People have long enjoyed the therapeutic and euphoric experiences cannabis can offer. Now more than ever, recent research and evidence support the seemingly limitless beneficial effects of our favorite plant. Thus, it’s no surprise that a wide range of cannabis products have emerged, from ancient standards to modern delicacies. As cannabis pioneers are steadily creating a constant stream of wonderful cannabis products, your friends at the Dank Budz collective are here to indulge and inform.
Walk into your favorite dispensary and you’ll undoubtedly find a broad selection of most forms of cannabis products. To make things simpler for you, we’ve created a list of types of cannabis products, categorized based on how they are derived and consumed. We’ve described each of the major cannabis products in detail so that you can make your next dispensary trip smooth and satisfying. It’s all part of our primary mission—to provide some critical education to the broader cannabis community and make cannabis accessible for all.
Cannabis Flower Products
Of all the types of cannabis, cannabis flower is undoubtedly the most recognizable for most people. Flower is simply the flowering portion of the cannabis plant that has been dried and broken down into buds. Cannabis flower can be crumbled or ground and smoked in a joint, blunt, hand pipe, water pipe, or another smoking apparatus. It can also be vaporized in a dry herb vaporizer or even decarboxylated (activated) and used to create homemade cannabis edibles.
Flower contains high concentrations of vital cannabinoids like THC, CBD, and more. It also boasts high levels of terpenes, compounds responsible for producing that signature cannabis aroma and flavor. Together, these compounds interact with one another as well as the body’s cannabinoid receptors to produce the euphoric or therapeutic effects cannabis is known for. You’ll experience the effects from smoked or vaporized cannabis flower almost immediately after inhaling since cannabis compounds can enter the bloodstream directly from the lungs.
While dried, cured cannabis is the most traditional way to purchase cannabis, there are a few subtypes to be aware of.
Loose Cannabis
Loose cannabis refers to dried cannabis plants that have been further refined. In other words, loose cannabis has been cured and trimmed and is ready for consumption. It is often rolled into joints or smoked in a pipe, water pipe, or blunt. Loose cannabis is also popular for use in cannabis edible recipes.
Loose cannabis is typically available as trim and shake.
- Trim consists of leaves, sugar leaves, and often stems that are left over from the trimming process. Since it does not contain as many of the potent, trichome-containing buds as other forms of cannabis, trim is often less expensive.
- Shake contains all parts of the cannabis plant, including the flower buds, calyx, sugar leaves, and stems. Shake often consists of the bits of cannabis that have broken off dried, cured buds and can be just as potent as ground flower. However, shake is typically less expensive than cannabis buds.
Popcorn Flower
Popcorn flower refers to smaller buds that have been broken away from the larger cannabis bud. They are about the size and shape of popcorn—hence, the name. Popcorn flower is often smoked and can be broken down to roll joints or load into pipes.
Premium or A-Grade Flower
This type of flower consists only of the bright green or purple buds rich in resinous trichomes, meaning that it boasts a full slate of the cannabinoids and terpenes that give cannabis its effects. Premium or A-Grade flower is sold as large, generously-sized buds (otherwise known as nugs) that are carefully trimmed to precise standards. Cannabis brands often distinguish their most potent, flavorful, and precision-grown cultivars as premium or top-shelf flower. This type of flower is typically sold in pre-measured glass jars or bags.
Kief
Each cannabis bud is covered with millions of resinous hairs known as trichomes, which form crystals on the surface of the bud. When ground, cannabis flower releases this kief, which is then sifted through to the bottom of the grinder. While some dispensaries are now selling kief as a product, true stoners know that you can get your own kief by grinding your own cannabis and saving what is left in the aptly-named “kief catcher” under the grinder. You can sprinkle kief over a bowl or joint to add potency.
Note: kief is sometimes called a “natural cannabis concentrate,” since it is literally composed of high-potency bits that fall off the cannabis plant.
Pre-Rolls
Pre-rolls are exactly what they sound like—pre-rolled joints of loose or ground flower. Pre-rolls are rolled ahead of time using premium flower, packaged, and sold in your local dispensary. These products come in an array of cultivars depending on your region and the growers your dispensary features. A pre-roll is perfect whether you’re smoking alone or with friends, as it can be extinguished, then re-lit and smoked on a few occasions.
