The modern age of marijuana has a different look to it. It has taken many different sizes, shapes, and forms in how you can enjoy the medicinal plant. THC can be extracted from the plant in its purest form. Sugar Wax THC is one of the most popular ways to enjoy marijuana concentrates. 

Learning about all the different types of concentrates at once can be a bit overwhelming, so in this article, we’ll focus solely on a type of concentrate called sugar wax. 

What exactly is it? Let’s dive in. Here are the basics of what sugar wax is, how sugar wax is made, and where to buy sugar wax.

What is Sugar Wax?

As “dabbing” becomes increasingly popular, manufacturers of concentrates continue to develop different types of dabs. The many varieties of concentrates can be confusing and a bit overwhelming if you're new to dabbing. 

A few types of concentrates:

• Shatter

• Live Resin

• Rosin

• Ear wax

• Ice wax

• Butter – just to name a few. 

Generally speaking though, a dab is a dab, which is a concentrated marijuana extract. The many types of concentrates or dabs are all very similar really, and the differences are mainly (for the most part) superficial. Different classifications of concentrates are primarily based on how the concentrate is extracted and on the consistency and texture of the end product. 

As for sugar wax, it’s a more solid way of extracting THC into concentrates. Much like shatter, sugar wax is refined using heat purging and vacuuming, which gives it a more solid, ‘sugary’ texture. This allows the THC and/or CBD to crystallize while keeping the terpene profile(s) intact. The THC extraction into sugar wax concentrate is very similar to how sugar is extracted from sugarcane, which gives it its name and resemblance.

How is Sugar Wax Made?

Here comes the “sciencey” part of our blog – sugar wax can develop naturally over time as the lipids in the wax begin to break down and separate from the cannabinoids, which causes the wax to crystallize. It can also result from condensation or other contaminants which get mixed in with the wax, or if the wax is overly agitated during production. 

Sugar wax can be the result of an accident or intention. Since many dabbers prefer the flavor and texture of sugar wax, some concentrate manufacturers intentionally produce it. Other times, what you see in the stores as sugar wax is of the accidental variety, resulting from a mistake in manufacturing or from an aging product. 

The quality of the sugar wax depends mainly on the potency of the marijuana from which it’s made, and not so much on how it's made, although a fresher wax is obviously preferable.

How is Sugar Wax Different?

Sugar wax is a marijuana concentrate with a full flavor and a slightly grainy texture. It replicates the look and feel of sugar, being cube-like in shape and being made up of tiny, glistening crystals. It's a little less messy than some of the other types of concentrates as it's a bit thicker and not quite as sticky. 

Many people prefer sugar wax for its richer, more complex flavor profile. Others will argue that sugar wax dabs are the best, as they’re easier to work with than other concentrates when it comes to using a dab tool. It also doesn’t take as much sugar wax THC to dab with – you can save the amount of concentrate you smoke by dabbing with sugar wax.

How Do You Smoke Sugar Wax?

Since sugar wax is a concentrate, you will want to smoke it, either through dabbing or vaporizing it or using it as a topper for any flower bowl or bong. While we don’t recommend the latter, sometimes it’s easier to carry around a glass pipe than it is a dab rig, unless you have a dab needle or something more portable.

Sugar Wax Weed

Don’t have a dab rig or perhaps you’re afraid of them for how high you get when using one? Then topping off your ground-up flower with some sugar wax is ideal – and cost-effective, as sugar wax and other concentrates cost less for the same amount of weed than flower usually would. This is one of the best ways to save money as a stoner. The other great thing about using sugar wax on your flower is that, since it’s not as viscous as other concentrates, it’s not going to make your piece so sticky. 

Sugar Wax Dabs

This is the most popular way to smoke sugar wax, is through “dabbing” or vaporizing. With an e-nail or coil pen that you can drop concentrate into, or a dab rig, which you can heat up and then drop concentrate into, sugar wax THC can be quite powerful, potent, and efficient. Less is more here, but it’s easy to just grab a few crystals at a time. You know the technique you use to tell the difference between salt in your cabinet and sugar? The same applies to when you’re dabbing sugar wax.

Where to Buy Sugar Wax

If you're a med customer wondering where to buy sugar wax, check out the dispensary deals this week at RiverRock South. They have grams of sugar wax from 710 Labs for just $20 each with the coupon from CannaSaver. For a good dispensary deal on sugar wax for recreational customers, head to the Stone Dispensary with this Cannasaver $17 sugar wax coupon.

Sugar Wax First-Timer

If you're curious about sugar wax, visit a local dispensary and ask them to show you the different concentrates that are available. Many weed stores in Denver have dispensary deals that let you mix and match with different types of concentrates, so you can test out some sugar wax in addition to your usual concentrate of choice and see for yourself how it compares. 

You can also find daily specials, too, like the 10% off Wax Wednesday deal at Whole Meds. Just take a quick look at CannaSaver to find the best deals on sugar wax near you.

 

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Marijuana is a wonder plant. Yes, it’s great for smoking. But it can be used in a variety of other ways – from concentrates to edibles.

Somewhere along the line, some genius created cannabis tinctures.

What is A Cannabis Tincture?

A tincture is a medication made by dissolving cannabis in alcohol. Alcohol is used as a solvent to extract the cannabinoids – like THC and CBD – to create an alcohol-based cannabis product.

