What You Need To Know About CBD Concentrate

The popularity and use of cannabidiol (CBD) and its many products increases rapidly with each passing day. Meanwhile, manufacturers continue to research new delivery methods for the compound. All to offer maximum relief to patients within the shortest amount of time. This undertaking led to the introduction of CBD concentrates, one of the most sought-after CBD products in the market. A CBD concentrate is a high potency cannabinoid extract obtained from a hemp plant with high-CBD and low-THC content. Essentially, CBD concentrate is a product that contains very high levels of CBD, some manufacturers even offer products with 99% level of CBD.

How Is CBD Concentrate Made

There are many techniques for extracting cannabidiol into a CBD concentrate. Some of these include the use of solvents such as hexane, butane, or ethanol. Usually, they remove these solvents once the extraction process is complete. But some companies don’t fully adhere to the recommended approach and fail to remove these substances. That affects the quality and taste of the end product.

However, many renowned manufacturing companies nowadays use the supercritical CO2 extraction method. Thought to be the safest and cleanest extraction technique. It involves using highly pressurized carbon dioxide gas under very low temperatures. That helps isolate and maintain the purity and quality of the final product.

In this process, the hemp rich in CBD content goes through a drying and grounding process to prepare it for oil extraction. Inside the machine’s extractor chamber, the pressure and temperatures rise to be at or above the critical point for carbon dioxide. That turns the gas into a “supercritical” state. In this state, CO2 adopts the properties of both a gas and a solid. It expands to occupy all the enclosed space like a gas, while still maintaining its density like a liquid.

Next, the grounded hemp makes contact with the CO2 in the supercritical state, which serves as the solvent. The pressure and temperatures adjust accordingly. That will determine which substances get extracted from the hemp plant.

After the CO2 extraction process, the extract proceeds to the winterizing stage. Here, by soaking it in ethanol, it purifies to then freeze it to separate the oils and waxes.

Next, to further purify the hemp oil, the solution passes through a vacuum filter and a rotating evaporator. The machine collects the ethanol back into itself for recycling. Meanwhile, what remains inside the container is the CBD concentrate.

Depending on the company’s final goal, the concentrate becomes either shatter, wax, budder, live resin, or crumble. It all depends on the texture, heat, and pressure levels used on the hemp oil during the extraction stages.

Types of CBD Concentrates

Crystals and Isolate

Cannabidiol begins to crystallize when it attains a potency above 60%. Isolate is the purest form of CBD. It’s CBD content tends to range from 99.5% to 99.9%, and it usually comes in the form of a white powder.

Wax

Soft, just like wax, CBD wax is a dark and oily substance that is more crystallized than regular oil. The term ‘wax’ refers simply to the consistency of the product. Often used in dab pens, it usually contains other compounds, including waxes and sterols from the hemp plant.

Shatter

It’s a thin slab of CBD concentrate that resembles opaque glass. It usually has a potency above 95% and is often infused with terpenes for enhanced flavor. It has a thick honey-like texture when exposed to heat.

Live Resin

This type of concentrate comes from buds that have been flash-frozen before the extraction process. This process helps retain higher levels of terpenes and cannabinoids in the end product. It is a popular choice amongst those seeking full-spectrum CBD products due to its enhanced flavor. But thanks to the advanced process, live resin concentrates are more expensive than other CBD concentrates.

Crumble

While similar to CBD wax concentrates, CBD crumble concentrates contain more moisture and have a less sticky texture. Crumble can attain up to 99% CBD levels. Often used in dab pens, it also is a part of some edibles.

Budder

CBD budder concentrates happen by purging the extract at very high temperatures and air pressure during oil extraction. This process causes the waxy concentrate to have a fluffy texture.

Benefits of CBD Concentrate

As you might know, CBD offers its potential therapeutic benefits by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system. CBD concentrates give out an increased dosage of CBD and help provide its benefits within a shorter amount of time.

