Hash oil

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Closeup image of a drop of hash oil on the end of a needle.

Hash oil (also known as dabs, shatter, wax, or snake tails) is a form of cannabis. It is a resinous matrix of cannabinoids obtained from the Cannabis plant by solvent extraction.[1]

Hash oil is the most potent of three main cannabis products, which are herb (cannabis), resin (hashish) and oil (hash oil).[2]

THC contents

Reported THC contents vary between sources. The 2009 World Drug Reports reports THC content as "may exceed 60%". A 2013 American forensic science book gave a range of 10-30% delta-9 THC by weight.[3] and a 1972 American forensic journal reported a range of 20-65%.[4] current testing labs such as "SC Labs" in Santa Cruz California, "Steephill Labs" in Berkeley California and "GreenStyle Consulting Solutions" test cannabis products and regularly report oil potencies ranging from 30-90%, with levels of dispensary quality oil typically ranging from 60-85, occasionally higher and occasionally lower. Some extracts have supposedly been tested to over 99% THC but involve a multiple stage chemical process.

Usage

Hash oil can be consumed in various ways, including smoking, vaporization, orally[5].Typically, it is vaporized in what is known as a "rig", a small water pipe designed for hash oil vaporization. The medical or recreational user takes a hand-held blowtorch and heats a titanium surface until the titanium surface reaches the desired temperature. This is followed by placing a drop of hash oil, a process known as "dabbing", on the hot surface until it melts, boils, and vaporizes through the water pipe and into the user's lungs.

This procedure largely minimizes the intake of smoke and carcinogenics. Where combusted smoke gases from cannabis consists of 88% non-cannabinoids, vaporized gases from cannabis consists of 95% cannabinoids and only 5% percent other substances where the most pronounced is caryophyllene, a fragrant oil present in most plants on earth.[6]

Manufacturing

Hash oil is a cannabis product obtained by separating resins from cannabis buds by solvent extraction.[7]

The most common form of hash oil is made by passing butane gas through a tube filled with cannabis plant matter. The low temperature of the liquid butane crystallizes the cannabis resins. As the butane passes through the tube the crystallized resins are trapped in the liquid butane. As the solvent (butane + resins) exits the tube it is caught in a glass container. Since butane has such a low vaporizing temperature it evaporates quite quickly, leaving behind the crystallized resins only,[citation needed] which are collected from the glass container. This form is known as BHO or "Butane Hash Oil". After obtaining BHO many connoisseurs will then vacuum purge their oil in a vacuum chamber. This action, depending on duration of exposure to vacuum, will give the B.H.O characteristic textures, producing wax, crumble, shatter, budder, etc.

Other solvents commonly used are hexane, isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, and liquid CO2. One should note the purity of the solvent used, as only pure, additive-free types should be considered suitable to avoid unwanted health effects.

Cannabis can also be boiled in a solvent to form a viscous liquid which is then strained and the solvent is evaporated to yield hash oil. Flammable solvents used in extraction make the process dangerous.[8]

Potential for explosions

Explosion and fire incidents related to manufacturing attempts in homes have been reported. Associated Press reports that such incidents in United States have primarily been in west coast states that permit medical marijuana.[9]

Michigan permits medical marijuana, and there were two home explosions[10] in July of 2013, in Washtenaw county. December 3rd, 2013 a Virginia man tries to make BHO, "honey oil", and admits to such before succumbing to the 2nd and 3rd degree burns he received when his ill-fated attempt exploded. http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/2423027-12/burned-radford-u-student-confessed-to-police.html[11]

Due largely to its potential for explosions -- making hash oil via butane extraction is presently illegal in California.[12] Impurities are another concern.[13]

Legality

Main article: Legality of cannabis

Cannabis extracts (including hash oil) are classified as narcotic drugs under Schedule I and IV of the 1961 United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.[14]

Statistics

The 2006 World Drug Report reports that cannabis oil seizures doubled in 2004, and that it represented 0.01% of global cannabis seized.[15] In 2007, 418 kg equivalent of hash oil was seized globally.[16]

Australia and New Zealand

In the Northern Territory, adults found in possession of up to one gram of hash oil can face a fine of up to $200, which if paid within 28 days, negates a criminal charge.[17]

Under New Zealand law hashish, hash oil, THC, and any other preparations containing THC made by processing the plant are scheduled as Class B substances.[18]

Italy

Issues a warning to those in possession of a substance for personal use which contains up to one gram of THC, with further sanctions following if the subject re-offends.[14]

Portugal

Although provision of tools utilized in production and consumption of cannabis is illegal in Portugal; Portuguese law allows for the possession of up to 2.5 grams of hash oil for personal use.

