Cannabis Oil Complete Guide
Discover everything you need to know about THC oils, concentrates, and extracts. Expert education on types, uses, benefits, and safe consumption methods.
Explore Cannabis OilsUnderstanding Cannabis Oils & Concentrates
Your comprehensive educational resource
Cannabis oils, also known as concentrates or extracts, are potent resins extracted from cannabis flowers and plant material. These highly concentrated products contain elevated levels of cannabinoids and terpenes – the compounds responsible for cannabis's unique effects, aromas, and flavors.
Using various extraction methods, these oils can be created in diverse forms and consistencies – from glass-like shatter to spreadable budder, crystalline diamonds to fine powdery kief. Each type offers distinct characteristics, potencies, and applications suited to different preferences and consumption methods.
At New Brighton Dispensary, we provide extensive education and a carefully selected range of premium cannabis oils and concentrates. Our knowledgeable staff can guide you through the options to find products perfectly matched to your needs and experience level.
What Are Cannabis Oils?
Think of cannabis oils like essential oils extracted from plants – they're concentrated extracts containing the most valuable components of the cannabis plant, primarily cannabinoids like THC and CBD, along with aromatic terpenes that create distinctive flavor and aroma profiles.
These extracts represent the essence of cannabis in its most potent form. Through careful extraction processes, producers isolate and concentrate these beneficial compounds, creating products significantly more powerful than traditional cannabis flower.
Extraction Methods
Cannabis oils can be created using two primary approaches: solvent-based extractions utilizing specific chemicals to separate compounds from plant matter, or solventless methods employing mechanical processes, heat, and pressure without chemical solvents.
Each method produces distinct textures, potencies, and flavor profiles, allowing consumers to choose products based on their preferences for purity, potency, and production methods.
Types of Cannabis Oils
Understanding solvent-based and solventless extracts
Solvent-Based Extracts
CO₂ Oil
Extracted using pressurized carbon dioxide, CO₂ oil is exceptionally pure and clean-tasting. Most commonly found in vape cartridges, this method produces consistent, high-quality oil free from residual solvents. CO₂ extraction is considered one of the safest and most environmentally friendly methods available.
Distillate
The most refined cannabis extract available, distillate undergoes extensive processing to isolate specific cannabinoids, stripping away everything else. In its purest form, distillate can reach 90-99% THC concentration. Versatile and potent, distillate can be consumed sublingually, used in edibles, added to topicals, filled into capsules, or vaporized.
Hydrocarbon Extracts (BHO)
Created using hydrocarbon solvents like butane or propane, these extracts are collectively known as BHO (Butane Hash Oil). The process creates various textures and consistencies including budder (smooth, butter-like), crumble (dry, crumbly texture), shatter (glass-like, translucent), and wax (soft, waxy consistency). Each offers unique dabbing experiences.
Solventless Extracts
Dry Sift (Kief)
The simplest form of concentrate, dry sift consists of trichome glands mechanically separated from cured cannabis using fine mesh screens. Also called kief or dry sieve, this golden powder can be sprinkled on flower to boost potency, pressed into rosin, or collected and dabbed on its own for concentrated effects.
Ice Water Hash (Bubble Hash)
Created by agitating cannabis in ice-cold water, this method separates trichomes which are then collected through filtration bags. Also known as bubble hash, ice wax, or wet sift, the process produces exceptional purity without chemicals. The result can be dabbed, vaporized, or added to flower for enhanced potency.
Rosin
The premium solventless concentrate, rosin is created by applying heat and pressure to cannabis flower or hash, squeezing out pure cannabinoid-rich oil. Available as flower rosin (pressed from buds), dry sift rosin (pressed from kief), or hash rosin (pressed from ice water hash), it's prized for incredible flavor, potency, and purity. Can be dabbed, vaporized, or smoked.
Important Note
You may occasionally hear topicals, tinctures, and infused oils referred to as "cannabis oil," though this is less common. These products contain cannabis extracts but serve different purposes than the concentrates described above. Always clarify product type with your budtender or the person offering you cannabis products to ensure you're getting what you expect.
Benefits of Cannabis Oils
Why concentrates have become a preferred choice for many cannabis consumers
Potent Effects
Significantly higher cannabinoid concentrations provide stronger effects with smaller amounts consumed.
Fast-Acting Relief
When vaporized or dabbed, effects begin within seconds to minutes, ideal for immediate symptom management.
Purity & Quality
Professional extraction removes plant material, delivering clean cannabinoids and terpenes without impurities.
Enhanced Flavors
Concentrated terpenes provide intense, authentic cannabis flavors and aromas for connoisseur experiences.
