CBD Hash – Everything You Need To Know About
Cannabis concentrates represent the future of medical cannabis therapeutics and recreational enjoyment. CBD hash specifically has risen in popularity recently due to its ability to offer more potent, longer-lasting health effects through an easy-to-consume product. But what exactly is CBD hash and how does it work? And is there anything you need to consider before trying it yourself?
Definition: What Exactly Is Hash?
Cannabis concentrates come in dozens of forms, but ‘hash’ refers specifically to extracts made from compressed resin glands. It tends to appear as brittle/clay-like blocks, powders or ingots that are dark yellow to brown in color. Hash originates from the wild cannabis fields of Northern South Asia and the Hindu Kush mountain range connecting Pakistan and Afghanistan, where it has been produced for centuries. However, production has spread worldwide in both modern legal and underground markets.
The resin glands (or ‘trichomes’) that hash is made from contain all the active compounds that provide medical and recreational effects. This includes both tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) along with terpenes, flavonoids, and lesser known cannabinoids. For CBD hash specifically, CBD tends to be featured prominently along with THC. Ratios vary greatly, with CBD potentially being the dominant cannabinoid by concentration depending on the strain and production process.
How Is CBD Hash Produced?
Production techniques for hash have evolved greatly over history, but the fundamentals remain the same. Whether through traditional hand-processed methods or modern solvent extraction, the goal is separating and concentrating the trichome resin heads away from the leftover plant material. Common approaches include:
- Mechanical separation – physically agitating plant material over mesh screens/sifting surfaces then collecting fallen trichomes
- Ice water extraction – blending plant material in ice water then filtering w/ micron screens that catch trichomes
- Ethanol/solvent washes – washing plants in solvents like ethanol, then evaporating the solvent and collecting resins
After extraction, the resins go through a curing/drying process then get pressed into blocks using heat and pressure. The final products are then generally graded based on color, texture, and visible purity into categories like star ratings seen in other cannabis products:
- 1-Star Hash – Lower potency/purity
- 3-Star Hash – Good quality for casual consumers
- 5-Star Hash – Highest premium grade with visible resin purity
CBD Hash vs. Regular Hashish – What’s the Difference?
With increasing varieties of cannabis concentrates flooding modern markets, what distinguishes CBD hash from traditional hashish? They may appear similar, but there are a few key ways they differ:
Cannabinoid Profiles
The most prominent difference lies in the ratio of key cannabinoids THC and CBD.
Regular hash averages around 15-25% THC content dried weight, sometimes reaching as high as 60% in high grade versions. CBD meanwhile usually remains below 5%, sometimes entirely non-detectable.
CBD hash flips this dynamic. Quality versions will contain significant percentages of CBD matching or exceeding THC – as high as a 1:1 ratio. This amplifies therapeutic effects from CBD while balancing the “high” felt from THC.
Strains and Effects
Traditional hash arises mainly from landrace indica strains in regions like Central Asia, North Africa and the Middle East. Effects tend towards the sedating side.
Meanwhile, CBD hash frequently comes from hybridized strains with sativa lineage and high CBD genetics purposefully cultivated to feature cannabidiol more prominently. This provides more stimulating and functional effects.
Benefits and Effects of Consuming CBD Hash
Now that we understand the basics of what CBD hash is, what benefits does this concentrated form provide? And what are the primary effects users report when smoking or ingesting it?
Benefits of CBD Hash:
Medical Applications
First and foremost, CBD hash offers incredible promise for treating a wide range of medical conditions and enhancing health due to its high concentrations of cannabinoids and terpenes. Reported medical uses include:
- Potent pain relief equivalent to opioids
- Reducing inflammation from injuries, arthritis, and gastrointestinal issues
- Easing symptoms of stress, anxiety, PTSD and depression
- Protecting brain function and reducing seizures
- Stimulating appetite and reducing nausea
- Slowing spread of cancers and tumor growth
- Improving sleep quality
Recreational Effects
In recreational settings, users tout CBD hash for:
- Providing a more enjoyable, functional “high” via higher CBD ratios that synergize with and balance effects of THC
- Lower risk of paranoia/anxiety or “freaking out” sometimes felt with high THC cannabis strains
- Longer lasting effects compared to traditional cannabis flower – around 2 to 6 hours generally
- Ability to mix small amounts with flower in joints/bowls without becoming overwhelmed
In other words, CBD hash provides both medical patients and recreational consumers a more potent experience from smaller amounts of product.
