Cannabis concentrates have been around for centuries, with ancient cultures using resins and oils for medicinal and ritualistic purposes. However, it was not until the 20th century that cannabis concentrates were widely available. Nowadays, concentrates come in various forms such as wax, shatter, rosin, and oils. With their high potency and easy-to-use method, cannabis concentrates have become more and more popular, changing the way people consume cannabis. In this article, we will take a look at the history of cannabis concentrates and how they have evolved into the products we know today.
The earliest recorded use of cannabis concentrates dates back to 2700 BC in ancient China and India. They used hot knives to smoke hashish, which is a form of cannabis concentrate made from resin. In the Middle East, they consumed charas, another form of cannabis concentrate that is handmade by rubbing the plant between one's hands. Cannabis concentrates were also used in ancient Egypt for medicinal purposes.
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, cannabis concentrates became less popular due to political and social reasons. In the United States, cannabis was criminalized in 1937 with the Marihuana Tax Act, which made it difficult for people to manufacture and purchase cannabis. This led to the decline of cannabis concentrates until the 1960s when the counterculture movement brought them back into the mainstream.
During the 1970s, hash oil became popular, and people began to produce it on their own using solvents like butane and propane. In the 1980s, a new type of cannabis concentrate, known as honey oil or amber glass, was introduced. It is made by soaking cannabis in alcohol and evaporating the solution to leave behind a sticky, amber-colored oil. During the 1990s, a new extraction method called CO2 was developed, which uses pressurized carbon dioxide to separate the plant's compounds.
In the early 2000s, the popularity of cannabis concentrates skyrocketed with the introduction of new extraction methods and technological advancements. This led to the creation of new concentrate forms such as wax, shatter, and budder, which are made by purging the butane or propane from the extract. More recently, rosin has become popular due to its solventless extraction method. It is made by applying pressure and heat to the cannabis plant, producing a sticky, resinous substance.
Cannabis concentrates have come a long way since their early usage in ancient cultures. From hot knives and charas to wax and rosin, the evolution of cannabis concentrates has been a result of advancements in technology and extraction methods. Nowadays, cannabis concentrates are an increasingly popular form of cannabis consumption due to their potency, convenience, and versatility. As more and more states legalize cannabis, we can expect to see even more varieties and forms of concentrates as the market grows.