What does Cannabis Crystalline mean?
The purest form of cannabis Concentrate, this Extract consists of a single type of cannabinoid, usually tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), or cannabidiol (CBD). Crystalline is formed by thoroughly refining cannabis oil and serves as a base for formulated cannabis products. While possibly more potent, Crystalline lacks the flavor of other Concentrates and some of the medicinal benefits due to the isolation from the original terpenes.
“I mix the right dosage of my CBD Crystalline in coconut oil, then add it my own homemade edibles to help ease my anxiety.”
More about Crystalline
What is Crystalline?
Crystalline, also referred to as “crystals” or “diamonds,” is a cannabis concentrate that comes in a solid state. It resembles coarse sugar, the kind typically used for decorating sugar cookies or glittering the tops of baked fruit pies. Crystalline is produced to be free of plant impurities or terpenes, which are the distinct aromatic and flavor qualities of a cannabis cultivar, or strain.
What cannabinoids are available in Crystalline form?
Crystalline is produced to have just one cannabinoid. The only cannabinoids available in crystalline form are THCA, CBDA, and CBD. Anyone consuming THCA, CBDA, or CBD will not experience an intoxicating high, though THCA converts to THC when exposed to heat, making the Crystalline intoxicating. THC, which produces an intoxicating high, is not available as Crystalline; chemically, it cannot hold a crystalline structure.
Is Crystalline better than other concentrates?
When exposed to heat, Crystalline is quite potent, though the body may not experience the full effect of this Extract, as it lacks the terpenes found in flower and other concentrates. Terpenes help provide the unique flavors, aromas, and other effects of each high associated with different cultivars. Without these terpenes, Crystalline isn’t able to provide the same health benefits attributed to the entourage effect. Terpene removal is part of the Crystalline production process and the resulting cannabinoids in the final crystalline product are the same, regardless of the starting plant material. For example, if a Crystalline manufacturer used Durban Poison cultivar for one batch of THCA crystals, and Northern Lights cultivar for a separate batch of THCA crystals, the final products would produce the same effects. The THCA crystals from one strain are identical to those from another. Dispensaries won’t carry strain-specific crystals; they simply don’t exist because Crystalline has no terpenes that give each cultivar its unique characteristics.
How can Crystalline be used?
Crystalline can be ingested orally, either added to a recipe when making Edibles, or dissolving in oil to create a Tincture-like product. For homemade Edibles, crystals can be dissolved in cooking oil or butter, and used as an ingredient in recipes. Olive oil and coconut oil are the most popular for dissolving crystal to make a Tincture-like product.
Crystalline can be smoked, or dabbed, using a dab rig. A dab rig is a type of smoking apparatus, similar to a small water bong, that vaporizes heated Crystalline to be inhaled in single, measured dosages. Dabbing CBD or CBDA Crystalline allows users to feel non-intoxicating effects quickly, but dabbing THCA will produce the intoxicating effects of THC.
To dab Crystalline, preheat a “nail” at one end of the dab rig device using a handheld butane torch. Once the nail reaches the correct temperature, use the spoon-shaped end of a dabber to scoop and pour the appropriate dosage of Crystalline on the nail. The crystals will instantly heat and vaporize on the heated nail. While inhaling the vapor through the mouthpiece end of the rig, place a cap on the nail to catch as much vapor as possible.
THCA Crystalline can also be combined with other cannabis Concentrates, like Live Resin Shatter, to increase their potency. Mixing crystals with concentrates that have terpenes and other cannabinoids may aid the uptake of the THCA, CBDA or CBD into the body.
How is Crystalline made?
WARNING: THE MANUFACTURING OF CRYSTALLINE SHOULD ONLY BE PERFORMED BY SKILLED PROFESSIONALS AS THE PROCESS CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND ILLEGAL IN MANY JURISDICTIONS.
Crystalline is produced from a cannabis extract. The starting material can come from any plant cultivar. Crystalline has a unique, subtle taste and smell, but it lacks the chemical compounds that give other cannabis Concentrates their aroma and flavor.
A number of methods are used for making Crystalline, but the essential crystallization principles are the same. One way to understand the crystallization process is similar to the making of rock candy. Hot water is supersaturated with sugar, then as the water cools down, sugar crystals start to form on a string or stick. Hot water allows more sugar to dissolve than under room temperature. As the unstable sugar solution is removed from the heat and allowed to cool, sugar crystals start to precipitate out of solution and will eventually begin to form on the stick. The crystal formation will grow over time until the final product is successfully achieved.
The production of cannabis crystalline is essentially the process of mixing a refined cannabis concentrate with a solvent, then applying specific heat and pressure conditions to evaporate the solvent, allowing crystals to form. For example, if THCA Crystalline is being produced, any THCA will precipitate, or separate, out of the solution. Under the right temperature and pressure conditions, the THCA will chemically bond to other THCA molecules, forming crystalline structures.
