Dabs vs. Flower: Which One is Right For You?

Cannabis dispensaries are popping up all around the country. They bring a growing variety of cannabis products. But, which one is right for you?

What is a Cannabis Flower?

The cannabis flower, also known as the bud, refers to the trichome-covered part of a female cannabis plant. It’s recognized as the most versatile medication and the most sought-after form of cannabis.

The typical way to medicate is through smoking in a pipe or joint.

What are Dabs?

Dabs, also known as concentrated Butane Hash Oil (BHO), are a potent type of marijuana concentrate.

Their texture is sticky and gooey because manufacturers often use butane and carbon dioxide to extract these concentrates.

Are Flowers and Dabs the Same?

Flowers and Dabs are two kinds of cannabis. Each has its own unique look, effect, and rules for obtaining.

• Flowers are the most popular form of marijuana product in many states. This is because they are legal and available.
• Dabs have also become a rising trend in recent years. This is mostly due to their potency and the adventure of seeking waxes or oils out.

The Benefits of Dabbing

Dabbing is highly beneficial medicinally and recreationally. You can feel the impact just five minutes after consuming it. The compounds move from the lung’s alveoli into the blood.

Pros:

• Smokeless
• Stronger, purer, more plant like flavorful
• Fast & effective

This gives users a stronger potency and flavor, making it an excellent choice for users looking for THC-Rich highs. 

Which Should You Choose: Weed or Dabs?

Today’s cannabis industry offers several options for consumers depending on their needs. For instance, new cannabis users may find dabbing overwhelming due to the resulting anxiety caused by high-THC content.

• DABS may be great for users interested in instant, potent, and long-lasting relief. 
• FLOWERS offer immediate and highly potent effects. Although its THC concentration is lower compared to dabs, users can get just enough to enjoy a mild buzz. 

This section highlights the major differences between flowers and concentrates to help you make the right choice.

Which is More Potent?

If you prioritize potency, dabs are the way to go. They are more potent than even the cannabis flower with the highest THC concentration.

An average concentrate contains 50-90% THC, compared to 15-30% often found in cannabis flowers. 

Which is Healthier?

While cannabis flower combusts plant matter during smoking, dabbing doesn’t. Instead, it produces a milky white vapor you can inhale when you heat it.

However, some dabs can affect users’ health adversely, mainly concentrates made from flammable solvents like ethanol and butane that can end up in the product.

It is recommended to choose concentrates certified pure and safe for consumption by third-party labs. 

Which is Easier to Consume?

There are different ways to consume cannabis flowers. The first is smoking:

• You can smoke flowers from a glass pipe.
• You can also smoke from bongs that use water to produce smoother hits.
• You can smoke flowers in a blunt or joint or vaporize them with a desktop or portable vaporizer. 

Concentrates also have various consumption methods.

Dabbing - You dab by dropping a bit of concentrate onto a hot nail and inhaling it through the rig.

You can add distillates to edibles. You can also put oils into transdermal patches, topicals, and capsules. 

Which is More Flavored?

Choosing between concentrates and dabs might be tricky if you are in it for the flavor. You can count on high-grade flowers for the best smell and flavor.

In contrast, some concentrates lose terpenes during extraction. If you still prefer concentrates, seek out live resin or full-spectrum extracts. They have more terpenes than others.

Which is Safer?

Both flowers and dabs are safe for responsible consumption.

However, smoking cannabis flowers is associated with finger burns and worsened respiratory symptoms. Also, there may be paranoia, red eyes, and dry mouth. There are a few other mild side effects. 

There is no question about dab’s safety for consumption.

However, making dabs with solvents exposes you to the risk of explosion. Therefore, it is best to adopt only home solventless extraction methods. 

Which One is More Cost-Efficient?

The price for both would be determined by the strain and quality of the product. For instance, flower buds contain about 20% cannabinoids by weight compared to dabs, which can carry an enormous 80%. So, flowers can range around $15 per gram, and concentrates cost as high as $50 per gram. The price could also vary from location to location and vary with potency or brand.

This value for money on the products depends on how you use them. Smoking involves burning the flower buds and in the process, up to 63% of THC goes to waste. This is close to 20 percent more than that wasted on vaporization. With dabbing, you lose only about 20% of the active parts.

Which One is Discreet to Use?

Smoking cannabis flowers implies exposure to intense smoke and odor. Therefore, it is unsuitable for discrete consumption. Vaporizing the flower is more discrete just like when you consume concentrates with a dab pen.

To Round Up…

In cannabis, you will find quite a different good experience with dabs and flowers. At the same time, though, there's no way it's one size fits all to consume. The most important thing is knowing what you need and finding out what works best for you.