You can often find pre-rolls available as both packs or singles in your favorite cultivars.
- Packs typically contain anywhere from one to five pre-rolled joints. They’re often packaged conveniently in tins or plastic wrap.
- Singles can be purchased in any number from your favorite dispensary. Many people enjoy sampling singles of a few different cultivars until they find their favorite.
Cannabis Vapes
Cannabis vapes are a popular form of cannabis consumption because they are simple to use, discreet, and require no prep or cleanup. Vapes are also extremely practical because they make it simple to monitor your intake. Then, the portable vape pen can be tucked back where it came from.
Vape pens typically work as you inhale, using your draw of breath, a manual button, or both to heat a coil inside the pen, vaporizing the liquid inside for inhalation. The liquid inside vape pens, cartridges, and pods is typically an alcohol-based tincture or solvent-extracted oil high in desirable cannabinoids and terpenes. Creators often add flavors that pair well with the terpene profile to create a custom cannabis experience. The flavorful punch, convenience, and immediate effects make vapes a wonderful way to consume cannabis.
Two types of vape pens have emerged as the industry standard for consumption in this manner—disposable vape pens and reusable battery/cartridge or pod combination pens.
Reusable Vape Pens with
Cartridges or Pods
Vape cartridges (carts) or pods attach to a standard-sized battery which houses the control buttons and other features. The cartridge is disposable; the battery gets reused. Vape batteries can be extremely simple, with only an indicator light and a hit button, or extremely complex, with several controls to customize vaporization.
Disposable Vape Pens
or Travelers
This product is a one-piece vape cartridge and battery in one. It is fully disposable. Like reusable vapes, disposables (also known as travelers) come in a wide variety of concentrations, flavors, and effects and work by heating the vape liquid with a coil for inhalation. Unlike reusable vapes, when the tank is empty, you’ll simply need to toss the vape pen in the trash.
Cannabis Concentrates
Cannabis concentrates come in many forms, which we’ll describe below. No matter the form, concentrates are created when the cannabinoid-rich portions of the plant are exposed to either a solvent or heat and pressure, isolating and concentrating the most beneficial components from the plant matter. The cannabis effects achieved by consuming concentrates are typically intense and fast-acting. They are commonly sold as raw extracts, refined extracts and concentrates, prefilled cartridges, or pods that are made for simple, mess-free vaping or dabbing.
It’s important to note that sometimes, the terms extract and concentrate are used interchangeably. However, keep in mind that all extracts are concentrates but not all concentrates are extracts. Extracts are concentrate products extracted from the cannabis plant using a solvent, while concentrates are any concentrated cannabis product made using solvent-based or solventless techniques. For example, the kief mentioned earlier can be representative of a very simple concentrate, as the most potent parts of the plant are concentrated together – even though no solvents were used.
So, how are concentrates made?
As you may have guessed from the definitions of extracts and concentrates above, marijuana concentrates can be made in a variety of fashions and settings. For example, concentrates produced by high-quality, approved cannabis brands are created in a commercial environment with modern equipment. Many others can be prepared in a home setting.
Regardless of the setting, concentrates are produced in various ways, including:
- dry processing
- dry processing
- water-based processing
- combining pressure with heat
- using nonflammable carbon dioxide solvents
- using flammable solvents, including butane, propane, ether or alcohol
Learn more about the types of cannabis extracts and concentrates and how each is created. For simplicity’s sake, we’ve grouped them into solvent-based extracts and solventless cannabis concentrates.
Types of Solvent-Based Cannabis Extracts:
Solvent-based cannabis extracts made with CO2, alcohol or a hydrocarbon like butane or propane are created by “blasting” cannabis plant matter with the solvent in high pressure or heat conditions in such a way that it extracts – dissolves or strips – the resinous trichomes away from the remainder of the plant. The mixture is then “washed” or “purged” using a vacuum oven to boil off and remove any remaining solvent.
Since the concentrate is now free from solvents, manufacturers can now label it as “solvent-free” even though solvents were used in the production process. (By contrast, solventless concentrates never came into contact with any chemical solvents.)
