Everything You Need To Know About Cannabis Shatter

When cannabis shatter first hit the cannabis market in the early 2010s, it quickly became famous among enthusiasts, photographers, and Instagram users. This popularity is mainly due to the product’s stunning appearance, reminiscent of opaque stained glass. Let’s find out more about shatter and its uses below.

What Is Shatter?

Shatter is a cannabis concentrate made after the desired terpenes, cannabinoids, and other components are extracted from the cannabis plant. Cannabis concentrates are great for dabbing since they deliver a more potent high while preserving the plant’s natural flavor profile.

Shatter can be legally bought in places where cannabis products are legalized or decriminalized. In May 2019, changes were made to laws surrounding cannabis in Canada. It has led to legalizing more cannabis products, such as edibles, extracts, topicals, and concentrates, such as shatter. Read more about how shatter was legalized in Canada here.

History of Shatter

The history of shatter can be traced back to the late 1990s, during the practice of hashish production. During that time, the production of modern cannabis concentrates was refined, and shatter was the first to be successfully produced.

In his book Cannabis Alchemy: The Art of Modern Hashmaking, published in 1989, author D. Gold gave the first complete explanation of how the hash is made. After a year, medical technologist Michael Starks also published another detailed explanation of the hash manufacturing process.

The first batch of shatter hit the shelves of dispensaries in 2003, manufactured by the Canadian cannabis maker BudderKing. In 2005, techniques for producing shatter were published in Cannabis Culture magazine, leading to the product’s popularity.

Manufacturing Process of Shatter

Shatter and other cannabis concentrates are made using a slow and delicate manufacturing process involving solvents and other cannabis plant matter. Manufacturers will carefully extract the oils using ethanol or butane hash oil (BHO).

The extracted oils will contain cannabinoids such as THC, CBD, and terpenes, the chemicals responsible for cannabis’ unique aromas and therapeutic properties. Cannabis concentrates are potent since they have up to 90% cannabinoid content. However, each concentrate is made differently, depending on how the extracted oils are processed and treated.

Making shatter involves pouring crude extract from the cannabis plant into slabs and placing them into a vacuum oven. Placing the extract in a vacuum oven is known as purging. Here, the residual ethanol from the extraction process is removed and stabilized, leading to a clear and glass-like consistency.

Properties of Shatter

The appearance, consistency, textures, and other properties of cannabis concentrates are almost identical since they have similar production processes. However, if the steps are not followed correctly, shatter can turn into something other than a glass-like product. Check out the properties of a quality shatter below:

Appearance

Shatter is a type of cannabis extract with brittle consistency and honey-like tones. It is also called shatter wax, marijuana shatter, and shatter weed since it tends to crack when broken. Most shatter looks like a maple syrup chip or a slab of toffee. Depending on the manufacturer, a shatter can also look like wax or honey.

Consistency

The consistency of shatter depends on the ratio of terpenes. Keep in mind that terpenes are sappy at room temperature. When high amounts of terpenes are present in the shatter, it will not break off like glasses but instead stretch like taffy. 

Specifically, shatter with a high THC level has more sap oil, giving it a more dense consistency. On the other hand, higher concentrations of cannabinoid THCA can result in sugaring or crystallizing. 

Since shatter has a brittle or pliable texture, many see it as the most uncomplicated concentrate to use. You can easily break off the pieces using your fingers or a dab tool to prevent sticky residue from staying on your hands.

Types

Although marijuana shatter can knock you off your feet due to soaring THC levels, not all shatter concentrates contain high THC content. Some manufacturers and dispensaries have also begun producing CBD shatter.

CBD shatter contains higher cannabidiol content and lesser THC. Those who want to experience the therapeutic effects of cannabis without the intense high caused by THC can significantly benefit from using CBD shatter.

Uses

Shatter can be used in three main methods: dabbing, vaping, and combusting. 

• How To Dab Shatter

Using shatter for dabbing includes inhaling cannabis concentrates instead of cannabis flowers. Aside from shatter, you can also dab sap, wax, crumble, and live rosin. 

To use a dab rig, you have to place some cannabis extract onto a hot surface known as the nail or banger. Since the nail is typically made of quartz, ceramic, or titanium, the extract will quickly melt. The carb cap is then placed over the nail to trap the heat and evenly spread the concentrate across the nail. After that, you can now inhale the smoke-free vapor through the mouthpiece of the dab rig.

Dabbing is a prevalent method of enjoying cannabis concentrates since it delivers a more intense high and quicker offset of effects. You can easily manipulate the temperature to suit the type of concentrate you are using. Low temperatures are ideal for more flavorful doses, while high temperatures are suitable if you want less flavor and larger vapor clouds.

• How To Vape Shatter

The rising popularity of using vape pens helped change the perception and adoption of cannabis concentrates. Dab or wax pens are portable, discreet, and convenient to use. These devices contain a battery with adjustable temperature settings, a chamber, and a mouthpiece.

