Guide to Cannabis Extractions: Types, Techniques and Processing Methods

Although the whole flower is the most traditional way to enjoy the effect of marijuana and cannabis CBD and, even today, the preferred one for most users, in recent years there has been a boom in everything surrounding cannabis extractions. More and more cannabis users, recreational or medicinal, are opting for the consumption of cannabis extracts, making their own home extractions, due to the purity and potency of these preparations. Discover the rich world of extracts!

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What are cannabis extractions?

Cannabis extractions are processes designed to separate the active compounds, mainly cannabinoids such as THC and CBD and terpenes, from the rest of the plant biomass. The aim is to concentrate these compounds and eliminate most of the plant matter which, in itself, has no significant effect on consumption.

During extraction, in most cases, a heating process takes place. This step is key to decarboxylation, a process in which cannabinoids in acid form (e.g. THCA or CBDA) are transformed into their active forms (THC and CBD). Decarboxylation is essential to enhance the effect of the extract, as without this process, the efficacy of the resulting compound would be significantly reduced.

Objectives of Cannabis Extractions

There are two main objectives in an extraction:

1. Concentrate cannabinoids and terpenes: This makes it possible to obtain products that can reach concentrations of up to 98% THC or 70% CBD. The high concentration of these compounds is especially relevant when looking for a potent effect or the elaboration of products with a precise dosage.
2. Purifying the extract: Depending on the method used, a single cannabinoid can be isolated, obtaining what are known as “isolates”. This process eliminates other components of the plant, leaving only the compound of interest.

The choice of extraction method depends on the desired result, the cannabinoid profile of the raw material and the resources available, both at home and in industry.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Cannabis Extractions

Advantages

• Concentration of compounds: By removing most of the plant matter, a product with a high concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes is obtained.
• Potency: Compared to whole flower consumption, concentrates provide a significantly higher dose of cannabinoids. For example, while 500 mg of 20% THC buds contain approximately 100 mg of THC (and actual smoking consumption can range from 25 to 35 mg), the same weight of 70% THC concentrate provides between 87.5 and 122.5 mg of THC.

Disadvantages

• Technical complexity: Some methods require advanced knowledge and specialized equipment, which limits their performance to industrial environments or experts.
• Caution: Especially in methods involving the use of flammable solvents (such as butane or propane), strict safety measures are essential to avoid accidents.
• Consumer safety: Performing extractions without proper equipment may result in degradation of cannabinoids (poor quality products) or the presence of residual solvents in the final product (harmful to health).
• Loss of terpenes: In some processes, heat and pressure can evaporate terpenes, which are volatile compounds and responsible for the characteristic aroma and flavor of cannabis.
• Concentration variability: The concentration of cannabinoids can vary significantly depending on the quality of the plant and the method used, making dosage control difficult.

Types of Cannabis Extractions

Extraction methods are grouped into two broad categories: mechanical extractions (without solvents) and solvent extractions. Each category encompasses a variety of techniques that can be performed both at home and industrially.

1- Mechanical Extractions (Without Solvents)

These techniques are based on physical processes to separate trichomes – glands where cannabinoids and terpenes are concentrated – without the use of chemical solvents. Among the main techniques are:

Dry Sift Hash (Pollen Dry Sift or Dry Hash)

• Description: It consists of sieving the plant matter to separate the trichomes through meshes with different micronages. Sieve hashish is another very traditional, one could say mythical, type of dry marijuana extraction used in Morocco, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The result is also colloquially called “apaleado”, because the technique consists of hitting the marijuana with a stick on a sieve, so that the resin falls, filtered, under the sieve. The smaller the mesh size, the less plant matter will fall and the purer the resulting extract will be. After sieving, the sieve itself must be removed and all the resin collected to obtain a good handful of kief. This can be done manually or with the use of tools such as Mila Jansen‘s “Pollinator”, which speed up the process.
• Advantages: It allows to obtain a “clean” product, with a minimum amount of vegetable matter, depending on the size of the mesh used. This hash is very typical to form plates of hashish.