The resulting extract can be further refined to create a number of different concentrates:
Oil
Rick Simpson Oil
Rick Simpson Oil is a unique type of cannabis oil created by exposing whole-plant cannabis material (rather than just the buds) to an alcohol solvent, then straining away the plant material. What’s left is a dark, thick, viscous oil that boasts not only cannabinoids and terpenes, but also flavonoids, chlorophyll, and other plant compounds. RSO is often taken orally or used topically.
Live Resin
Live cannabis resin is created by using a solvent-based extraction process (often alcohol or CO2) on live or fresh-frozen cannabis plants instead of the cured buds most often used to create extracts (though it is possible to create cured resin). This preserves the plant’s full terpene and flavonoid profile that is often diminished with curing and processing. The thick, sticky, sap-like extract is processed in a vacuum oven and used for vape cartridges or to make other live products.
Wax
Cannabis wax is created by agitating the extract solution during the extraction process, which semi-solidifies the cannabis oils to a wax-like consistency. It is created at relatively low heat and is easy to handle for dabbing.
Crumble
This product is a wax that is exposed to less moisture and more agitation during the extraction process. It has a drier, more crumbly texture that resembles a honeycomb and can be dabbed or added to flower.
Shatter
This product is created by pouring solvent-based cannabis extract onto a slab before purging the excess solvent in a vacuum oven. As the extract is not disturbed during this process, the resulting product is a clear, golden sheet and has a brittle consistency that shatters when handled. Shatter can be further manipulated to create other types of extracts, as well.
Badder
Cannabis badder is created by melting shatter, which is then agitated while cooling to create a runnier, cake-batter-like consistency. Budder is very similar to badder, though it is agitated until it reaches a dairy butter-like consistency.
Sugar
This product is created using a solvent to collect the beneficial cannabinoids and terpenes, then placed in a vacuum under low pressure and heat. Midsized THCA crystals collect, forming a damp, brown-sugar-like substance perfect for dabbing.
Sauce
This solvent-based extract is purged for days or even weeks at a time, creating a thick, saucy consistency. Cannabinoid-rich crystals sink to the bottom, and though they are separated before the solvent is removed, they are mixed back in to create the final sugary-saucy product.
Crystals or Diamonds
These large crystals of cannabinoids (namely, THC-A) gather in sugar or sauce and can be dabbed individually or along with the sugar or sauce. Alternatively, some people choose to crush them and sprinkle them atop dried flower.
Distillate
As you may have guessed, distillate extracts are distilled following the initial extraction process, which means the extracts are heated until they evaporate before the resulting vapor is allowed to condense into a clear, golden liquid. Distillate is extremely pure and largely flavorless because most terpenes and flavonoids have been removed, so it is sometimes used in cooking, used to create cannabis edibles, and infused into cannabis topicals. More commonly, it is used to create cannabis vape liquids.
Isolate
Isolate can be thought of as a category of distillate as it follows much the same process. After the initial extraction and distillation, isolate undergoes what’s known as fractional distillation, which removes all cannabinoids and other plant compounds but the desired ones, leaving crystals of either CBD or THC. These can be used as-is or washed with solvent and ground into a fine powder. Isolate is extremely powerful and as it features only the desired cannabinoid, can be encased in capsule form, used in topical products, taken sublingually, or even mixed into edible products.
Full Spectrum CBD
CBD extract is created in the same way as the above solvent-based extracts. While CBD isolate undergoes a process to remove all other cannabinoids from the product, full spectrum CBD oils may contain some THC – though not as much as THC-focused extracts.
Types of Solventless Cannabis Extracts:
Kief
As mentioned, kief is created when trichome heads are knocked off cannabis buds, often during the grinding process. As a concentrated cannabis product, kief can be easily sprinkled on a bowl, joint, or dab to make most any cannabis session more potent and enjoyable.
Moon Rocks
Moon rocks are a unique cannabis product designed to front-load as much THC as possible. A premium cannabis bud is soaked in hash oil, then dipped in kief, resulting in a product that often approaches 50% THC for an out-of-this-world cannabis session. Moon rocks are designed to be smoked, typically with a glass hand pipe or water pipe.
