What Are Cannabis Dabs: The Complete Guide to Concentrates

Cannabis dabs are highly concentrated marijuana extracts, 3-4 times stronger than regular cannabis. They’re made by extracting THC, CBD, and terpenes (active compounds) from the plant, removing the leafy parts. This process produces an oil, resin-like substance known as “dabs”.

How strong are dabs?

Dabs are 3-4 stronger than cannabis flower, with THC levels of 60-90% compared to flower’s 10-25%. However, research from Dr. Brain Tracey at Colorado State University showed that even with higher THC, dabs impact coordination about the same as flower, hinting there may be a limit to THC’s effects.

How do dabs work?

Dabbing works by placing a small amount of concentrate on a very hot surface, which changes the concentrate oils into a vapor full of THC and CBD to be inhaled. Unlike smoking, which burns a plant with fire to produce smoke, dabbing avoids direct flame and smoke entirely.

Dabbing vs vaping cannabis: Dabbing uses a hot surface to vaporize concentrates like a frying pan (conduction) while vaping heats cannabis with hot air like an oven (convection). Both methods avoid smoke and produce vapors. 

Learn why dab vapor is healthier than smoke.

Devices compatible with dabs

Dabs can only be used by the following devices:

• Dab rigs: Uses a butane torch to heat dabs in a quartz bucket.
• Electric dab rigs: Electrically heats an atomizer that holds the dabs.
• Nectar collector: Uses a butane torch to heat tip, tip vaporizes dabs.
• Dab pen: Heats dabs electrically in a portable pen device.
• Learn: every type of vaporizer

Bong users: You can also convert your bong into a dab rig, by swapping out the bong’s bowlwith a quartz banger.

Why are there so many dabs?

Dabs come in many shapes and textures (over 12 to be exact). After extraction, producers use different techniques to change the oil’s structure and shape. Some are hard like candy, others are soft like butter. 

These different types of consistencies make it easier for people to use dabs in ways that work best for them, for example:

 

1. Solid dabs (easier to handle)

Solid concentrates are firm and dry, not sticky or runny, making them easier to handle with a dab rig or electric dab rig. You can break off a small piece (shatter) or scoop a bit (budder), which helps beginners control dosing and avoid using too much. 

• Shatter:Looks like thin, hard candy. Easy to snap apart.
• Crumble: Driest concentrate, falls apart. Easy to sprinkle.
• Wax:Soft and bendable. Easy to scoop.
• Budder: Creamy, butter-like consistency. Easy to scoop

2. Sticky dabs (preserve flavor)

Sticky concentrates have a gooey, taffy-like texture. This stickiness comes from preserving more of the plant's natural oils and terpenes, which are easily lost when exposed to heat or air. The sticky texture helps protect these delicate compounds. 

• Live resin: Saucy with small crystals. More terpenes.
• Rosin: Sap-like consistency. No chemicals.
• Sugar: Wet, crystal texture. More moisture.

3. Liquid dabs (vapes and oral)

Liquid concentrates have an oil-like flow, created by thoroughly processing cannabis extract to completely remove plant matter and waxes. This liquid form makes precise measuring much easier for vape pens, edible infusions, and sublingual (taken under the tongue).

• Oil: Thick and golden. Easily fills vape cartridges.
• Distillate: Thin and clear. Highly refined for maximum potency.
• Tincture: Liquid extract in a dropper bottle. Designed for under-the-tongue use.

4. Powdery dabs (sprinkle)

Powdery concentrates look like fine sand or dust. They come from collecting or extracting the tiny crystal structures called trichomes from the cannabis plant. They're easy to sprinkle onto regular cannabis to boost its strength. 

• Kief: Powdery texture. Sprinkle on cannabis
• Hash:Compressed kief, varies from soft to hard
• Bubble hash: Soft, sand-like texture. Made using ice water extraction.
• Dry sift:Fine powder, like flour. Created by sifting dried cannabis.

Every type of cannabis dabs:

Shatter: Longer shelf life

Shatter is a solid cannabis concentrate that looks like amber glass. It’s made by extracting THC oils with butane, and then heating and cooling them slowly to make a flat and dense structure. This dense structure locks in potency, protecting it from air and light, which gives it a longer shelf life than other softer dabs.

• Strength:Shatter is tightly packed THC delivers intense effects
• Freshness: Dense molecules protect THC degradation from light and air.
• Easy: Shatter lets you break off small pieces, making it simple to portion out.

