THC oil is dominating the cannabis scene and for good reason. Cannabis in its concentrated form is one of the best ways to consume cannabis. Depending on the preparation, THC oil can help you exercise better control over your cannabinoid dosage and even avoid accumulating THC in your system altogether.
However, there are many different types of THC oil, and some are better than others. It’s essential to know the various kinds of hone in on one that works for you.
Purchasing and using THC oil can be intimidating at first, but don’t worry – we’re here to help! Today, we’ll go over what THC oil is, how you can use it and everything else you need to know to enjoy it responsibly!
What is THC Oil?
THC oil, also known as cannabis oil, is one of the many forms of cannabis extracts. It comes in many varieties, including the ever-popular butane hash oil (BHO), vape oil, and topical products.
As you can see, the term is used to describe a wide variety of cannabis products. For this article, “THC oil” will refer to BHO products, except where clear distinctions are made.
Examples of BHO products include shatter, budder and wax.
Recreational cannabis users are more likely to run into BHO (typically consumed via a dab rig), vaping, and other smokable THC concentrates than other forms of THC oil. This is because these products usually contain higher levels of THC than a topical product, for example.
Plus, it’s much harder to control dosing with smokable cannabis products compared to edible or topical items. So, things like BHO and vape oil may be less desirable to medical cannabis patients.
With that being said, THC vape oil may be a better alternative for cannabis consumption than smoking from a pipe or bong. Though vapes can often produce more potent effects due to higher THC concentrations, these devices make it much easier for the user to control the dosing and intensity, given the heat controls and controlled vapour release.
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Still, inhaling smoke will always present health risks, whether you’re smoking from a vape pen, a dab rig, or a bong. Plus, experts warn that vitamin E acetate, a harmful ingredient used in low-quality THC vape oil products, can lead to “popcorn lung,” a condition that many suffered by using unsafe products.
On the other hand, you consume BHO with a dab rig, as mentioned earlier. Dabbing involves heating the concentrated THC (and other cannabis compounds) and inhaling the vapour.
Finally, THC oil can also refer to cannabis topicals. Products in this category are excellent for people needing symptomatic relief without the risk of failing a drug test.
THC lotion may soon be a mainstream solution among eczema patients, thanks to cannabinoids’ anti-inflammatory properties. Still, be careful about where you buy your “weed cream.” Some contain skin irritants that may overshadow cannabis’s natural benefits!
THC Vape Oil vs THC Oil Concentrates – What’s the Difference?
You might often hear THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) oil referred to as a “concentrate.” Most people use this label to group all cannabis-derived extracts, including vape oils and many different kinds of THC oil concentrates.
While it’s correct to call these products “concentrates,” the latter is a much broader group than the former. Vape oils are a type of THC oil concentrate. They’re often filled with distillate and packaged in cartridges.
Generally, THC oil concentrates include several kinds of products, including extracts.
These terms – “concentrates” and “extracts” are often used interchangeably. Yet, two of the most popular weed products – hash oil and hashish – should explain why they don’t mean the same thing.
Cannabis extracts and concentrates are made in two primary ways: Using solvents or mechanical means to remove a highly concentrated form of one or more cannabinoids and other compounds.
Consider this: A “concentrate” is defined by extracting cannabis compounds and increasing its potency by removing the undesirable compounds. To give you an idea of what separates the two, you’ll need to learn how they’re made.
Here are a few examples:
Hash Oil
The most common way to make hash oil is by using butane as the primary solvent (hence the name, “butane hash oil” or BHO). You take the raw cannabis plant materials and pass liquid butane through them. The THC then dissolves into the butane and is drawn out of the plant that way.
To remove the butane from the extract, the solvent is purged through heat or a vacuum. The result is an oil with extremely high levels of THC.
Hashish
Despite its similar name, this product is dramatically different from BHO and THC oil.
Although it is also a concentrate, hashish, or simply hash, is created through physical means instead of a chemical process.
Creating hashish involves agitating the plant material, often including freezing the trichomes (where the resin glands are kept), filtering them to a high-grade level, and compressing them for a highly potent product.
The end goal is the same for both of these. You get a highly concentrated form of cannabis compounds in each case, enhancing the medical, therapeutic, and recreational value by several orders of magnitude.
How Long Does THC Oil Stay in Your System?
How long THC oil stays in your system depends on the way you consume it and how often. So chronic cannabis users will retain THC in their system for far longer than people who don’t use it very often.
Generally, you can go by this rule of thumb: THC stays in your bodily fluids for at least 1-30 days after the last time you used it. However, it can remain in your hair for months after you stop consuming cannabis.
How long THC lasts is due to the dramatic differences in your body’s THC levels when you smoke weed vs dabbing or applying it topically.
For example, researchers report that BHO is so “highly enriched” in THC that its concentration is typically 15-30 times higher than dried buds. With that said, you’ll have a much harder time getting THC out of your system if you dab regularly instead of smoke or use THC lotion.
On the contrary, scientists performed blood and urine drug tests on people who had recently used THC topicals on their:
- Neck
- Arm
- Leg
- Trunk (abdomen)
Each time, the participants tested negative for THC. So, if you’re looking to keep the oil out of your system, it’s best to go with a topical product.
How to Smoke THC Oil
THC oil represents a large variety of cannabis concentrates and as such, there are multiple ways to this category of cannabis product.
Dabbing
The most popular way to consume THC oil is through dabbing. In fact, knowing how to dab is foundational to enjoying any kind of BHO or cannabis concentrate.
Dabbing involves using a dab rig, a special device designed for cannabis concentrates. Similar in appearance to a bong, the dab rig’s bowl is heated up before a tiny piece of cannabis concentrate is dropped inside and covered. The concentrate is then vaporized and the resulting smoke is inhaled.
For more information, be sure to check out our guide on how to dab!
Vape Pens
If you’re looking for a convenient and low-key way to smoke THC oil, the best way is through using a THC Oil Vape pen. Switching to a THC vape pen is dead-simple and lets you medicate anywhere and anytime you might need a THC kick!
Vape pens operate through a battery and a THC oil cartridge. The THC oil-filled cartridge is screwed on top of the battery and with the push of a button, the coils automatically vaporize the THC oil-filled within to deliver a tasty, terpene-packed hit of weed.
When deciding on a vape pen, be sure to pick one that uses ceramic vape cartridges.
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Unlike metal vape cartridges, ceramic vape cartridges don’t use glue, chemicals or metallic parts. This means that you’ll be getting a tastier and safer vaping experience compared to metallic cartridges!
Twaxxing
If you’re a fan of smoking joints and don’t want to pivot away from that, consider twaxxing your joint with THC oil! A twax joint is any joint that has been enhanced with THC oil or additional weed products.
Popular twax joints include THC oil dipped joints rolled around in kief, joints with shatter or wax coiled around the outside and joints bits of budder sprinkled inside. Twax joints allow for a fun, creative and potent way to get high. If you don’t want to spend money on a dab rig or a vape pen, give twaxxing a try!
The Best Way to Consume Weed?
THC oil is versatile, tasty and accessible. In addition to its ease of use, THC oil is also healthier and more discreet than simply smoking your cannabis.
Now that you’ve our guide to THC oil, you’re well equipped to try this magnanimous weed product for yourself. Just be sure that the THC oil products you’re getting are from a trusted brand and dispensary!
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