Hash
Otherwise known as hashish, hash is created by physically stripping the cannabinoid-containing trichomes from a cannabis bud and compressing them together. You can create hash by sifting ground flower through a screen (similar to kief) and compressing the resulting trichome heads with your fingers or hands, by rolling kief between your fingers, or even by rolling cured or fresh cannabis by hand.
Bubble Hash
Also known as ice water hash, bubble hash is made by adding shredded cannabis buds to ice and water, then vigorously agitating it to cause the trichomes to fall off. The resulting mixture is passed through fine screens or “bubble bags” to collect the trichomes.
Rosin
Cannabis rosin is created by exposing live or cured hash to heat, causing the resin residing in the trichomes to begin to separate from the plant. The plant matter is then pressed between specialized parchment paper, resulting in a thick, sap-like substance. While you can create rosin at home using cured flower, live rosin products created from flash-frozen or fresh flower are typically much higher in quality.
A Final Note About Solvent-Free vs. Solventless and Live vs. Cured Concentrates
Just remember – contrary to widely held belief, solvent-free extracts use a solvent (typically alcohol, carbon dioxide, or a hydrocarbon like butane) to extract the cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant matter. The solvent is then purged, leaving only the desired components. In solventless concentrates, no solvent is used at any point in the process.
It’s just as important to recognize that live cannabis concentrates like live resin, live rosin, live sugar, and live sauce are thus named because live or fresh-frozen plants were used in the production process instead of cured flower. This results in a more robust terpene profile and potentially some additional potency and other benefits. Almost any concentrate or extract can be created with either live or cured flower, but unless the product specifically states that it is live, assume the flower was cured.
Tinctures and Other Oral Products
Cannabis oral products come in a variety of forms, including tinctures, pills and capsules, sprays, and more. These products can be consumed discreetly, no matter your location. The effects of oral cannabis products can be felt anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours after consumption, depending on how they are administered. Most oral products are not only popular for their convenience and discreet nature but also because they provide long-lasting effects.
Tinctures
Tinctures can be thought of as a type of concentrated cannabis extract created by dissolving plant material in alcohol. They differ from true extracts in that tinctures always use alcohol as the solvent, and the alcohol base is typically left intact. Like capsules, tinctures are discreet and can be fast-acting. Tinctures most often come in droppers or sprays and are delivered orally or added to food or drinks.
Oral Sprays
Like tinctures, cannabis oral sprays are created by using alcohol to strip the desired cannabinoids and terpenes from cannabis plant matter. Oral sprays are easy to dose and convenient for microdosing (taking small amounts of THC or CBD regularly to hone in on their therapeutic qualities). You can find both CBD and THC sprays, or products that contain both major cannabinoids. These sprays can be sprayed under the tongue for sublingual absorption.
RSO
As noted above, Rick Simpson Oil is considered an extract that is not meant to be vaporized or smoked. Instead, RSO is typically taken straight from the dropper. This very dark, concentrated oil is very high in THC and preserves as many cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids as possible. We recommend introducing RSO slowly over five to 12 weeks because of its high potency. When consumed orally, RSO is five times more psychoactive than other oils. It can also be added to food, used as a tincture, or taken in pill form.
As noted above, Rick Simpson Oil is considered an extract that is not meant to be vaporized or smoked. Instead, RSO is typically taken straight from the dropper. This very dark, concentrated oil is very high in THC and preserves as many cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids as possible. We recommend introducing RSO slowly over five to 12 weeks because of its high potency. When consumed orally, RSO is five times more psychoactive than other oils. It can also be added to food, used as a tincture, or taken in pill form.
Cannabis Capsules
Cannabis capsules are designed to align with your own personal wellness program, as they don’t require smoking or vaping and can be taken along with other vitamins and supplements when desired. Capsules are also supremely easy to dose. Many capsule-style cannabis products are formulated specifically to create certain effects or address specific ailments and filled with cannabinoid isolate.