Live Resin: Fresh plant flavor

Live resin is a cannabis concentrate created by flash-freezing freshly harvested plants and then extracting the THC oils without drying or curing. This preserves the plant’s natural terpene profile, giving live resin the most authentic flavor and aroma that’s as close to the plant's original essence as possible.

• Synergy:Flash-freezing holds terpenes and cannabinoids together the way the strain was intended.
• Vibrancy: Retained terpenes make flavors bold, bringing a fresh, true-to-plant taste
• Precision: Soft texture allows for easy, controlled dosing with each dab​

Wax: Efficient and versatile

Cannabis wax is a strong concentrate whipped during production, forming countless air bubbles that hold onto more terpenes. The tiny air bubbles also create more pathways for heat to travel, exposing more of the concentrate to heat at once, delivering potent vapor with zero waste.

• Handling: Its soft texture makes scooping and precise dosing simple.
• Versatility: Wax works well for dabbing, vaping, or topping bowls.
• Flavor: Whipping preserves more terpenes, adding extra flavor and aroma to each hit.

Crumble: Dry and fast

Crumble is a dry cannabis concentrate with low moisture, made by purging extract at low heat over time. This drying process leaves it crumbly and easy to break apart. The lack of moisture lets heat reach the cannabinoids faster and tiny air pockets help heat spread evenly, so you get fast and powerful vapors.

• Dry: Dry texture heats evenly and much faster for better vapor and flavor.
• Sprinkle: Sprinkle easily into joints or bowls for extra kick.
• Storage: Drier consistency prevents sticking and is easier to store.

Rosin: Pure and natural

Rosin is a solvent-free cannabis concentrate created by applying only heat and pressure to cannabis flowers (no chemicals). This process leaves no chemical residues, preserving the plant’s natural cannabinoids and terpenes for a raw experience that’s as close to the original plant as possible.

• Purity: No solvents mean no chemicals, just the plant's true profile.
• Flavor: Full-spectrum taste that captures the plant’s original flavors.
• Simple: Smooth, clean dabs without additives or residue.

Bubble hash: Cold pressed purity

Bubble hash is a grainy, sand-like concentrate made by mixing cannabis with ice-cold water to separate THC-rich trichomes. This cold process avoids heat, which can damage delicate flavors and compounds, preserving the plant’s full effects and natural taste. It’s versatile for sprinkling on bowls, mixing in joints, or pressing for dabs.

• Full Effects: Cold water keeps THC and flavor compounds intact.
• Clean: Filters out plant bits, leaving only pure trichomes.
• Natural Flavor: Maintains the plant’s original taste for a smoother hit.

Budder: Creamy, full-bodied hits

Budder is a cannabis concentrate known for its butter-like consistency, made by agitating the extract during the purging process. This whipping introduces air pockets, creating a creamy texture that traps more terpenes. The aerated buttery texture lets the concentrates melt quicker and evenly on a heated surface for a complete experience.

• Flavorful: Creamy texture preserves terpenes for a richer taste.
• Easy Handling: Soft consistency makes scooping and dosing effortless.
• Smooth Hits: Evenly melts for a consistent and enjoyable experience.

Diamonds: Pure potency

Diamonds are solid, crystal-like formations of THCA, made by slowly crystallizing cannabis extract in a terpene-rich solution. This slow process filters out impurities, resulting in pure, potent crystals that transform into THC when heated, delivering one of the strongest effects compared to all concentrates

• Maximum Strength: High THCA content delivers powerful effects.
• Purity: Crystallization filters out impurities for a clean dab.
• Customizable: Often paired with terpene sauce for tailored flavor.

Sauce:Flavor indulgence

Sauce is a thick, terpene-rich cannabis concentrate, with a whopping 40% terpenes, far more than the typical 5-10% in other concentrates. During production, cannabinoids and terpenes are separated and recombined, giving precise control over their ratios. This makes Sauce one of the most aromatic and flavorful extracts.

• Bold Flavor: High terpene levels provide a robust taste.
• Entourage effect: Combines cannabinoids and terpenes for enhanced effects.
• Versatile texture: Sticky consistency ideal for mixing or dabbing.

Sugar Wax:Balanced texture and potency

Sugar wax is created by controlling the nucleation of cannabinoids during extraction, resulting in a granulated, sugar-like texture. This form traps terpenes within the crystalline structure, offering a balance of strong effects and rich flavor, while the grainy consistency makes it easy to handle and dose.

