KEYWORDS
Batter/Badder - Concentrate with a soft, solid consistency varying between warm butter and melted wax pebbles commonly achieved when temperatures fluctuate during the extraction and winterizing process. Batter can appear similar to a more consistent mixture of both diamonds and sauce where the terpenes and crystals do not separate but congeal together, causing the end product to both have THCA and terpenes bound together and support the flavor and high profile of both.
Diamonds – THCA Diamonds are a voluminous collection of reconstituted crystal trichomes visible on the cannabis buds during flowering. Diamonds are the result of a careful and methodical extraction process at very low temperatures and represent the gold standard of extracts. Crystalline structures are produced when nucleation, or separation, occurs. Liquid extract “crashes” out of suspension from the extraction column upon removal of solvents, which are generally one half of the process that also produces a product called “Sauce” or “Terp Sauce”
Decarboxylation - A chemical process that “activates” the psychoactive compounds in cannabis by converting THCA into THC. When heated to the right temperature, the cannabinoid loses it’s extra carboxyl group, “A”, and enables it to efficiently interact with our receptors allowing us to feel high.
Full Spectrum - A cannabis concentrate that preserves the full cannabinoid and terpene contents, as well as the other complex range of desirable compounds of the raw cannabis plant. The cannabis plant can produce more than 400 compounds, all of which may have therapeutic uses. Sure, THC and CBD have healing potential on their own, but are limited without the presence of these other components.
Ice Water Hash - Made utilizing a method of extraction called cold water extraction, this process uses ice and water to harden the trichome heads (where nearly all the resinous cannabinoids and terpenoids are produced) and separate them from the rest of this plant. These resin-rich trichomes heads are then dried to make a refined form of hashish, known as ice water hash (aka bubble hash). Bubble hash can be consumed as is, added to flower, or can be further pressed into rosin
RSO – Rick Simpson Oil, named after Canadian freedom fighter and former cancer patient Rick Simpson, who claimed to have cured himself of skin cancer, is extracted using pure ethanol as a soak and then distilling the resulting liquid via evaporation into a dark green, almost black liquid with a motor oil consistency. RSO does include almost all of the compounds manufactured within the cannabis plant strain from which it is made, such as, but not limited to lipids, proteins, cellulose, terpenes, and therefore is a more comprehensive cannabis product.
Shatter – Either amber, yellow, or clear glass-like oil concentrate. Often shattering upon being handled due to its brittle texture, it can range from brittle to gummy to taffy-like. Having a reputation for being one of the purest and cleanest forms of extract, this is an essentially aesthetic categorization. It requires a delicate and prolonged process of purging hydrocarbon gasses to remove all solvents.
Sugar – Can be characterized much the same as Batter/Badder but maintains a more liquid consistency. Virtually indistinguishable from the former other than having slightly more terpenes and therefore is considered wetter. If shatter is not properly liberated of the fats lipids and proteins found in the cellulose of the contributing plant, it can “sugar up” which is akin to crashing or more accurately, undergo nucleation. Once nucleation begins, what's called “seeding” cannot be arrested and eventually will overtake the clear product.
Terp Sauce – Syrup-like byproduct of hydrocarbon extraction part of nucleation which has clear and liquid characteristics similar to the original nectar produced in the extraction column. “Sauce” contains high terpenes. Nearly 50% of the sauce is terpenes which are devoid of lipids, fats and waxes common from plant material. The other 50% is commonly consists of all other minor cannabinoids and organic chemical compounds produced by the cannabis plant during its growth.
Terpenes - Compounds of the plant responsible for aroma and flavor. Formed inside the cannabis plant’s trichomes, these terpenes influence effects by interacting with the cannabinoids. Like a unique fingerprint, each strain has its own aroma and experience based on the distinct terpene content combination. Whether it is diesel, herbal, tropical, piney, skunky, sweet or citrusy, each one of these 120+ organic molecules are working hard on providing an impact to your taste buds.