To use a wax or dab pen, put some shatter or concentrate into the chamber and inhale through the mouthpiece. Here, you can read a more in-depth guide on how to vape shatter from a dab or wax pen. 

• How To Smoke Shatter

You can also use shatter through combusting, a simple way to utilize the concentrate without additional devices. You can add the product to a smokable flower to use the concentrate. To smoke shatter, add a chunk of the concentrate to a bowl or sprinkle it on a joint. 

However, ensure you don’t directly ignite the shatter since the THC will become activated before you inhale and enjoy the concentrate’s therapeutic effects. For an ideal dose, add the shatter in the middle of the joint and not on its tip.

Benefits

One key benefit of using shatter is its almost instantaneous and potent effect. This is because vaping or dabbing shatter allows the cannabinoids to enter your bloodstream quickly, leading to the immediate offset of effects. Moreover, since cannabis extracts are more potent than flowers, you can use less product for the same results.

Popular Shatter Products in Canada

If you are planning to get your hands on shatter to experience its effects, there is a plethora of legal shatter products you can find around Canada. Check out some of them below:

Burn Shatter: Burn Shatter contains all-natural terpenes with no additives. You can have it either in Hybrid, Indica, or Sativa strains. Each packet contains 1 gram of popular flavors such as:

• Black Tuna: A hybrid strain that gives you a potent punch of THC, ideal for alleviating chronic pain. It has woody and pungent strain flavors and can induce feelings of relaxation, euphoria, and sleepiness.
• Blue God: An Indica strain that produces crushing body high, ideal for those with chronic pain and sleep disorders. It has sweet and berry-like strain flavors and can induce feelings of relaxation, hunger, and sleepiness.
• Blueberry: An Indica strain that produces a lasting sense of euphoria, helping those dealing with pain and stress. It has sweet and berry-like strain flavors and can induce feelings of relaxation, hunger, and sleepiness.
• Death Bubba: An Indica strain that produces couchlock and semi-sedating effects, helping you unknot tension and alleviate chronic pain. It has earthy and skunky strain flavors and can induce feelings of sleepiness, hunger, and relaxation.
• Grape Ape: An Indica strain known for inducing relaxation that can help soothe stress, pain, and anxiety. It has sweet and berry-like strain flavors and can induce feelings of sleepiness, hunger, and relaxation.
• Lemon Haze: A Sativa strain that is known for helping alleviate symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. It has lemony and citrusy strain flavors and can induce energetic, talkative, and giggly feelings.
• OG Shark: A hybrid strain known to relieve nausea and pain. It has earthy, spicy, and herbal strain flavors and can induce uplifting, happy, and relaxed feelings.
• Rock Star: An Indica strain known that produces powerful euphoric and sedating effects. It has spicy, herbal, and skunky strain flavors and can induce sleepiness, relaxation, and hunger.
• Skunk: A hybrid strain that offers increased creativity through its powerful buzz. It has tobacco and pungent strain flavors and can make you feel hungry, energetic, and creative.

Golden Monkey: Golden Monkey is expertly extracted from medical-grade butane to retain the original terpene profiles and benefits of the cannabinoids, producing the market’s purest shatters. You can have it either in Hybrid, Indica, or Sativa strains. Each packet contains 1 gram of popular flavors such as:

• Black Mango: An Indica strain known to help with nausea, vomiting, insomnia, and pain. It has the flavors of mango and banana with notes of pines. Using it will induce feelings of relaxation, euphoria, and sedation.
• Black Widow: A hybrid strain that provides a buzzy head high with relaxing effects. It has woody and tea strain flavors and can make you feel hungry, sleepy, and talkative.
• Cinderella 99: A hybrid strain that is known for inducing a cerebral high, helping those with extreme fatigue and stress. It has citrus and tropical strain flavors and can make you feel energetic, uplifted, and creative.
• Death Star: An Indica strain with quite a powerful buzz that slows down into a relaxing euphoria. It has diesel, pungent, and skunk strain flavors and can make you feel sleepy, relaxed, and euphoric.
• Diamond Kush: An Indica strain that produces an even head and body high, leaving you in a blissful state for hours. It can make you feel relaxed and creative.
• Fruit Punch: A Sativa strain that charges your mind and body with creativeness and valuable social energy. It has tropical and berry strain flavors and can make you feel energetic, creative, and uplifted.
• Gorilla Glue #4: A hybrid strain that delivers couchlock and heavy relaxation. It has pungent, pine, and earthy strain flavors and can make you feel relaxed, sleepy, and hungry.
• Island Pink Kush: A hybrid strain that is known for inducing a cerebral euphoria before dropping you into a hazy bliss. It has candy, flowery, and skunky strain flavors and can make you feel hungry, relaxed, and uplifted.
• Lemon Drop: A hybrid strain that is known for providing a giggly sensation. It has lemon, citrus, and tea strain flavors and can make you feel giggly, energetic, and talkative.
• Passionfruit: A Sativa strain known for providing epic euphoria and munchies. It has tropical and grapefruit strain flavors and can make you feel creative, happy, and energetic.
• Pink Glue: An Indica strain that delivers a strong body high and robust case of the munchies. It has pine and wood strain flavors and helps alleviate chronic pain, headaches, lack of appetite, and inflammation.
• Sour Diesel: A Sativa strain that delivers a dreamy and cerebral high. It has diesel, pungent, and skunk strain flavors and can make you feel energetic, talkative, and creative.
• Violator: A hybrid strain known to deliver a strong body high that often leads to couchlock. It can help alleviate symptoms of anxiety, stress, and digestive issues.
• Watermelon Kush: An Indica strain that produces relaxing effects, which makes it ideal to use as a sleep aid or appetite stimulant. It has sweet and tropical strain flavors and can make you feel sleepy, relaxed, and hungry.
• White Rhino: An Indica strain popular for those looking for extreme relaxation and pain relief. It has a woody, pungent, and earthy strain flavors and can make you feel sleepy, hungry, and giggly.

