Dabs are highly concentrated cannabis products consisting of the plant’s purified resin. These concentrates are a refined accumulation of the compounds responsible for the plant’s effects, flavor, and aroma. Creating dabs removes the bulk of the plant material, such as fibrous stalks and leaves, resulting in a product significantly more potent than traditional cannabis flower. This concentrated nature means dabs contain very high levels of active compounds, leading to an intense user experience.
Primary Chemical Makeup: Cannabinoids and Terpenes
The chemical makeup of dabs is composed of two main classes of organic molecules: cannabinoids and terpenes. Cannabinoids, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system to produce their primary effects. THC is the most well-known cannabinoid, responsible for the psychoactive effects associated with cannabis. It is often present in concentrations up to 90% in concentrates, compared to 15-30% in flower.
The concentration process maximizes the presence of these cannabinoids, determining the product’s overall potency. CBD, a non-intoxicating cannabinoid, may also be highly concentrated depending on the source material.
Terpenes are the second major component, a diverse group of aromatic compounds that give cannabis its distinctive scent and flavor profile. Molecules like myrcene, limonene, and beta-caryophyllene are preserved in many dabs, providing scents ranging from earthy and musky to citrus and pine. Terpenes are also thought to modulate the effects of cannabinoids through the “entourage effect,” where compounds work synergistically to alter the overall experience. Since dabs are consumed by vaporization, the preservation of these volatile terpenes provides rich, nuanced flavor.
The Source Material: Cannabis Trichomes
The material extracted to create dabs originates solely from trichomes, the tiny, glandular structures on the surface of the cannabis plant. These mushroom-shaped appendages are the plant’s chemical factories and storage units. Trichomes are concentrated on the plant’s flowers and sugar leaves, where they synthesize and hold the resinous mixture of cannabinoids and terpenes.
The primary goal of extraction is to physically or chemically detach these resin glands from the bulk plant matter. Isolating the trichomes allows producers to accumulate the full spectrum of desirable compounds in a highly concentrated form. This concentrated resin is the raw starting material refined into the final dab product. The quality and maturity of the trichomes on the source plant directly influence the purity and potency of the resulting concentrate.
How Processing Influences Final Composition
The specific method used to isolate the trichome contents dictates the final composition, texture, and purity of the dab. Extraction techniques are broadly categorized into solvent-based and solventless methods. Solvent-based extraction uses chemicals like butane, propane, carbon dioxide (CO2), or ethanol to wash the desirable compounds from the plant material.
This process yields a high-potency oil that is then refined to achieve various textures, such as glass-like shatter, soft wax, or creamy budder. A key step in these methods is the purging process, which involves applying heat and vacuum to remove any residual solvent. If purging is incomplete, trace amounts of the extraction agent can remain, making laboratory testing for residual solvents necessary for consumer safety.
Conversely, solventless extraction methods, such as making rosin, use only mechanical means like heat and pressure to squeeze the resin directly from the trichomes. Other solventless techniques use ice water agitation to separate the trichomes, which are collected and dried into a hash. Because no chemical solvents are introduced, the final product avoids the risk of residual solvent contamination.
The choice of method directly influences the final composition’s purity and its physical state. Solvent-based live resin, for instance, uses fresh-frozen plant material to preserve a richer terpene profile compared to extracts from dried flower. Ultimately, a dab’s composition reflects the starting material’s chemical profile, refined by the chosen extraction and post-processing technique.