How to Make and Use Wax and Budder

Renowned for its taste, cannabis wax is considered the cream of the crop when it comes to cannabis concentrates. Wax is rapidly becoming one of the most popular forms of cannabis extracts because of its potency, purity, and tasty flavors.

So, what kinds of cannabis waxes are there, and how can you make them at home (if you can at all)?

What is Wax?

Cannabis wax is a cannabis oil extract that closely resembles a rather crumbly wax, hence the name. Depending on the quality, wax can have a range of consistencies and colors. Still, all of them are a yellow-orange-goldish color that ranges from a shatter-like pull and snap texture all the way to a smooth, buttery consistency.

How Do You Use Wax?

So, how do you consume wax? Most cannabis users consume their wax with a specific type of water pipe referred to as a "dab rig." Dab rigs are similar to conventional bongs or water pipes, but instead of a bowl used to smoke flowers, dab rigs use a flat bowl called a "nail."

The act of dabbing wax is the same as any other extract. The dab nail is first flash-heated using a butane torch and then cooled slightly. Wax is then applied to the cooled nail with a dab tool, which causes it to vaporize.

That's not to say a dab rig is the only way to consume wax. Like similar concentrates, wax can be used in vaporizers or used to make edibles.

How to Make Wax

Note: Most manufacturing methods for wax and crumble require solvents, which can be extremely dangerous and illegal if not done properly. We do not recommend trying to manufacture them yourself.  Some people use the following method to make wax at home using heat and pressure instead of solvents. This solventless method creates a very pure product with no impurities.

What you'll need:

• Any amount of cannabis
• A hair straightener
• Parchment paper

Steps:

1. Make sure your buds are not too wet or too dry. They should be at the perfect stage of curing.
2. Break them down a bit. You don't have to grind them into powder, but trying to press a completely intact bud without a more advanced rosin press will waste oil.
3. Shape the buds into a small square, about the width of your hair straightener, onto your parchment paper, and fold the paper over to cover the buds. Leave at least a couple of inches of paper on all sides of the buds so it will catch the escaping oils without them oozing onto the plates of the straightener.
4. Put your hair straightener on the lowest setting and let it warm up.
5. Place the parchment paper between the now-warmed plates and press hard for anywhere from 5 to 30 seconds until the oil starts oozing out.
6. Use a sharp edge or your dabbing tool to scrape up the oil, and enjoy!

Warnings & Dangers

If you're not a professional manufacturer, don't try producing cannabis wax with solvents yourself. Doing so requires expensive manufacturing licenses and will cause significant legal troubles if you're caught. Not only that, but the extraction methods can very easily produce a dangerous situation.

At the end of the day, making your own cannabis wax with solvents is not a casual endeavor, and the bare minimum legal licenses and the equipment required can easily run in the tens of thousands of dollars. You'll find that it's much easier and cheaper to just purchase it at the nearest pot shop or delivery service (or make rosin with a rosin press or using the method described above).

How Potent is Cannabis Wax?

Wax and budder tend to be highly potent forms of cannabis concentrates. Generally speaking, waxes are equally as potent as shatters and oils. Typically, cannabis waxes' concentration of THC (the principal psychoactive molecule in cannabis) is usually in the 40-80% range. Budders, being the highest quality wax, tend to be on the higher end of potency, containing up to 70-80% THC.

How to Find and Buy Wax

Wax is a favorite among cannabis enthusiasts everywhere because of its potency, purity, and taste, especially. As a result, you should be able to find cannabis waxes being sold in all the dispensaries that carry other extracts like shatters or oils.

If your state requires you to receive a medical cannabis license before buying or using wax, look no further than NuggMD. Using our cutting-edge telemedicine application, you'll receive a virtual medical marijuana doctor's appointment quickly and from the convenience of your own home.

So what are you waiting for? Hop on today!

The information in this article and any included images or charts are for educational purposes only. This information is neither a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about laws, regulations, or your health, you should always consult with an attorney, physician or other licensed professional.