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Ice-O-Lator (Ice-O-Lator or Water Hash) Extraction

• Description: Similar to dry screening, this technique uses ice and water to freeze and embrittle the trichomes, facilitating their separation. The process involves shaking the plant matter in a container with ice water and then filtering the mixture through screens. These ice extractions are called Ice-O-lator, Fresh Frozen or Water Hash. The low temperature helps the trichomes detach more easily from the flowers.
• Advantages: By using cold water, the degradation of compounds is minimized and a high quality extract is obtained. Specific equipment is available at Grow Shops.

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Charas

• Description: Traditional technique originating in India and Nepal, and there are villages in the valleys, such as Malana, famous for the traditional elaboration of charas. It is obtained with a method that consists of manually rubbing the fresh flowers between the hands so that the resin adheres to the skin. Subsequently, the accumulated resin is manipulated to mold it and make hashish. It is said to take about seven to eight hours to produce about 8 grams of charas of the highest quality. Charas usually has a rounded shape, like compacted pellets.
• Characteristics: This method, although rudimentary, allows to obtain a hashish with a high concentration of cannabinoids. It is an ancestral technique that is still practiced in various parts of the world.

Rosin Tech

• Description: Rosin is a method of marijuana extraction with pressure and heat, popularized a few years ago. It consists of pressing and heating the marijuana flowers, causing them to release the resin. It is made with specially manufactured pressing machines that use a lot of pressure and controlled temperature, and the result is a sublime product. You can read on some sites that you can make rosin in a homemade way with a hair iron and baking paper, although the result will be, predictably, quite mediocre and we do not recommend it.
• Characteristics: The result is an amber-colored concentrate that can vary in consistency from shatter to a syrupy or buttery texture. This method avoids the use of solvents and is valued for its safety and ease of use in home environments.

2- Solvent Extractions

Solvent methods involve the use of liquid or gaseous substances that dissolve the cannabinoids and terpenes, facilitating their separation from the rest of the biomass. These methods can provide very high concentrations, but require adequate purging to remove any toxic residues.

Cannabis Oils

• Process: An edible oil (usually olive or coconut oil) is used to extract the cannabinoids from the marijuana. The cannabis is first decarboxylated and then the flowers are infused with the oil at a controlled temperature for approximately two hours.
• Considerations: Olive oil has proven to be an effective solvent for preserving both cannabinoids and terpenes, more effective than alcohol extraction (tinctures). In home extractions, it is important to control the temperature, since an excess can favor the degradation of THC into CBN (cannabinol).

Marijuana Butter

• Process: Fat extraction method, similar to marijuana oil, only that in this case butter is used. Similar procedure. These methods are based on the capacity of fats to dissolve cannabinoids, taking advantage of their lipophilic character.
• Considerations: Same as with marijuana oil, control the time and temperature to guarantee the quality of the final product.

Dyes

• Process: It consists of submerging previously decarboxylated and crushed flowers in high alcohol (ethyl or isopropyl) for several weeks. After the maceration period, the solution is filtered to obtain the extract.
• Characteristics: It is one of the simplest and safest methods to perform extractions at home. However, the final concentration of cannabinoids may be lower compared to other methods.

BHO (Butane Hash Oil)

• Process: Butane is used as a solvent to extract the trichomes from the plant. The technique consists of injecting butane into an airtight container where the cannabis is located, allowing the gas to carry away the cannabinoids and terpenes in the form of oil. Subsequently, it is necessary to purge the butane by heat or vacuum. The extraction of cannabis BHO or hash oil is done with butane gas (hence the name “Butane Hash Oil”). BHO can be made using a variety of techniques, from more or less simple tubes and mechanisms to complex machinery, and depending on the variety used, the technique and the texture. As always, in the Grow Shops you will find special machinery for BHO extractions. There are many types of BHO: Shatter (crystalline and brittle texture), Sugar, Crumble, Wax, Cookies, Amber Glass, Moonrock or Budder.
• Advantages and Risks: BHO can reach concentrations of over 60% cannabinoids, but the use of butane, which is highly flammable, involves significant risks without experience and proper equipment.
• Variants: In addition to butane, other gases such as propane or even ethanol can be used in some techniques to obtain similar products.

