dab rig are the oil rig, a blowtorch, and a dab tool or the dabber. The oil rig is a glass contraption similar to a bong, with a mouthpiece and a nail (the bowl-piece of a bong). The nail is heated with a blow torch to about 550 to 750 °F.
You scoop up a small piece of shatter with your dab tool and dab it onto the nail. When the concentrate hits the nail, flash vaporization will turn it into smoke.
First-time dabbers will find the whole setup intimidating. The use of a blow torch seems like a dangerous way to enjoy ganja, especially in a room full of high people. Necessity is the mother of invention though, so you’ll find some torchless dab rigs today. These are equipped with electronic nails or enails with precise temperature control.
Tips on How to Smoke Shatter with a Dab Rig
As this method will likely be your first experience with shatter, here are some pointers to get you on a good trip and to minimize the bad.
1. Don’t Pretend to Be Tough. When you see that tiny speck of shatter on the dabber tip, you may be wondering if that small size will have any effect at all. Trust us, that’s plenty enough for a beginner. Don’t ask for more, thinking you can tough out a bigger amount, or you’ll be in for a rude awakening.
Even if you’re a seasoned weed smoker, that initial hit from the dab will feel like the first time you got high.
This will overwhelm you if you’re not careful. Start with the smallest dose and then work your way up. Let the magic happen slowly.
2. Keep Water Nearby. Cannabis enthusiasts need to stay hydrated as a general rule. But it’s important to have water within reach when taking dab hits for other reasons.
The nails are heated to extreme temperatures. The vapors released will cause your throat to burn like the fires from hell.
Coughing is a given, especially for rookies, but you don’t have to cough non-stop. Take a sip of water to soothe your throat and to calm your coughing.
3. Keep Friends Close. Even when taking small hits, you’ll still be pretty high. And if you consume too much, well, you know what happens next. Either you get too agitated or you’re catatonic on the couch.
It’s important to be surrounded with friends during your first time. Whatever reactions you get from dabbing, it’s good to know that there are people who’ll take care of you. It also helps to be in a relaxing environment and to pick a day where you can just chill.
Vape It
With the rising popularity of vape pens and ecigs, you shouldn’t be surprised that this tech can also be applied to shatter. But make sure that your device is compatible with concentrates.
Smoking shatter in a vape pen is simple enough even for beginners. Just drop a piece of shatter into the bowl, press a button, and enjoy the sweet, sweet smoke.
With the ease of use and the advantage of portability, some have switched from dab to vape pens. The technology is still being improved but you can expect that this method will gain some ground against dabbing.
Mix It with Buds and Smoke It
This is the easiest for beginners. Mix a small amount with your herbs and smoke it in a joint, a bong, or any of your preferred methods of smoking cannabis.
We don’t recommend this though because other than the increased high you get, you’ll be missing the whole deal with smoking extracts. Some seasoned vets consider this a waste of product.
An Earth-Shattering Experience
There are different ways of how to smoke shatter but one thing they have in common is the intense high you get. If you’re a first-timer, it’s important to start slow. Add gradually to your load so you can enjoy this unique experience.
Shatter the barriers of marijuana culture by learning more about this amazing plant. Visit our site for more articles.