Here are some of the potential benefits of CBD:

• Addressing pain and inflammation
• Alleviating stress or anxiety
• Targeting arthritis
• Anti-oxidant properties
• Potential for appetite regulation

Why Do People Prefer CBD Concentrate?

There are numerous reasons why people who use regular CBD upgrade to using CBD concentrate, these include:

Terpenes

Terpenes are organic compounds that give many plants and herbs their distinct scent. The cannabis plant has many different types of terpenes, depending on the strain.

CBD concentrate products that contain terpenes are gaining a lot of attention. Mostly due to a belief that cannabinoids work better in the body when consumed with them.

Besides providing some unique benefits to the body and brain on their own, terpenes enhance CBD’s effectiveness when treating symptoms such as headaches, pain, and inflammation.

High Level of Purity

One of the top reasons why people prefer CBD concentrate products is their high levels of purity.

If processed correctly, the final product should be free of any residues and trace chemicals. Such a product would only contain cannabidiol and other specific cannabis compounds.

Increased Dosage

The amount of CBD content in CBD concentrates is significantly higher than that naturally found in the cannabis plant. Thus, concentrates offer a much higher dosage of CBD to you than other CBD products do.

Faster Results

The quick onset of CBD benefits is another reason for the increasing popularity of CBD concentrates. Inhaling heated CBD concentrate vapors allows you to intake higher amounts of CBD in a shorter amount of time.

CBD concentrate products are your best option if you are looking to enjoy CBD’s benefits much faster.

Potential Risks and Side Effects of CBD Concentrates

Despite the many benefits provided by CBD concentrates, you should be aware of some potential issues. It’s important to note that CBD concentrates aren’t for everyone.

Side Effects

Even though side effects are rare, there’s still a chance of developing some. You have to keep in mind that cannabidiol concentrates deliver high doses of CBD, this can lead to various side effects, including:

• Diarrhea
• Weight gain or weight loss
• Drowsiness
• Sleepiness

However, when compared to prescription drugs used to treat several ailments, CBD’s potential side effects are mild.

Also, as you can appreciate, under no circumstance should you take CBD if you are doing something that requires focus.

Therefore, do not drive, operate machinery, handle dangerous materials, or similar situations. Most recommend only taking CBD in high doses before heading to bed or when looking to relax for a while.

Risk of Impurities

People go for CBD concentrates due to the ingredients’ high purity levels. But some manufacturing companies fail to follow the proper process of oil extraction.

Thus, leaving chemicals and impurities inside the CBD concentrate. Not only do these residues affect the quality and taste of the final product, but they can also cause harm to the user.

Additionally, some also contain THC levels that exceed the legal levels for hemp products.

Risk of Failing a Drug Test

If you prefer broad-spectrum or full-spectrum CBD concentrates, you should be mindful they may contain THC traces. While these traces of THC aren’t enough to cause a “high” effect, they may appear in a drug test. Keep that in mind whenever you might need to undergo a drug test.

What to Consider When Purchasing CBD Products

Extraction Process

Choose products from companies that use the supercritical CO2 extraction, as it produces the purest results. Keep in mind that while they may be more costly, it makes a safer, more refined product without any harmful impurities.

Level of Purity

Manufacturing companies offer CBD concentrates on varying levels of purity. While 90-99% purity is the recommended range for maximum effect, some products have a purity level lower than 80%. You should keep away from those as they may have high amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids in them.

Delivery Method

In case you are looking to buy wax CBD concentrates, make sure you have a dab rig or that the product comes with it. Dab rigs allow users to regulate the amount of CBD taken. Smaller doses will help you avoid side effect and developing resistance to the compound too soon.

Legality

Before buying any CBD product, it’s crucial that you  find out where it comes from; hemp or marijuana plant. Since marijuana is still illegal in some states, so are the CBD products sourced from the marijuana plant. Manufacturers have to state where their products come from in their labels.

So there you have it, all you need to know about CBD concentrates. Hopefully, this article has helped you learn a lot about what you needed to know before buying cannabidiol concentrates. However, as always recommended, you should consult your doctor before partaking in any new medical product.