Supercritical CO2 extraction

• Process: This method uses carbon dioxide (CO2) in a supercritical state, i.e. under temperature and pressure conditions where CO2 acts as both gas and liquid. Cannabinoids and terpenes are extracted without leaving residues, as the CO2 evaporates at the end of the process.
• Advantages: It is one of the safest and most effective methods. CO2 is inexpensive, non-toxic, non-flammable, and its nature allows to selectively extract the desired compounds. In addition, by heating and decarboxylating the material beforehand, the amount of Delta-9-THC or CBD can be increased by up to 5-10%.
• Technical considerations: Requires specialized equipment and technical expertise, making it more common in industrial environments.

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Broad Spectrum Organic Solvent Extractions

• Process: This technique is used to obtain liquid concentrates such as BHO (Butane Hash Oil) or PHO (Propane Hash Oil). Organic solvents such as methanol, chloroform, ethanol, isopropanol or dimethyl ether are used, which are capable of dissolving both cannabinoids and terpenes, separating them from other unwanted compounds (e.g. chlorophyll).
• Yield: E fficiency varies according to the solvent: for example, chloroform can achieve yields of 98-99% wt/wt, while ethanol is around 50-60%.
• Limitations: Extraction with these solvents requires higher volume and extended times, plus additional purification measures to remove sugars, pigments and other impurities.

Advanced Methods and Other Extraction Techniques

In addition to traditional and home methods, there are advanced techniques that offer specific and high quality results:

Microwave Extraction

• Process: It uses electromagnetic waves to heat the plant material internally and uniformly. First, the shredded cannabis is prepared and immersed in a solvent (it can be alcohol, ethanol or oil, depending on the target) and then subjected to a microwave treatment.
• Advantages: The extraction is fast and constant, as the energy is distributed homogeneously in the sample. This technique reduces heat transfer from the surface, favoring a more efficient activation of cannabinoids.
• Considerations: Power and time must be controlled to avoid excessive degradation of the desired compounds.

Other Specific Techniques

• Molecular Separation: Used in laboratory settings, these techniques allow the isolation and purification of individual cannabinoids and terpenes, obtaining what are known as isolates. Although they require advanced equipment, they are essential for the production of cannabis-based pharmaceutical products.
• Live Resin: This technique consists of freezing the cannabis immediately after harvest to preserve its terpene and cannabinoid profile. Subsequently, the extraction is performed using methods such as supercritical CO2 or organic solvents. The result is a concentrate with an aroma and flavor very close to the fresh plant.

Technical and Safety Considerations in Extraction

Cannabis Variety Selection

The choice of cannabis strain is crucial in determining the final profile of the extract. Different strains differ in cannabinoid and terpene composition, which directly influences the efficacy and taste of the concentrate. It is advisable to select strains that match the desired profile.

Precautions When Using Solvents

The use of solvents in extraction requires a series of safety measures:

• In processes such as BHO, butane and other gases are extremely flammable. It is essential to work in well-ventilated areas, use appropriate equipment and have technical knowledge to avoid accidents.
• Some solvents, such as methanol or chloroform, can leave hazardous residues in the final product. Techniques such as winterization (cooling the solution to precipitate waxes, chlorophyll and lipids) and purging by oven or vacuum pump are essential to obtain a pure and safe extract.
• During decarboxylation and other processes, it is essential to maintain adequate temperatures for the right amount of time. Excessive heat not only reduces the potency of the product by degrading cannabinoids, but can also alter its terpene profile, aroma and flavor.
• Technical knowledge is key to avoid errors that could compromise product quality or jeopardize operator safety.

Conclusion

The extraction of cannabinoids is a process that has been practiced for centuries, methods capable of transforming a plant into highly concentrated and potent products, opening a range of possibilities for its medicinal application, or its use in various industries. Currently there are specialized techniques and equipment that allow the development of increasingly sophisticated extracts. If you are thinking of making cannabis extractions at home, we recommend you to inform yourself about the method that best suits your possibilities, needs and, above all, knowledge.

More information

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