With every innovation in cannabis, consumers have to learn the lingo. Sugar wax is yet another term to add to the marijuana dictionary, and having a definition is a much different thing than having experienced it. That’s why we not only cover what makes the wax different from other cannabis concentrates, but also the different - and equally awesome - ways you can smoke sugar wax. So how do you smoke sugar wax?

We'll teach you all there is to know.

What is Sugar Wax?

For every unique texture, refinement process, or technique to extract, there is a name for it. For casual or bargain cannabis consumers that are searching out the THC molecule, these distinctions do not offer much, yet for the engaged connoisseur, it can be the difference that builds brands.  

Sugar wax is no exception.

Sugar wax has a lower viscosity than other forms of wax and offers a robust aroma and flavor. The crystalline texture helps preserve the terpenes of the strain or strains the wax is extracted from, as does the agitation process during extraction. We will get into that later.

Sugar Wax Color

Sugar Wax describes a texture and a method of refining extracted THC and other cannabinoids from the cannabis plant.

Sugar wax can range in color - though is often amber to off-white yellow. 

Sugar Wax Texture

Have you ever had a really, really old bottle of honey? The viscous honey overtime has the moisture content removed and turns into wet-looking crystalline granules.

In many cases, sugar wax is similar - wet-looking sugar-like crystals. 

How is Marijuana Sugar Wax Made? 

It’s unsurprising, really. The fact that more varieties of cannabis concentrate continue to hop into the consumer view makes sense. Cannabis concentrates are a great way for consumers to achieve desired effects with less and for producers to maximize the value of every crop. 

Sugar wax is heat purged and vacuumed during the refinement process. This allows the product to gain the crystalline structure needed to become good and ‘sugary’. By encouraging nucleation, or the creation of crystal from a solution via heat and oxygen removal, producers are left with a beautiful cannabis concentrate full of the desired effect and with terpenes preserved. 

For more information on how cannabis concentrates are made, check out this guide for dummies (not that you’re a dummy by any means).

How is Sugar Wax Different From Other Marijuana Concentrates? 

The vacuum and heat purge method used to create sugar wax most closely resembles how shatter, another cannabis concentrate, is made. The main difference is contained within the process of agitation. 

Agitation is the part of the extraction process wherein the cannabinoids and terpenes are stripped from the plant to create a concentrated version. 

Sugar wax uses substantial agitation throughout the extraction process, in combination with dialed-down temperature and lowered condensation when compared with other concentrates (thus the vacuum purge). This allows THC or CBD crystallization to happen more readily while keeping the terpene profile intact. 

RELEVANT DEALS:

• Recreational wax deals

The Two Best Ways to Smoke Cannabis Sugar Wax

Sugar wax is like all other cannabis concentrates in that they can be smoked, vaporized, or included in edibles.
The difference in textures and consistency make some concentrates better than others for certain types of consumption methods. To truly grasp an appreciation of marijuana sugar wax, where flavor and aroma are maximized, the following two methods have been tested (personally) to great success. 

Dab Your Sugar

Dabbing is the standard when it comes to most concentrates. Smoking or, more accurately, vaporizing cannabis sugar wax via dabbing is one of the best ways to ensure the flavors and effects are fully appreciable. 

Why do you ask? 

Dabbing can be done using various types of apparatus and with numerous accessories. For instance, this writer chooses a rig - the most common consumption tool for dabbing - with an e-nail. E-nails allow dabbers to choose and maintain a temperature they dab at, while the rig itself allows the act of dabbing to occur. 

These work in tandem for a single reason: the melting points of terpenes and cannabinoids present in the wax you are smoking. Yes, the “chemistry in high school” melting points.  

The melting point determines the dab flavor and can affect the effects (yes - I wrote that bit to make you reread it.) 

Given the robust presence of terpenes found in sugar wax, dabbing it with an accessory like an e-nail makes for a consistent dabbing experience. Be careful though, the experience may be too glowing for your high eyeballs to want to look at. 

ALWAYS take it slow with cannabis concentrates. 

PRO TIP: Keep your e-nail somewhere between 500 and 750 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal use. Keep this scale in mind:

• Lower temp: better flavor, higher potential for waste

• Higher temp = bigger dabs, still excellent flavor, less potential for waste

Infuse Your Flower

It could be an experienced take, but I can’t see a reason to not pump up the volume on any flower I’m consuming. That means adding wax and other cannabis concentrates to the fresh flower. 

PRO TIP: Get concentrates and strains that align or complement. 

It’s not that this is a new idea. We just find it reliably produces a better flavor than even smoking weed through fruit. People have always added hash or kief or both (aka Moonrocks) to products - though it has become a lot more commercially available as of late.

There is a question that arises, however. And particularly in an environment where a buyer can get a 1/8th of weed and a gram of sugar wax (or other concentrates) for $30 or so dollars (in Colorado [Nov. 2020] low end and $100+ on the higher end.)

Some more experienced consumers may find the stellar in-house or branded infused joints and moonrocks to be just fine, but personally, I like to turn the dial myself. 

That is where infusing your own joint comes into play - and why it is such an awesome way to appreciate the robust and somewhat granular aspects of sugar wax within some of your favorite flower. 

Other Ways to Use Sugar Wax

Sugar wax can additionally be added to edibles, though it has to go through the process of decarboxylation first. You can click on that link of the term for more info. Once activated via decarboxylation, it can basically be added to anything. 

Did we just change how you use sugar wax? Let us know. 