Tinctures are similar to marijuana oils in that the cannabinoids and terpenes are extracted to make the end product stronger. Where it differs, though, is in the final product.

Marijuana and hash oils don’t contain any alcohol – in tinctures, it’s one of the main ingredients.

Tinctures are often found in small, dropper-capped bottles for easy dosing. Typically the tincture will be taken sublingually, or under the tongue. Tinctures contain all of the terpenes, cannabinoids, and trichomes that give weed its trademark psychoactive effects.

Tinctures have a long shelf life given their alcohol content and storage process. Combined with the ease of consumption, tinctures used to be a primary way to use marijuana.

 Because of the ease of making and ingesting, tinctures are now being considered as a good entry point for new marijuana users.

The History of Cannabis Tinctures

The use of tinctures is not a new development. The science behind it isn’t new technology either. A tincture itself doesn’t need to contain cannabis, just alcohol. The use of tinctures can date all the way back to the ancient Egyptians.

Up until the marijuana prohibition of the 1930s, cannabis tinctures were available even in American pharmacies. They were the main form of cannabis medicine up to that point. It earned the nickname ‘the moonshine of marijuana’ for its use of alcohol. Cannabis tinctures were even found in the United States Pharmacopeia.

 Tinctures were easy to make and safe to digest, so they were popular until outlawed. Now, with marijuana legalization happening across the US, tinctures have made a comeback.

How Tinctures Are Made

The process of making a cannabis tincture is quite simple when compared to other products such as rosin or moon rocks. 

Alcohol is a solvent – a substance which other materials dissolve in to make a solution. In this case:

·         Alcohol = solvent

·         Marijuana = other materials

·         Cannabis tincture = solution

Almost any part of the plant that contains cannabinoids are terpenes can be used to make a cannabis tincture. Some products use kief, others use trim. Naturally, the strength of the marijuana that goes in affects the strength of the tincture that comes out.

Alcohol content also has an effect on the end product. High-proof alcohol will extract more cannabinoids and terpenes than a low-proof one.

Types of Cannabis Tinctures

For the most part, cannabis tinctures are consumed sublingually, or under the tongue. Since the tinctures typically come with a dropper similar to eye drops, the process is quick and easy. While underneath the tongue, the tincture is dissolved and ingested through osmosis. The cannabinoids are then absorbed through osmosis directly into the bloodstream.

This process generally doesn’t take that long for one to feel the effects – somewhere between fifteen and forty-five minutes. If swallowed instead, the process can take up to about two hours.

Tinctures can also be orally ingested, but the results vary greatly from sublingual consumption. Think of oral ingestion like taking an edible – the effects take a long time, the dosage is hard to perfect, and you may take too much before you realize it.

You can also take tinctures topically, like a lotion. The cannabinoids are absorbed through the skin through osmosis. Topically taking a tincture is good for general pain relief, such as a bruise. The cannabis tincture can also be mixed with cannabis lotion for a stronger effect.

Though there are other ways to consume tinctures, sublingually remains the most popular. 

The Benefits of Cannabis Tinctures

Tinctures are certainly among the most uncommon ways to consume marijuana. In fact, they’re probably behind everything else.

But that doesn’t mean tinctures are worthless. Many cannabis enthusiasts think that tinctures are the most underrated way to use marijuana.

If you’re on the fence about trying tinctures, consider these benefits:

·         Ease of Consumption: No smoking, no eating, just a drop or two under the tongue. Boom, you’re done. Smoking is fun, but it can harm the lungs. Edibles are great, but they take longer to set in. Tinctures are as easy as they come.

·         Potency: Tinctures can also be pretty strong. Because of the way they’re created, cannabis tinctures are packed to the brim with cannabinoids and terpenes.

·         Dosage Control: A huge and often overlooked benefit of tinctures. There’s no better way to control exactly how much marijuana you’re ingesting. With tinctures, you can measure that down to the milliliter.

·         Discretion: There’s no worrying about getting caught taking a tincture – the process is over and done with in seconds.

·         Shelf-Life: Tinctures will last significantly longer than flower or other marijuana products.

·         Health Considerations: Tinctures have fewer calories than edibles. You also don’t need to inhale smoke and harm the lungs to take a tincture.

THC vs CBD Tinctures

Obviously, what you put into the tincture is what you get out of it. A tincture made from marijuana with a high THC content will act differently than one made with a high CBD content.

THC tinctures will get you high. THC is the cannabinoid that gives weed its trademark psychoactive effects. They offer the same benefits as CBD tinctures, but they also produce a high.

CBD tinctures are usually derived from hemp, not marijuana. These products have all the positive effects of THC tinctures – minus the high. A CBD tincture is used specifically for medicinal purposes. 

How To Make a Cannabis Tincture

Yes, you can make cannabis tinctures at home – and it’s easier than you think.

You’ll need high-proof alcohol, cannabis flower, a mason jar, and some coffee filters. Keep in mind this process takes time – so if you’re in a hurry, grab some from your dispensary.

First, you’ll need to decarboxylate the marijuana. This simply means heating it up so the THCA turns into THC. If you skip this step, the tincture won’t produce a very strong high.

 After decarboxylation, combine the flower and alcohol in the mason jar. Once closed, give it a good shake.

After that, store for about three weeks, making sure to shake it once a day. Once the time is up, strain the liquid through a coffee filter to catch the loose cannabis.

And that’s that. You’ve just made a cannabis tincture at home.

Congrats! 

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