Inhalers
Inhalers offer a controlled dose of isolated cannabinoids, discreetly deliverable via a familiar device that many users are already familiar with: the inhaler. Medical-grade propellant delivers THC/CBD straight into the lungs. This method of delivery provides an immediate onset of effects. It also improves the bioavailability of cannabinoids and allows for controlled, metered intake.A Final Note About Oral Administration
Many forms of oral cannabis products are taken sublingually. Sublingual administration involves holding a cannabis product under the tongue, where it can be absorbed through the thin skin there and into the bloodstream. Tablets that are meant to dissolve in the mouth, liquid drops, and tinctures, for example, can all be used sublingually. The effects of sublinguals can be felt in as little as 15 minutes because they bypass the digestive system. Meanwhile, ingesting the same product can mean you need to wait 30 minutes to two hours to feel the effects.
Cannabis Edibles
A cannabis edible is any cannabis product meant to be eaten. The important thing to know about any cannabis edible (as well as other oral products that are swallowed, like pills and capsules) is that the cannabis must be digested before the cannabinoids reach the bloodstream and begin to take effect. This means edibles can take from 30 minutes to two hours to take effect, and can produce effects much longer than other products as the cannabinoids are metabolized into their derivatives. Careful dosing – starting “low and slow” – is important when consuming edibles.
Cannabis edibles come in an array of tasty products, from the widely known gummies and candies to baked goods and even drinks. Here are the most common categories of edibles.
Baked Goods
Baked goods like brownies, cookies, rice cereal treats, and more are a popular form of cannabis edible. You can make your own cannabis baked goods at home by using cannabutter or cannabis cooking oil in place of the butter or oil in your favorite recipe. Or, check out your local dispensary for a full slate of pre-packaged and precision-dosed cannabis baked goods.
Cannabis Chocolates
Cannabis chocolates can be found in many flavors, including mint chocolate, dark chocolate, and even white chocolate. These classic treats are available in a variety of forms, including wrapped chocolates, chocolate drops, and bars. Most are packaged and portioned so you can break off a precise dose of cannabis.
Cannabis Drinks
Drinks infused with a cannabis extract or concentrate via a unique “nanoemulsion process” are becoming more and more popular in dispensaries, with a whole slew of new drinks hitting the market on a frequent basis. You can find cannabis sodas, juices, seltzers, coffees, powdered and liquid drink additives, and even alcoholic and non-alcoholic beers and wines. Or, you can create your own by adding cannabis tincture, distillate, or isolate to your favorite drink.
Cannabis Gummies
Cannabis gummies have become somewhat symbolic of cannabis edibles. They are made with a variety of different types of cannabis and produce a wide range of effects. Gummies are convenient, discreet, fun, and easy to dose. You’ll find hash drops, tinned gummies, shaped gummies, and even sweet and sour varieties created from basic to top-tier cannabis strains. Keep in mind: in some states, cannabis gummies must legally be referred to as “soft chews.”
Cannabis Hard Candies
Hard candies are another popular way to consume cannabis. From mints and cinnamon drops to tablets and suckers, hard candies are simple to dose and even simpler to consume. You’ll also find a staggering variety of flavors, doses, and strains.
Cannabis Topicals
Cannabis topicals, such as lotions, creams, ointments, gels, sprays, and even personal lubricants, are cannabis-infused products that have localized effects when applied directly to the skin. They are typically non-intoxicating and used for inflammation, sore muscles, and localized pain. Topical cannabis is extremely unlikely to provide a psychoactive effect like other cannabis products.
Cannabis topicals are ideal for localized pain because cannabinoids are fat-soluble and are absorbed into the top skin layers. However, unless you are using a transdermal patch, cannabinoids do not reach the bloodstream.
Common types of topicals include the following:
Balms
Cannabis balms and salves are thick, oil-based products that can be massaged into the skin in trouble spots. Balms are often used to combat inflammation, aches and pains, and other discomfort including cracked or dry skin or insomnia. Typically, balms are created with a rich carrier balm like jojoba butter, shea butter, and soy wax.
Gels
Cannabis gels are typically a water-based product capable of providing moisture and topical relief. While there are a variety of cannabis gels, some use what’s known as nano-encapsulation technology to deliver the fat-soluble cannabinoids into the water-based environment of the bloodstream, where they can be absorbed and deliver full-body effects. Cerebral effects are less intense than with edibles or smoking, so they are great for those who are seeking whole-body, therapeutic effects like generalized pain relief.