United States

The production or possession of hash is illegal in the United States. States such as Texas as well as others consider hash as a controlled substance. Until guidelines were amended in November 1995, Federal law did not explicitly define the difference between marijuana, hash, and hash oil, which led to cannabis preparations being assessed case-by-case.[19] Under the new federal guidelines, hashish oil is characterized as:
A preparation of the soluble cannabinioids derived from Cannabis that includes (i) one or more of the tetrahydrocannibinols.. ..and (ii) at least two of the following: cannabinol, cannabidiol, or cannibichromene, and (iii) is essentially free of plant material.[20]

United Kingdom

Hashish is classified as a Class B controlled substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The status of "liquid cannabis" is "currently the subject of legal argument"[21] The Misuse of Drugs Act: A Guide For Forensic Scientists published by the Royal Society of Chemistry suggests that the term "liquid cannabis" is preferable to "hash oil", as it does not involve definition of what exactly constitutes an "oil". The authors also recommend adoption of "purified form" instead of "solvent extract" when describing hash oil, as the former would not require proof of solvent usage by forensic scientists.[22]

Images

  • Hash oil

  • Hash oil

  • Golden cannabis oil

  • Full extract oil in oral syringe

See also

References

  1. ↑ The Amateur's Guide to Dabs - Alexander Abad-Santos - The Atlantic Wire
  2. ↑ World Drug Report. United Nations Publications. 2009. p. 98. 
  3. ↑ Eds. Jim Fraser, Robin Williams (2013). Handbook of Forensic Science. Routledge. p. 117. ISBN 9781134028702. 
  4. ↑ Thornton; Nakamura (1972). "Criminal Investigation". Journal of Forensic Science Society. 
  5. ↑ Cynthia Kuhn, Scott Swartzwelder, Wilkie Wilson, Leigh Heather Wilson, Jeremy Foster (2003). Buzzed. W. W. Norton & Company; 2 Rev Upd edition. pp. 139–140. ISBN 978-0-393-32493-8. 
  6. ↑ Green, Johnny (2012). "Smoking Marijuana Vs. Vaporizing Marijuana Infographic". 
  7. ↑ Christian, Donnell R. (2003). Forensic Investigation of Clandestine Laboratories. London: CRC Press. ISBN 02034845412 Check |isbn= value (help). 
  8. ↑ Earleywine, Mitch (2002). Understanding Marijuana:A New Look at the Scientific Evidence. Oxford University Press. p. 127. ISBN 019988143X. 
  9. ↑ Risling, Greg (2013-03-17). "Explosions highlight risk in making hash oil". Spokesman Review. Retrieved 3 May 2013. 
  10. ↑ Report: Processing marijuana with butane sparked fire that destroyed home
  11. ↑
  12. ↑ Down, David "A Little Dab Could Doom Ya" East Bay Express April 10, 2013
  13. ↑ Roberts, Michael "Butane hash has hidden dangers, says edibles maker arguing against controversial solvent" Westword February 25, 2011
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Legal Topic Overviews: Possession of Cannabis for Personal Use". European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. 2012-01-26. Retrieved 3 May 2013. 
  15. ↑ 2006 World Drug Report: Analysis. United Nations Publications. 2006. p. 2033. ISBN 9211482143. 
  16. ↑ World Drug Report. United Nations Publications. 2009. p. 98. 
  17. ↑ "Cannabis and the Law". National Cannabis Information and Prevention Centre. 19 February 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2013. 
  18. ↑ "Schedule 2: Class B controlled drugs", Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 No 116 (as at 08 September 2011), Public Act (Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Parliamentary Counsel Office/Te Tari Tohutohu Pāremata), 8 September 2011, Part 1 clause 1 
  19. ↑ Boire, Richard (1996). Marijuana Law. p. 20. ISBN 0914171860. 
  20. ↑ Boire, Richard (1996). Marijuana Law. p. 21. ISBN 0914171860. 
  21. ↑ "House of Lords – Section 2 - Types Of Cannabis Available On The Illicit Market In The UK". Independent Drug Monitoring Unit. Retrieved 3 May 2013. 
  22. ↑ King, Leslie A. (2003). The Misuse of Drugs Act: A Guide For Forensic Scientists. Royal Society of Chemistry. p. 77. ISBN 978-0-85404-625-6. 

Further reading

  • Gold, D. (1993). Cannabis Alchemy. ISBN 0914171402. 
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