What Is Shatter?

For marijuana users looking for a heavier hitting, more immediate high, many turn to “Shatter” – a cannabis concentrate that has up to eighty per cent cannabinoid content. With nicknames like sap, budder and a host of others, shatter comes as a smooth, glassy substance that is much more potent than cannabis.

The term “shatter” itself can be attributed to the fact that leftover resin is traditionally cooled into a glassy sheet, in a similar way to boiled caramel when it is hardened into candy. When dropped, this sheet of cool resin shatters. More expensive than marijuana, shatter is sold in a thick, taffy-like consistency that can range from $60-70 per gram.

Among marijuana concentrates, shatter is certainly the most intoxicating. A filtration process that rids it of naturally occurring waxes and fats causes it to concentrate its active ingredients in incredibly high amounts – 80% cannabinoid content as opposed to the 5-18% (average) found in traditional marijuana.

The appeal is in its’ effectiveness to produce a strong and quick high, ideal for medical users who suffer from deep pains caused by conditions such as bone cancer or fibromyalgia.

Inconveniently, shatter cannot be consumed using traditional smoking devices and instead requires a bong-type product called a rig or dab rig. These rigs are heated to 575-625 degrees Fahrenheit, often with a butane torch, resulting in immediate combustion and a high that many novice users have described as overwhelming. Costing as much as $200 per unit, this is a major investment for a lot of smokers.

Rookie users should proceed with caution. As the saying goes “a little dab will do ya’!” For even the most experienced smoker, the high provided by shatter and its 80% cannabinoid content can feel like getting high for the very first time.