• Enhanced Flavor: Retains terpenes for a flavorful dab.
• User-Friendly: Granular texture simplifies portioning.
• Efficient Melting: Small crystals heat evenly for consistent vapor.

Distillate: Pure and versatile extract

Distillate is a refined cannabis concentrate produced through molecular distillation, isolating specific cannabinoids like THC or CBD. This process removes all impurities, resulting in a nearly flavorless, odorless oil with high potency, making it a versatile ingredient for various consumption methods.

• High Potency: Concentrated cannabinoids offer strong effects.
• Versatile Use: Ideal for vaping, edibles, or adding to other products.
• Neutral Flavor: Flavorless profile allows for customization.

Rick Simpson Oil (RSO): Full-spectrum healing

Rick Simpson Oil is a full-spectrum cannabis extract made using a solvent to capture all cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant. Developed for medicinal purposes, RSO aims to provide the therapeutic benefits of the entire plant, making it popular among those seeking natural remedies.

• Therapeutic Benefits: Full-spectrum extract for maximum healing potential.
• Versatile Application: Can be ingested or applied topically.
• Potent: High concentration of cannabinoids for effective relief.

Hash Oil:Classic potency booster

Hash oil is a liquid cannabis concentrate extracted using solvents to dissolve cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant material. The resulting oil is potent and can vary in consistency, offering a traditional method for those seeking to enhance the effects of their cannabis consumption.

• Strong Effects: High THC content delivers intense experiences.
• Flexible Use: Suitable for vaping, dabbing, or infusing edibles.
• Flavorful: Retains strain-specific terpenes for authentic taste.

Crystalline: Isolated purity

Crystalline concentrates are pure cannabinoid crystals, such as CBD or THCA, achieved through advanced isolation techniques. By removing all other compounds, crystalline offers the purest form of a single cannabinoid, allowing users to experience its effects without interference from other components.

• Isolated Effects: Pure cannabinoid provides specific benefits.
• Versatility: Can be added to foods, dabs, or used sublingually.
• No Flavor: Tasteless form ideal for those sensitive to terpenes.

Live rosin: Solventless freshness

Live rosin is made by applying heat and pressure to freshly frozen cannabis buds, without the use of solvents. This method preserves the plant's full terpene and cannabinoid profile, resulting in a concentrate that offers a pure, flavorful experience true to the living plant.

• Fresh Flavor: Captures the essence of fresh cannabis.
• Pure Process: Solventless extraction means no residual chemicals.
• Full Spectrum: Maintains all cannabinoids and terpenes for enhanced effects.

Risk of dabs

 

• Building tolerance: Your body gets used to high-THC dabs over time, forcing you to use more and more to feel the same effects. This quick tolerance buildup can push you toward dangerous amounts as you chase the same high you felt when first starting out.
• Mental side effects: Because dabs hit your system so fast and hard, they can trigger sudden anxiety attacks or paranoia. The intensity of concentrates can make you feel overwhelmed, scared, or lose touch with reality temporarily.
• Breathing issues: When you heat dabs to very high temps, it creates strong vapors that can hurt your lungs. While not as harsh as smoking regular weed, doing lots of dabs regularly can irritate your airways and cause long-term breathing problems that might not show up right away.
• Hidden dangers: Low-quality dabs might contain leftover chemicals, pesticides, or other harmful substances that can damage your health. Many users don't realize the importance of getting dabs from trusted sellers who properly test their products for safety.
• Brain effects: The super-strong THC in dabs can mess with your short-term memory and make it hard to think clearly. People with existing mental health challenges face even greater risks of confusion or cognitive problems.
• Getting hooked: Using these powerful concentrates regularly can make your body physically dependent on them. Once hooked, many users find it extremely difficult to cut back or quit, even when they start noticing negative effects on their life.

TL;DR

Cannabis dabs are highly concentrated extracts, a significant evolution in cannabis culture. These concentrates contain 60-90% THC (compared to flower's 15-25%) and come in various forms, each offering unique benefits. For example: shatter provides long shelf life due to its glass-like stability, live resin captures fresh plant flavors through flash-freezing, and rosin offers pure, solventless extraction.

The variety of extract consistencies cater to different types of users: solid dabs like shatter are easier to handle and portion, sticky concentrates like live resin preserve more natural compounds, and liquid forms work well in vape pens. This diversity allows you to choose based on their preferences for potency, flavor, and ease of use. Because of their high potency, dabs are generally better suited for experienced cannabis users who understand their tolerance levels.