As marijuana legalization expands across the United States, so too does the popularity of cannabis concentrates—potent extracts that offer a faster onset and stronger effects than traditional flower.
With dozens of varieties lining dispensary shelves, understanding the differences between concentrate types can help consumers make informed choices. Below are 30 of the most popular marijuana concentrates, each defined by its method of extraction, appearance, and use.
Live Resin
Live resin is a terpene-rich concentrate made from fresh cannabis that is frozen immediately after harvest. This method preserves the plant’s aromatic compounds, resulting in a flavorful, full-spectrum product with a saucy, semi-viscous consistency. It’s typically consumed through dabbing or high-quality vaporizers.
Wax
Wax is a soft, opaque concentrate with a malleable texture resembling candle wax. Created using hydrocarbon extraction followed by whipping or agitation, wax retains a robust cannabinoid profile and is favored for its potency. It’s often dabbed or vaporized.
Shatter
Shatter is a glass-like extract known for its brittle, translucent appearance. Produced through hydrocarbon extraction without agitation, it maintains structural purity and high THC content. Shatter is commonly used in dabbing due to its strong effects and clean finish.
Rick Simpson Oil (RSO)
RSO is a dense, dark oil traditionally made with ethanol and intended for medical use. It’s consumed orally or applied topically rather than smoked or dabbed. Known for its full-spectrum potency, RSO is often used by patients managing chronic conditions.
Budder
Budder is a creamy concentrate that results from purging cannabis extract while whipping it into a light, buttery texture. This process helps retain a high terpene count, delivering bold flavors and smooth dabbing experiences for connoisseurs.
Hash
Hash is a time-honored concentrate made by collecting and compressing trichomes from cannabis flower. It ranges from crumbly to sticky and may be produced using dry sifting or ice water extraction. Hash can be smoked on its own or mixed with flower.
Rosin
Rosin is a solventless extract created by applying heat and pressure to cannabis flower, hash, or kief. The result is a translucent, sticky substance rich in terpenes and cannabinoids. Popular for its purity, rosin is typically dabbed or vaporized.
Diamonds
Diamonds are crystalline formations of THCA, the non-psychoactive precursor to THC. Often found suspended in terpene sauce, these extracts are prized for their potency and purity. Once heated, they convert to THC and produce powerful effects.
Crumble
Lemon Cherry Gellato crumble.
Crumble is a dry, porous concentrate that breaks apart easily and has a honeycomb appearance. Created through a similar process to wax but with extended purging, it offers high potency and easy handling, whether dabbed or sprinkled on flower.
Kief
Kief is a natural concentrate consisting of loose trichomes sifted from cannabis buds. Often collected during grinding, it can be smoked on its own, added to joints, or pressed into hash. While not as potent as other concentrates, it delivers a smooth, unprocessed experience.
THCA Isolate
THCA isolate is a crystalline or powdered extract with near-pure tetrahydrocannabinolic acid. It’s non-psychoactive until heated, making it ideal for precise dosing or incorporation into custom blends. It’s often used in medical formulations.
Terp Sauce
Terp sauce, or simply “sauce,” is a high-terpene extract known for its viscous, syrup-like consistency. Typically combined with THCA diamonds, it offers a full-spectrum experience and is celebrated for its intense aroma and flavor profile.
Distillate
Distillate is a refined oil containing almost pure THC or CBD. Created through fractional distillation, it removes most plant compounds, including flavor and aroma. It’s often used in edibles, vape cartridges, and tinctures due to its potency and versatility.
Ice Water Hash (Bubble Hash)
Ice water hash is a solventless concentrate made by agitating cannabis in ice-cold water to separate trichomes, which are then filtered and dried. It can vary in texture and is used for smoking, pressing into rosin, or dabbing when purified.
BHO (Butane Hash Oil)
BHO is an extract created using butane to strip cannabinoids and terpenes from cannabis. It can take multiple forms—including shatter, wax, or budder—depending on processing. Known for its high potency, it must be carefully purged for safety.