How To Store Shatter

Shatter requires a more delicate storing process compared to cannabis flowers. It can break down and lose its original flavor and potency if stored improperly. Thus, ensure that the product is placed in a sealed, air-tight container.

To maintain shatter’s potency, flavor, and consistency, protect it from extremely high or low temperatures and oxygen, heat, ultraviolet light, and direct sunlight. Heat may cause the cannabinoids and terpenes to activate, which should only happen once you use the shatter.

Most cannabis concentrates come in reusable containers. However, you can also find dispensaries and shops selling concentrate storage accessories like silicone containers.

Potential Side Effects of Using Shatter

Shatter can have high levels of THC, so you should be mindful of its potential adverse effects. It has more than 60% THC compared to the 20% THC found in marijuana. Although THC has many potential medical benefits, overconsumption can cause paranoia and anxiety. Other side effects are:

• Increased blood pressure
• Increased heart rate
• Sinus infections, bronchitis, or asthma
• Sore thrown
• Weakened immune system
• Bloodshot eyes
• Anxiety
• Panic attacks

Shatter’s side effects are similar to cannabis flowers but can be more severe due to its high amounts of terpenes and cannabinoids. Expect that shatter with high THC levels have quicker and more intense intoxicating effects. Depending on the potency, a single use of shatter can provide ten medicinal cannabis inhalations.

While overdose of marijuana and shatter is rare, adverse effects such as hallucinations, delusions, and drug-induced psychosis can still occur. Thus, ensure you only purchase shatter from a legal and reputable dispensary. Buy a shatter with low THC levels, primarily if you have not used one before. 

Shatter Dependence

Shatter is not addictive, but you can develop a physical dependency on the product in which you will need more intense levels of shatter to get the same effects. 

Regular and heavy usage of shatter can decrease your brain’s production of anandamide. This may interfere with the signaling network in your endocannabinoid system. As a result, modification in your brain circuits may lead to shifts in your attention and a decrease in memory retention.

You can enroll in an inpatient treatment program if you have developed shatter dependence. Currently, there are no approved drugs for treating marijuana dependence. However, detoxification and behavioral therapy through residential or inpatient care can help you break your shatter dependency.

To prevent unwanted side effects and shatter dependence, purchase your shatter from trusted dispensaries and always start with the tiniest viable dab possible.

Shatter FAQs

Is shatter the same as dab?

All shatter can be dabbed; however, not all dabs are shatter. Dabbing is one way of using cannabis concentrates using a device called a dab rig. This device has a flat bowl and nail, designed for high temperatures to vaporize the shatter. However, aside from shatter, you can still use other cannabis concentrates as dabs.

Is shatter better than wax?

There is not much difference between shatter and wax. Both concentrates have similar potency, although shatter typically has the highest. They are also consumed similarly, such as dabbing or vaping. From a practical standpoint, shatter and wax only vary in cosmetic aspects. 

One subtle difference is that shatter has a more complex manufacturing process and can last longer. On the other hand, wax is easier to use and weigh due to its consistency.

Is shatter Indica or Sativa?

Shatter can be made both from Sativa and Indica cannabis strains. Specifically, any type or strain of cannabis flower can be used to make this concentrate. However, shatter products made from Sativa strains usually have better terpene profiles but are harder to stabilize, resulting in a cloudy look. On the other hand, strains made from Indica strains have a more golden, Swiss cheese appearance that most customers prefer.

What kind of high can cannabis shatter give you?

Since shatter contains high amounts of cannabinoids and terpenes, it can immediately give you a solid high. If you use shatter regularly, your physical dependency on the product may lead to addiction. This means you will need higher doses of shatter to experience the same effects.

Where To Buy Shatter in Toronto

Due to its pleasing flavor, potency, aroma, and appearance, shatter is one of the most in-demand cannabis concentrates among users in Toronto. Check out where to buy shatter in Toronto and see if you can find an ideal product here at Ahuevo!

Place your order now and receive the items within the day through our same-day delivery service around Metro Vancouver. If you are not from Vancouver, you can still receive your discreet package within 1 to 3 business days around Canada.