Cannabis concentrates explained
Shatter, rosin, live resin, distillate: what the concentrate types are and how potent they get.
Concentrates are cannabis with most of the plant material stripped away, leaving high levels of cannabinoids and terpenes. They’re potent, often 60 to 90%+ THC, so they reward knowing what you’re buying.
The main types
- Shatter: glass-like and brittle. Stable and potent.
- Wax / budder: softer, opaque, easy to handle.
- Crumble: dry and crumbly, simple to portion.
- Live resin: made from flash-frozen fresh plants; prized for big terpene flavour.
- Rosin: pressed with heat and pressure, no solvents. A clean, popular choice.
- Sauce and diamonds: a terpene-rich “sauce” around THCA crystals. Very flavourful and very strong.
- Distillate: highly refined, very high THC, but stripped of terpenes. Common in vape carts and edibles.
- Kief: the loose trichome powder that collects in a grinder. The simplest concentrate of all.
Solvent vs solventless
- Solvent-based (shatter, wax, distillate) use substances like butane or CO₂ in production, then purge them out.
- Solventless (rosin, hash, kief) use only heat, pressure, or ice water. Many people prefer them for purity.
How you use them
Concentrates aren’t packed and smoked like flower. The common ways:
- Dabbing: vaporized on a hot surface in a dab rig, the classic method. See our dabbing guide.
- Vape carts: distillate or live resin in a prefilled cartridge, the easiest entry point.
- On top of flower: a little added to a bowl or joint for a stronger hit.
- In edibles: distillate is what most commercial edibles are dosed with.
A word on potency
Because concentrates are so strong, a tiny amount goes a long way. If you’re used to flower, start with a fraction of what you think you need. Legal ones are lab-tested, and the COA confirms the potency and that any solvents were purged. The “start low, go slow” rule matters even more here.
Sources
- Health Canada, Cannabis extracts
Frequently asked questions
How strong are cannabis concentrates?
Often 60 to 90%+ THC, far stronger than flower (usually 15 to 25%). A little goes a long way, which is why they aren't a beginner's product.
What's the difference between shatter, rosin, and live resin?
Shatter is a brittle solvent-extracted concentrate; rosin is solventless, pressed with heat; live resin is made from flash-frozen plants for more flavour.
How do you use concentrates?
Most often by dabbing (vaporizing on a hot surface in a dab rig), in prefilled vape carts, or a little added on top of flower. Distillate is also what most edibles are dosed with.
What does 'solventless' concentrate mean?
It's made with only heat, pressure, or water, like rosin or hash, without chemical solvents. Many people prefer it for purity and flavour.
Are concentrates safe to use?
Legal, lab-tested concentrates are fine to use, but they're very potent. Solventless types avoid chemical residues. Start with a tiny amount.
Know your local rules
Legal age, where to buy, and where you can use it all change by province.
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