BHO has been around for a while. These days, it is becoming much easier to find. Maybe you’re wondering, “Should I try BHO?” Before you do, it’s important to know what BHO is and how to safely consume this THC extract.
BHO stands for butane hash oil. It is a super potent form of cannabis concentrate. It is commonly referred to as butane honey oil. This is due to its unique yellowish-gold, honey-like color.
Before we get into how BHO is made, it’s important to know that this concentrate is not something that you should try making at home. In 2014 alone, there were over 32 home explosions reported in the state of Colorado as a result of BHO extraction. This process is highly volatile and can result in serious injury and even death.
The safest way to extract Butane Hash Oil is done commercially in a closed-loop system. This process involves inserting cannabis into a tube and rinsing it with a solvent. For BHO, that solvent is butane. As the butane washes over the cannabis plant material, it takes the THC along with it. What you’re left with is a cannabis oil or wax that is very rich with THC and sopping with butane.
In order to rid the wax/oil of butane, commercial extractors apply heat and pressure to the concentrate. This is a very important step in the process. If all of the butane isn’t removed, the consumer will wind up inhaling it directly. That’s why it’s a good idea to buy your BHO from a trusted source. It is worth repeating — never try to make it in your garage or basement, unless you actually want to burn down your house.
BHO can come in several different forms, the most common being oil, wax or shatter.
Oil
When BHO is sold in oil form, it often comes already loaded into a cartridge. This is one of the easiest forms of BHO to find and vape with.
Shatter
This transparent, glassy looking substance is hard and brittle — hence the name. It requires a dabbing tool for inhalation, such as a dab rig or nail.
Wax
This might be the most common way to find BHO and the easiest to work with. It can also be inhaled via dabbing rig or nail, or smoked in a joint or bowl. It’s important to make sure you’re applying a very high temperature to it in order to avoid inhaling wax granulomas.
BHO can also come in the forms of budder, pull and snap, crumble and sap. Regardless of which form you consume, all types of BHO are incredibly potent. We’re talking 70 percent and upwards. Some forms of BHO actually contain 90 percent THC.
This is why it is important to be very careful when consuming butane hash oil. This amount of THC is not for the lighthearted. If you haven’t been consuming THC regularly, you’ll want to be even more cautious. Not only can you injure your lungs, but there have been reports that such a high level of THC can cause hallucinations and severe paranoia.
Like any other form of cannabis, BHO can be decarboxylated and used in making edibles. And just like you would for any other kind of cannabis edible, you’ll want to be aware of the potency per serving before you consume.
Decarboxylation is a method of converting and activating cannabinoids. If you don’t decarb your weed before cooking, you won’t get the full psychoactive effects of THC in your edibles. The process is simple, using the heat of your oven to activate the THC. Then, it will be ready to infuse into oil or butter and used in whatever edible you’re cooking up.
Decarbing Butane Hash Oil works the same as any other kind of cannabis plant material. As opposed to the dangerous process of making BHO, decarbing it is totally safe and won’t result in a home explosion. The key to decarbing BHO is not to overdo it, otherwise you’ll turn your THC into CBN — which may not be the result you’re looking for.
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One Response
can i follow the same steps but use budder instead of shatter or wax?