Lotions
Cannabis lotions can be used much like balms to provide localized relief over a larger area. Lotions are a thinner product than balms, but are still rubbed into the skin to provide moisture and potential relief. Often, essential oils are also included to add an aromatic component and maximize relaxation and relief.
Patches
Transdermal cannabis products are typically available as a patch infused with cannabinoid gel. The patch is a unique plastic coated with adhesive and specially designed to stay in place for 12 hours or more. Many will remain in place during a shower or sleep, delivering a consistent dose of cannabinoids to the bloodstream transdermally.
Smoking Accessories and Other Cannabis Products
Bongs & Pipes
Both bongs and pipes share a few similar features: a bowl or receptacle of various sizes to hold ground cannabis flower as well as a stem and mouthpiece to inhale the resulting cannabis smoke with. They’re often made with glass, but can be crafted from metal, wood, stone, or silicon.
After that, however, there are many wonderful ways to construct a bong or a pipe:
- Bongs – These have a large chamber to hold water, a long stem, and a removable bowl. The smoke is cooled and moisturized by the water for a cleaner, more soothing hit.
- Bubblers – Bubblers are a much smaller, handheld version of a bong. These are often made from silicon for easy handling.
- Spoon Pipes – This type of pipe is arguably the most familiar, and is often referred to as simply a “bowl.” Their relatively short stem is seamlessly connected to a bowl of any size for a classic smoking experience.
- Sherlock – This pipe is exactly what it sounds like: a pipe that Sherlock Holmes himself would be proud to smoke. Its longer, curved, stem and larger bowl are ideal for some cannabis users.
- Steamroller – Steamroller pipes are about the same size as the classic hand pipe, but they swap the locations of the carb and bowl. This makes for a larger, more pungent hit due to the improved airflow.
- One-Hitter or Chillum – These straight pipes are usually shaped like cigars or cigarettes and are capable of holding one hit (or a very small bowl).
Dab Rigs and E Dab Tools
If you’d like to try vaporizing concentrates and extracts, you’ll need a dab rig or tool to do it. Traditional dab rigs are made of glass and look much like a regular bong – only they feature a dab nail where the bowl would normally be. You’ll need to heat this nail (usually made of metal or ceramic) to a high temperature with a butane lighter, then use a dab tool to place a dab on top. When it vaporizes, you’ll simply inhale the vapor. If this sounds like a lot of work, you can purchase electronic dab rigs or even dab pens that work much like traditional vape pens you can use with your preferred concentrates.
Vape Batteries
The term “vape battery” is a bit misleading, because when it comes to vape pens, a battery is much more than just a battery; in fact, most of what you see on a vape pen is actually the battery. The battery contains a lithium rechargeable battery, a charging port, a heat coil, threads to accept cartridges, and often power, draw, and even temperature controls. Most batteries accept any vape carts with 510 threads (which describes the vast majority of carts available), though there are specially-designed pod systems that must be used with a particular battery.
Rolling Papers
If you’d like to roll your own joints, you’ll need quality rolling papers. While all are thin and made from plant fibers, like hemp, bamboo, rice, or wood pulp, you can find a wide variety of sizes, thicknesses, and shapes. Try a flavor-infused paper, a pre-rolled cone ready for packing, or a flavor-infused cone for the best of both worlds!
Pet Products
CBD is a popular way to address pain, insomnia, anxiety and more in humans, and there are an increasing number of pet products on the market, as well. Many come in the form of CBD treats and chews for easy dosing, but you can also find CBD oils for topical or oral dosing as well. CBD is often used for calming and pain relief purposes in pets just as it is in humans. It is important to note that you should only use pet-specific CBD products made from industrial hemp, as human products may contain THC, which is toxic to pets.
Continue Your Cannabis Learning Journey
While dispensary and online menus change frequently, the above products are typically available at most reputable dispensaries. No matter how you choose to shop, make sure to choose a location with staff that is happy to answer questions from the local cannabis community. Any cannabis dispensary should be ready and willing to engage in discussion about how to choose or use any cannabis product they sell.
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Continue Your Cannabis Learning with Dank Budz
Cannabinoids are an essential component of the therapeutic and psychoactive effects most people seek when they consume cannabis. However, they are far from the only important compounds found within our favorite plant. Keep reading to learn more about cannabis science.