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Cannabis concentrates are becoming a staple to the marijuana industry. With marijuana use increasing around the country, more people are aware of “dabbing” or “dabs” With 7/10 around the corner to celebrate marijuana’s “OIL” products such as wax, shatter,  hash oil, and live resin. Whether you're a newer consumer or an old-school consumer being introduced to the term dabbing, you may have questions.

Dabs come in several different sizes, shapes, and ultimately, forms. Dabbing can reference many kinds of THC concentrates; from shatter to live resin. But today, we’re going to look at my favorite concentrate known as a wax dab.  

The Titular DAB

A dab can essentially be seen as the measurement to which people dose out their marijuana concentrates. Depending on their consistency, these marijuana concentrates are also commonly referred to as wax, shatter, live resin, etc. These kinds of concentrates are heated on a hot surface, a banger/e-nail, and then inhaled through a bong-like device known as a dab rig. The term has been used for about a decade or so. 

Dabs are made by pouring butane over marijuana. This process allows the THC to leave the marijuana plant and dissolve into the butane leaving a gummy, somewhat solid product that contains high amounts of THC.

What is This?! Wax Made From Bees?!

Wax, despite its name, is not made from beeswax. This type of marijuana gets its name from the concentrate’s texture and appearance. Varying between being relatively gooey being incredibly brittle; wax has an opaque appearance that appears throughout.

Depending on moisture, temperature, and techniques used to extract wax; the concentrate can take on many different forms in the outcome. When the wax is a gooier wax, that tends to be a budder. The other end of that breeds consistencies like crumble.

Different Types of Wax

BHO - Butane Hash Oil, extracts various cannabinoids. Extracting wax, using BHO, is a way to cultivate leftover parts on the marijuana plant remaining after trimming; like leaves or stems. This is why it's cheaper and easier to find.

BUDDER - Considered the cleanest and most wanted wax concentrate. Budder closely resembles butter you would put on toast. Budder is smooth in texture and a highly potent concentrate often hitting 90% THC potencies.  The process is a difficult one due to the process requiring strenuous whipping during the extraction process.

CO2 - solvent-free and tends to be pricey. Produced without toxins, while retaining terpene flavors. Extraction is pricey due to needing specialized equipment. But delivers in terpenes and cannabinoids.

CRUMBLE - Crumble is made from BHO. Crumble is made during the process of purging oil in a large vacuum oven. In the process, the extraction develops a soft consistency but maintains an extremely brittle consistency which can crumble when being prepared. Crumble is a favorite for vaporizers.

PHO - Propane Hash Oil, is an extraction method using propane instead of butane. Everything else is pretty much the same. Some people prefer it because it can be made into a pretty good budder (kind of creamy/buttery concentrate) with vigorous whipping. Experienced PHO makers note that, depending on the strain, it’s possible to get more terpenes and fewer residuals by using propane.

WAX -  Resembles honey which is where it gets its name. Wax concentrates have a very high content of THC and other cannabinoids (much higher than regular buds or trim runs) and need to be handled carefully. If you’re not used to vaporizing something so potent, the best advice I can give you is to start slow.

How To Dab That Concentrated Wax

Unlike smoking a bowl, you are going to need a specific set of tools. Tools that will make any wax concentrate cower in fear of you.

TOOLS:

• Dab rig - A small, bong-like smoking apparatus 

• Nectar collector - A straw-like smoking device

• Vape Pen - Concentrate vaporizer

Some consistencies of concentrate are easier to consume using all the various ways. Brittle/crunchy concentrates, like shatter, are easier to smoke when dropped onto a hot banger. It’s also worth noting that the higher the temperature you burn the nail, the much more harsh your smoke will be. When temperatures remain lower, the more flavor and cloud production.

When using a Nectar Collector, specifically designed trays/dishes are a must. These kinds of products are made out of glass, quartz, or silicone. After putting a small dab onto the container, blowtorch the tip of the collector. While heated, drag the hot nail across the wax while sucking through the mouthpiece. 

Health and Dabbing Wax

Dabbing wax is arguably one of the healthiest ways to smoke marijuana, although there haven't been too many studies quite yet. For us, it is a bit lighter on the throat and lungs (depending on how hot you prefer to dab).

Benefits of Dabbing

Cannabis enthusiasts will find some advantages to dabbing if they maintain clean and tested products. Dabbing is known for its quick onset time and lasting powerful effects on the user. For those who deal with chronic pains, use dabbing as a guaranteed way to obtain swift, effective bodily relief.

When properly made, dabs can be a product that’s much easier on the lungs than a typical cannabis flower. When smoking, burnt buds create resin which isn’t great for your lungs. Concentrates tend to destroy most unwanted resins while providing terpenes and other helpful cannabinoids into your body.

Dangers of Dabbing

Now for the bad news. Dabbing is, in fact, more dangerous than normal for the average smoker. To those unfamiliar with dabbing, heating a banger with essentially a flamethrowing lighter may appear dangerously off-putting. Though as tech moves forward, devices like an e-nail are eliminating the use of crazy torches. And trust me, I’ve burned many things (including my actual body) that I most certainly didn’t want or intend to.

Deals on Wax In Denver

The Lodge has two dispensaries locations in downtown Denver.

Current deals on WAX are:

• 8gs of White Moose WAX or SHATTER for $90

• Full Spectrum Diamonds for $15
   

Herbs 4 you is located in the Capitol Hill Area.

Current deals on WAX include:

•  16 carts for $253

Chronic Therapy has a location in Wheat Ridge and Cortez.

Current deals on WAX include: 

• 8 grams of silver tier Wax or Shatter for $120

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