A Brief Dabs History: From Where Did Cannabis Extracts Come From?

Dabs, or cannabis extracts, have long been everywhere in the cannabis industry. Today, a huge variety of cannabis concentrates exist. They differ in appearance and texture. To mention a few, there are sauce, crumble, shatter, and living resin. What was it about this potent cannabis strain that seemed to draw so many buyers in?

The History of Cannabis

The old ways of preparing hashish were by pressing the resin of cannabis plants. The history of dabs begins here. All parts of this wonder plant are covered with tiny, oil-producing glands called trichomes. These include the stems, buds, and leaves. A few of the many useful substances in these trichomes include vitamins and terpenes. Ancient Chinese, Indian, and Persian peoples used hashish for ceremonies and healing.

History of Cannabis Concentrates

In the 18th century, hashish arrived in Europe. After that, pharmacists began using it more in medicinal remedies. By the late 1700s, local apothecaries were the top sellers of hashish-based medicines in Europe and the U.S. They had replaced national chains. After prohibition, cannabis concentrates fell out of favor. They did not become popular again until the 1940s.

During WWII, the U.S. intelligence community also made an effort to harness the power of cannabis extracts. Declassified documents revealed that the U.S. Office of Strategic Services ran tests on a serum containing THC acetate. It was a biological interrogation test. George White mixed hash oil with tobacco. He then gave the cigarettes to the unwitting criminal population. It was a highly controversial practice. Even in the 1950s and 1960s, testing continued under the now-infamous MK Ultra program. Its policies were immoral.

Butane hash oil, or BHO for short, first appeared in American retail in the 1970s. The Brotherhood of Eternal Love was a Kabul-based drug gang. It produced BHO. All this ended before its facility was set to explode. Supply suddenly became available for a short period of time due to this. Hash oil used to contain up to 10% to 30% THC in the old days.

With the growing popularity and publicity came a lot of detailed press about the making of cannabis concentrate. D. Gold's book reveals honey oil's composition: activated charcoal and pure alcohol. Michael Starks's 1977 book Marijuana Chemistry unlocks our understanding of cannabis concentrates. It describes many methods for solvent processing hash oil.

Extended Closed-Loop Process

A 1999 guide to the website Erowid detailed an open-blasting method for cannabinoid extraction. It was called the Hash Honey Oil Technique. Butane is very dangerous. Its use in this method has caused several home explosions. Some people continue to engage in this activity even when it is detrimental. It has led to safer closed-loop extraction techniques. They keep the liquid inside the system.

An article on Budder, a special concentrate, appeared in the 2005 issue of Cannabis Culture magazine. It was made by the Canadian company Budderking. The high quality and velvety texture of this oil made it a fan favorite. In 2010, a big cannabis event called the High Times Pot Cup included products made using butane hash oil. Everyone, from customers to merchants, has been jumping on the bandwagon for various cannabis extracts ever since. The sudden surge in demand for tasty and powerful dabs is to blame.

The Modern Dabber

As more states legalized cannabis for recreational and medical use, producers began toying with ways to make concentrates. These included wax, sap, and budder. They tested other solvents: propane, carbon dioxide, butane, and ethanol. They wanted to find the best one.

It did not take long for manufacturers to figure out that butane was best extracted when mixed with other gases, such as propane. The synergistic effect increased production, decreased pressure, and raised terpene and cannabinoid levels. The concentrations improved in flavor and potency because of this. More and more people are also aware of alternative methods. The rosin technique is one method. It uses only pressure to extract concentrates, not solvents.

Companies nowadays are using complex methods, such as color correction, to enhance the appearance of extracts. They could use filtration columns with different substances to remove impurities. This would produce a clear amber solution.

The evolution of dab culture shows the creativity of cannabis users. It proves their resourcefulness, too. In the past, those who grew the plant were able to make cannabis resin, which had several uses. In honor of the pioneers of concentrates, tell your friends about the extracts you love. Then, light up a joint.

Who came up with dabs? Dabs, or highly concentrated cannabis products, may seem new. They've been around since the 1970s. A criminal group, the Brotherhood of Eternal Love, was making and sending them at that time.

In the '60s and '70s, the Brotherhood of Eternal Love was notorious for smuggling marijuana and LSD. They made a big splash when they were finally noticed and shut down.

Afghanistan was a peaceful nation when the organization first started operations there. There were a lot of hippie visitors from the United States and Europe. The production of hashish was the primary focus of the Brotherhood in its early years. This practice dates back millennia. Quality cannabis was scarce in the West. So, they saw a high demand for imported hashish.

As their smuggling grew, the Brotherhood found that stronger hashish was easier to transport and hide. This huge advance in cannabis extracts sparked a new era. It streamlined the marketing of their product.

Modern Concentrates

In 1999, a famous site called Erowid published the Hash Honey Oil Technique. It is devoted to psychoactive substances. It described how to extract cannabis through the open-blasting technique. The process uses butane, a highly flammable gas. So, there have been many accidents with this method in home labs. Many still insist on using this technique. This is despite well-documented dangers. Modern closed-loop extraction systems capture and reflow the solvents. They are much safer and more efficient.

They found that a mix of butane and propane actually increased the speed of extraction. This mix keeps the pressure low. It raises the yield, terpene, and cannabinoid content of the concentrate. The final product is stronger and better-tasting. Another non-solvent method for plant compound extraction is rosin extraction. It uses only pressure.

Moreover, manufacturers are also striving to come up with ways in which the appearance of cannabis extracts can be enhanced. As a concentrate, this provides an appealing appearance in an ultra-vibrant amber color. They purify through the implementation of a filtration process.