Risks and Side Effects
However, there are also increased risks that come with the incredible potency of CBD hash. These include:
- Potential for addiction and withdrawal symptoms from consistent use due to high THC doses
- Increased paranoia, anxiety, dizziness in susceptible individuals if they overconsume
- Rapid tolerance building over time requiring higher doses to achieve effects
- Potential for psychedelic-like symptoms like hallucinations or distorted sense of time, space or identity during intoxication
Proper precautions like starting with small doses, having CBD handy to counteract THC effects, and avoiding use altogether if at higher risk for addiction or mental health issues should be exercised.
How To Consume CBD Hash
Now that we have covered both benefits and risks, how should you actually consume CBD hash if you choose to experience it yourself? There are three primary methods:
Smoking CBD Hash
Traditionally, hash has been mixed with plant material then smoked. This remains the fastest method with nearly instant effects, but risks from combustion exist. Here are some tips:
- Take a small piece of hash (1-2 grains of rice sized) and gently mix in with dried cannabis flower or tobacco
- Use moderate temperatures in pipes, joints or bongs – too hot will destroy terpenes
- Corner bowls when lighting to avoid sucking liquefied hash through with the first hit
- Consider using hemp wick over butane lighters for improved flavor
Vaping
Vaporizing CBD hash avoids the issues of overheating and byproduct chemicals seen in combustion while retaining fast effects. Methods include:
- Placing hash pieces into herbal vaporizers alongside ground flower
- Mixing hash oil into viscous vape pen liquids marketed as “terp sauces” or “diamonds”
- Adding a few drops of hash oil on top of dried flower in conduction vaporizers like the Pax
Start with rice grain sized amounts then gradually increase to avoid overconsumption through this ultra-efficient dosing method.
Ingesting
To receive longer lasting effects, you can infuse CBD hash into butter/oils then ingest it:
- Fold gram amounts into room temperature butter or coconut oil in a mason jar then agitate periodically for 60-90+ minutes
- Strain out plant material then store infused oil/butter in fridge for future use
- Very small doses can then be included in all types of baked edibles, candies and beverages
Note ingestion leads to much less predictable effects and dosing compared to inhalation methods. Be extremely conservative working up from 1-2 mg maximum initially and waiting 2 hours before considering another dose.
Legality and Buying CBD Hash in the US
No guide would be complete without covering the fuzzy legal status of cannabinoid concentrates like CBD hash. Unfortunately, laws remain highly complicated:
At the federal level, hashish remains a Schedule 1 illegal substance, meaning it cannot be purchased or transported across state lines legally under any circumstances.
Meanwhile, 24 U.S. states plus Washington D.C. have legalized recreational cannabis allowing purchase from licensed dispensaries to adults 21 and over. An additional 38 states permit medical use with doctor’s recommendation. In these locations, certified CBD hash is legal just like other cannabis products. Possession limits range from 1 ounce to several pounds of allowed product depending on location.
However, in some U.S. states, there are still unconstitutional prohibitions on the possession, sale, or transportation of hash or cannabis concentrates. Penalties for marijuana possession vary significantly across the United States, depending on the state and the amount possessed. In Minnesota, as of August 1, 2023, adults 21 and over can legally possess up to 2 ounces of cannabis flower in public and up to 2 pounds in private residences. Possession of more than these limits can lead to criminal charges. In Mississippi, the penalties for marijuana possession can be less severe, but specifics depend on the amount and circumstances. On the other hand, states like Georgia and Wisconsin have stricter laws, where possessing large quantities of marijuana can result in felony trafficking charges, especially for amounts significantly exceeding personal use thresholds. These examples illustrate the diverse legal landscape for marijuana possession in the United States, where penalties can range from minor fines to serious felonies.
Before attempting to purchase, make your own or transport CBD hash, it is critical to research state laws carefully as well as any local county/city ordinances that may differ from statewide policy. Violating state laws comes with real legal risks depending on location.
Additionally, CBD hash looks identical to illicit forms of hash or cannabis extracts to law enforcement. Carrying any amount could result in lengthy detention, civil asset forfeiture, or criminal prosecution even if purchased legally.
For consumers living in states without established medical or recreational legal cannabis systems, alternative CBD products made from legal hemp plants may provide therapeutic benefits without the same legal risks as CBD hash derived from traditional marijuana. However effects from hemp extracts are less consistent and potent compared to hash and marijuana concentrates.
The Future of CBD Hash and Cannabis Extracts
While the current legal status of hash and high quality cannabis concentrates remains extremely frustrating, progress continues toward wider acceptance and accessibility every election cycle. A generational shift in public attitudes toward recreational and medical cannabis, combined with state policy innovations, provide reason to remain optimistic that full federal legalization in America draws nearer each year.
Until that day arrives for hash and marijuana extracts, exercise all proper precautions based on your local laws and the undeserved risks that prohibition places on consumers. Avoid black market sources, transactions and production whenever possible.