Crystalline
Crystalline refers to pure cannabinoid isolates, such as THCA or CBD, formed into solid, crystal-like structures. With purity exceeding 99%, crystalline is used for precise dosing, particularly in medical applications. It can be dabbed or ingested after decarboxylation.
Pull-and-Snap
Pull-and-snap is a concentrate with a pliable consistency that falls between shatter and wax. It stretches when pulled and breaks with a snap under pressure. Ideal for users seeking a stable yet manageable texture for dabbing.
Dry Sift
Dry sift is a solventless hash produced by manually separating trichomes using fine mesh screens. The resulting product resembles a golden, sandy powder that can be pressed into hash or used as-is. It’s appreciated for its simplicity and purity.
Honeycomb
Honeycomb is a variant of wax or crumble with a porous, sponge-like texture resembling its namesake. Created by controlling moisture during extraction, it offers high cannabinoid content and is ideal for dabbing or bowl topping.
Sugar Wax
Sugar wax is a semi-crystalline concentrate with a grainy texture similar to wet sugar. The consistency results from high terpene levels interacting with THC during extraction. It’s known for rich flavor and powerful effects, most commonly used via dabbing.
HTFSE (High Terpene Full Spectrum Extract)
HTFSE is a concentrate that captures a full spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes, offering a rich, flavorful profile. Extracted through hydrocarbon methods and carefully cured, HTFSE is prized for its synergy of potency and aroma. It often appears as a viscous, golden liquid and is typically dabbed for maximum effect.
CO2 Oil
CO2 oil is extracted using supercritical carbon dioxide, a cleaner and non-toxic solvent. Known for its versatility, it’s often used in vape cartridges and tinctures. Though it contains fewer terpenes than live resin or rosin, it offers consistent potency and is favored for its minimal residual solvents.
Rosin Coins
Rosin coins are disc-shaped portions of solventless rosin, pressed into a compact form for easy storage and handling. Often made from hash or flower rosin, they provide the same terpene-rich and clean composition, making them ideal for dabbing or vaporizing on the go.
THC-A Sand
THC-A sand is a finely ground, crystalline form of THCA isolate. Its ultra-small particle size allows for precision in dosing and easy mixing with other concentrates. It remains non-psychoactive until heated and is used for both medical and recreational applications requiring high purity.
Hash Rosin
Hash rosin is a top-tier solventless extract produced by pressing bubble hash with heat and pressure. It offers an ultra-clean, terpene-heavy profile and is favored by concentrate purists. Known for its smooth consistency and strong effects, hash rosin is typically dabbed.
Decarboxylated Oil
Decarboxylated oil is a fully activated cannabis extract designed for ingestion or sublingual use. The heating process converts cannabinoids like THCA into THC, allowing for psychoactive effects without additional heating. It’s commonly used in edibles, capsules, or tinctures.
Full Spectrum Oil (FSO)
Full spectrum oil contains the entire range of cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and essential plant compounds. Typically dark and viscous, FSO is often consumed orally or in capsules and is favored by medical users for its balanced, entourage-effect benefits.
Cold Cure Rosin
Cold cure rosin is a variation of rosin that has undergone a curing process at low temperatures to stabilize consistency and enhance flavor. The result is a creamy, batter-like concentrate that retains a high terpene content. It’s typically dabbed at low temperatures for optimal taste.
Charas
Charas is a traditional hand-rolled concentrate made by gently rubbing fresh cannabis flowers between the hands to collect resin. Originating in regions like India and Nepal, it’s typically smoked in pipes or chillums and is known for its earthy flavor and full-bodied effects.
Moon Rocks
Moon rocks are a potent combination of flower, concentrate, and kief. Cannabis buds are coated in oil or hash and then rolled in kief, creating a highly concentrated product. Often broken up and smoked in a pipe or bowl, moon rocks offer intense effects and are not recommended for novice users.
