I’ve been shopping for different methods of consuming cannabis at the Muskegon dispensary since their grand opening almost five years ago.
I’ve tried pre-rolls, all different varieties of edibles, beverages, tinctures and vapes.
Until just recently, I was a bit intimidated by concentrates. They look very exotic on the shelves and come in a huge selection of forms, including oils, budders, shatters, waxes, rosin, sauce, hash and kief. There are so many consistencies and flavors, and they are way more potent than dried flowers. Concentrates are made by stripping away the excess plant material and leaving behind nothing but cannabinoids and terpenes. The THC levels range from 60 to 99%. Flower typically offers around 10 to 30% THC. It requires less of a concentrate to achieve the same effect as smoking flower and the effects tend to last longer. Concentrates also don’t smell as strongly as flower. They can be smoked, vaped or dabbed. Dabbing is a bit intimidating and complex but also the best way to enjoy concentrates. The process requires a dab rig, a quartz nail or banger, a dab tool, a torch, a carb cap and around a gram of a concentrate. The dab tool is used to scoop out a small amount of a concentrate and apply it to the bottom of the banger. After capping it with the carb cab, it’s necessary to apply heat by way of the torch. Once the concentrate vaporizes, I inhale through the dab rib. The effects are super intense. For my first try at dabbing, I rented gear at the dispensary and was thankful for the dab lounge. I had the help of a knowledgeable budtender.