Dabbing: The truth behind this controversial consumption method

Regulating the industry will improve safety around dabbing and other smoking methods by allowing users to purchase from a licensed and reliable source 

By Special to Lift 

Marijuana users and business owners have seen the rise of many consumption methods and cannabis products over the past decade, all of which promise unique, targeted effects for consumers. 

While edibles and oils are now almost commonplace, another product has met significant opposition: concentrates. Also known as dabs, concentrates offer powerful psychoactive effects, but how they’re produced and how they interact with the body have drawn a skeptical response from the media and medical community alike.

What are dabs?

A dab is a dose of concentrate that users ingest after heating on a hot surface, such as a nail. On the surface, dabbing appears fairly benign and not all that dissimilar to classic smoking methods like pipes or bongs. In comparison to plant material, however, the concentrates used when smoking dabs are much more potent.

Dabbing products like shatter, budder and wax are made by forcing a solvent like butane or carbon dioxide through the plant material in order to extract the active compounds. The remaining residue is a sticky mess containing nearly 100% cannabinoids, making it much stronger than other concentrates like hash, oils and tinctures.

While they can retain many of the terpenes that give marijuana its unique flavour, dabs are typically ingested with little regard for taste.

Usefulness of dabbing

People primarily dab for the recreational effects of the concentrates, rather than any medical benefits. A minimal amount of a concentrate like shatter has the equivalent of a joint’s worth of THC, the majority of which can be consumed in a single inhalation.

Still, dabs can be very effective in treating extreme cases of chronic pain, intense nausea and strong reactions to cancer treatments. The downside for patients is that dabs are almost too effective at treating their symptoms. While they can ease pain and nausea, dabs still create a dramatic high that could leave the user unable to continue their daily routine or function at work.

Controversy over the method

When it comes to how they’re presented in the media, dabs have been criticized for problems related primarily to production rather than consumption. The extraction techniques, referenced earlier, can pose dangers not dissimilar to those encountered during the production of meth.

In light of these dangers, many commercial producers using lab grade equipment have switched to a safer CO2 extraction method that promises a pure, clean and quality oil. 

However, there’s also a large DIY community that uses the cheaper butane process, with makeshift setups and limited chemistry knowledge. Poor production techniques can have detrimental effects including residual chemical byproducts in the end product. And inherent dangers are unavoidable when working with explosive butane.

The problems for dabs don’t end here. Because concentrates are so powerful, inexperienced users can easily over-do things when using dabs. While over-dabbing has never resulted in fatality, other side effects can include paranoia, anxiety and narcolepsy. Also, many rigs require consumers to heat a nail using a blowtorch, which could lead to burns or fires.

These conditions aside, dabs are not inherently unsafe. Many of their most harmful effects can be negated by educating users on proper dosage. Research and development of devices that use an electronic nail could also mitigate potential hazards associated with torch-heated dab rigs.

For legalization activists, the hope is that regulating the industry will improve safety around dabbing and other smoking methods by allowing users to purchase concentrates from a licensed and reliable source.