Versatile Use
Can be dabbed, vaporized, added to flower, incorporated into edibles, or used in various consumption methods.
Cost Efficiency
Despite higher upfront costs, concentrates last longer due to potency, potentially offering better long-term value.
What Can Cannabis Oils Be Used For?
Therapeutic applications and wellness benefits
Chronic Pain Management
Cannabis oils provide powerful relief for ongoing pain conditions. When pain flares unexpectedly, vaporized concentrates deliver almost immediate relief through efficient cannabinoid delivery. Scientific studies demonstrate that cannabinoids function as effective analgesics, particularly for inflammatory and neuropathic pain, making them ideal alternatives or complements to traditional pain medications.
Epilepsy & Seizure Control
Vaporized cannabis oils, especially high-CBD formulations, can provide seizure relief within seconds to minutes. Medical research increasingly supports cannabis's efficacy in managing epilepsy and reducing seizure frequency. High-CBD cultivars and products have shown particular promise in clinical applications for treatment-resistant epilepsy, offering hope where traditional medications have failed.
Cancer Symptom Relief
Cannabis oils have been central to medical cannabis legalization efforts due to their effectiveness in managing cancer-related symptoms. They help alleviate nausea from chemotherapy, stimulate appetite, reduce pain, and may offer other therapeutic benefits. Rick Simpson Oil (RSO), an ethanol-based extract, gained fame for purported anti-cancer properties, though more research is needed.
Anxiety Management
CBD oils have surged in popularity for anxiety treatment, backed by growing clinical evidence. CBD isolates – extracts with minimal THC – avoid the psychotropic effects that can increase anxiety in some users. Instead, CBD may counteract anxiety symptoms, offering therapeutic benefits without intoxication. Many find CBD oils effective for daily anxiety management and stress relief.
How to Use Cannabis Oils
Cannabis oils are most commonly consumed through vaporization or oral ingestion, each method offering distinct onset times, durations, and experiences.
Vaporization Methods
Handheld vaporizers and dab rigs heat oils to precise temperatures, releasing cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds into inhalable vapor. This method provides near-instant effects and allows for precise dose control. Dabbing specifically refers to consuming concentrates using a specialized water pipe called a dab rig with a heated nail or e-nail.
Oral Consumption
Some oils, particularly distillates and tinctures, can be taken orally – either sublingually (under the tongue) for faster absorption or swallowed for longer-lasting effects. Oils can also be incorporated into homemade edibles or taken in pre-made capsules for convenient, discreet consumption.
Important Consumption Note
Research published in Forensic Science International demonstrates that dabbing BHO delivers significantly more THC than smoking flower through joints or pipes. This heightened potency requires special care and respect when consuming concentrates to avoid overwhelming experiences.
Dosage & Safety Considerations
Critical information for safe consumption
Cannabis oils demand special attention to dosage due to their significantly higher concentrations compared to flower, edibles, or other cannabis products. Their potency means small amounts produce powerful effects.
Factors Affecting Your Dosage
Body Weight
Larger individuals typically require higher doses for equivalent effects
Body Chemistry
Your unique endocannabinoid system influences how you process cannabinoids
Treatment Goals
Specific symptoms or desired effects require different dosing strategies
Product Type
Different concentrates and consumption methods affect potency and absorption
Concentration Level
Cannabinoid percentages vary widely between products and brands
Tolerance Level
Regular use builds tolerance, requiring dose adjustments over time
Critical Dosage Guidelines
Always start with the smallest possible dose and wait to assess effects before consuming more. This is especially crucial with concentrates due to their extreme potency.
High-THC oils may produce: Unwanted anxiety, paranoia, physical discomfort, increased heart rate, and excessive drowsiness in some users.
High-CBD oils effects vary: Can be mentally and physically stimulating while increasing appetite, but may also cause sedation and drowsiness depending on your endocannabinoid system and amount consumed.
Medication interactions: CBD can interact with various prescription medications. Consult your healthcare provider before combining cannabis oils with other prescriptions, especially blood thinners, psychiatric medications, or sedatives.
Buy Cannabis Oils from Licensed Dispensaries
Purchasing cannabis oils exclusively from licensed dispensaries like New Brighton Dispensary ensures you receive safe, tested, quality products. Licensed retailers must follow strict regulations regarding testing, labeling, and product safety.
What We Offer
We carry an extensive variety of cannabis oils and oil-infused products including concentrates for dabbing, vape cartridges, edibles made with distillate, tinctures, topicals, and more. Every product undergoes rigorous testing for potency, purity, and contaminants.
Expert Guidance
Our knowledgeable staff provides personalized consultations to help you navigate product options, understand potency levels, learn proper consumption techniques, and select oils matched to your specific needs and experience level.
Safety First
Black market products lack regulation and testing, potentially containing harmful contaminants, pesticides, or inaccurate potency labeling. Licensed dispensaries guarantee product safety, accurate labeling, and compliance with state regulations for your protection and peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Expert answers to common questions about cannabis oils
These terms are often used interchangeably. "Cannabis oil" and "concentrates" both refer to extracted, concentrated forms of cannabinoids and terpenes from cannabis plants. The term "oil" sometimes specifically refers to liquid extracts, while "concentrates" encompasses all forms including solids like shatter or crumble. However, in most contexts, they describe the same category of potent cannabis products.
Both can be extremely safe when produced professionally and purchased from licensed dispensaries. Solventless extracts appeal to those preferring products made without chemical solvents. However, properly made solvent-based extracts undergo purging processes that remove residual solvents to safe, undetectable levels. All licensed dispensary products must pass strict testing for residual solvents and contaminants, ensuring safety regardless of extraction method.
Cannabis flower typically contains 15-25% THC, while concentrates commonly range from 60-90% THC, with some distillates reaching 95%+ purity. This means concentrates are roughly 3-6 times more potent than flower. A tiny amount of concentrate provides effects equivalent to much larger amounts of flower, which is why proper dosing and caution are essential when consuming oils.
It depends on the product and your preferred method. For vape cartridges, you need a compatible battery. For dabbing concentrates, you'll need a dab rig (specialized water pipe), torch or e-nail, dab tool, and carb cap. Some concentrates work in portable vaporizers designed for concentrates. Certain oils like tinctures or distillate can be consumed orally without equipment. Our staff can recommend appropriate devices for your chosen products.
Yes, but with extreme caution and guidance. Beginners should start with lower-potency products, take the smallest possible doses, and wait to fully feel effects before consuming more. Vape cartridges with moderate THC percentages are often easier for beginners to control than dabbing. We strongly recommend consulting with our staff before trying concentrates if you're new to cannabis – we'll help you start safely and avoid overwhelming experiences.
Store concentrates in airtight, light-proof containers in cool, dark places away from heat and direct sunlight. Some users refrigerate concentrates for maximum freshness, though this isn't necessary for short-term storage. Avoid extreme temperature fluctuations. Glass or silicone containers work best. Properly stored concentrates maintain potency and quality for several months to over a year depending on the product type.
Dabbing is a consumption method where small amounts of concentrate are vaporized on a heated surface (nail) and inhaled through a dab rig. When done correctly with quality products from licensed sources, dabbing is safe. However, it delivers very high doses of THC quickly, making it unsuitable for beginners or those with low tolerance. Start with tiny "dabs," use proper temperature settings (avoid overheating), and ensure good ventilation. Never attempt to make concentrates at home – this is extremely dangerous.
Yes, cannabis oils and concentrates are legal for adult use (21+) in Minnesota when purchased from licensed dispensaries. You must have valid government-issued ID proving you're of legal age. Purchase limits apply per transaction and possession limits exist. Cannabis remains federally illegal, so never transport across state lines or possess on federal property. Always follow Minnesota's cannabis laws regarding use, possession, and transportation.
We strongly advise against attempting home extraction, especially solvent-based methods using butane, propane, or alcohol. These processes are extremely dangerous and have caused numerous fires, explosions, and serious injuries. Professional extraction requires specialized equipment, expertise, and safety protocols. Solventless methods like making rosin with a hair straightener are safer but still require knowledge and proper technique. For safety, quality, and legality, purchase professionally-made concentrates from licensed dispensaries.
Price reflects various factors including extraction method (solventless processes are typically more labor-intensive), starting material quality (premium flower vs. trim), purity and potency levels, terpene preservation, brand reputation, and production scale. Solventless concentrates like live rosin command premium prices due to complex production and superior flavor profiles. While expensive, small amounts last longer due to high potency. Our staff can help you find quality products at various price points.
Explore Premium Cannabis Oils Today
Visit New Brighton Dispensary and discover our extensive selection of high-quality cannabis oils, concentrates, and extracts. Our expert staff provides personalized education and guidance to help you safely explore the world of concentrated cannabis.
Shop Cannabis Oils📍 445 Old Highway 8 NW, New Brighton, MN 55112 • Licensed Minnesota Dispensary
Must be 21+ with valid ID. Start low, go slow. Consult with our staff for personalized guidance.