Crumble – Type of concentrate similar to, but drier, in texture than budder/batter that tends to break apart when handling. Often crumble has honeycomb or Swiss cheese like holes contained within it, achieved after solvent removal by vigorously whipping material and utilizing oven temps typically higher than normal. Crumble offers versatility in its application. It can be added to joints or sprinkled on a pipe bowl and smoked directly without needing to be dabbed.
Crude Distillate - A viscous amber colored clarified liquid form of concentrate, systematically stripped and devoid of any contaminants such as solvents, terpenes, unwanted cannabinoids lipids, waxes, and proteins. It is distilled by a chemical refining process which separates and isolates Delta-9 THC or Cannabidiol (CBD) into the most concentrated form available, often achieving well over 95% purity levels.
Bioavailability - The term used to determine the rate at which a substance is absorbed into the bloodstream and is able to take an active effect. This not only depends on the amount consumed, but also the method of delivery (tinctures, edibles, topical, inhalation.) The higher the bioavailability, the more product is actively being put to use.
Nanoemulsion – Emulsifying concentrated oil particles by taking large oil particles and sonically breaking them down into smaller particles that become water soluble. Safe, stable, and potent, nanoemulsion can be used in edibles and topicals.
Entourage Effect - The combined effect of different compounds found in cannabis that work together as a whole to produce a greater effect than if working separately.
CBD - Short for cannabidiol, it is a naturally occurring component of the cannabis plant. It is non-intoxicating and non-psychoactive.
Endocannabinoid System - Just like we have a nervous system or circulatory system, we all have an endocannabinoid system. Discovered not too long ago in the early 1990’s this system is present throughout the entire body: in our brain, organs, connective tissues, and our immune system. Endocannabinoids are also found at the ‘’intersections’’ of our bodies systems, allowing easy communication and coordination between different cell types. Each part of the body carries out a different task, but the ECS is always working towards the same vital end result - homeostasis. Homeostasis is the complex ability to maintain stability of biological functions.
Cannabinoids are what we call the chemical messengers. They monitor conditions outside the cell then transmit information about changing conditions to the inside of the cell. Once this happens, the cell then knows how to make the correct response and take action. Once the cannabinoids are used, they are then destroyed by metabolic enzymes that are present within the ECS
CBG - Short for cannabigerol, it is a naturally occurring component of the cannabis plant. Referred to as the “mother cannabinoid,” as the plant matures, CBG breaks down to form other cannabinoids.
EXTRACTION
Pressurized gaseous chemical solvents, such as propane and butane, are forced through cannabis biomass (bud and trim) packed into stainless steel columns. The resulting low temperatures separate valuable oils from the plant material. The liquor, the solution that is left after the extraction process, is placed into a vacuum oven to remove any residual solvents leftover through temperature and pressure modifications. What remains is highly dependent upon: various temperature & pressure fluctuations, timing, and most importantly, the reactions to chemical compounds found in varying cannabis strains (quality, condition and age of material.) The final product will fall into Shatter, Badder, Crumble, Sugar, Diamonds and/or Terp Sauce.
CLOSED LOOP EXTRACTION
Hydrocarbon Concentrates at Waypoint are the result of basic essential oil extraction principles. We chose this route because its polarity brings out the most in yields and aroma than any other form of extraction. Our small batches allow us to soak the material effectively, removing any dangerous plant fats and lipids for the best possible clean, full spectrum products.
Each extraction journey is a little different depending on the cannabis strain + harvest.
Fresh frozen cannabis is washed with ice and water in bruteless stainless steel barrels. This process hardens the trichome heads where nearly all the resinous cannabinoids and terpenoids are produced. Washing and repeating (and then washing and repeating! agitates these trichome heads, separating them from the rest of the plant. The tiny heads and stalks are filtered out of the water using a series of screens and then collected to form the cannabinoid and terpene-rich material we know as hash. These resin-rich trichomes heads are then freeze dried and placed in a variety of multiple sized micron bags before being pressed between two heated plates. The final product is referred to as Ice Hash Rosin or Solventless Hash Rosin.
ICE WATER EXTRACTION
Our Terp Hunters hand select strains that will provide a good yield and other desirable characteristics. Ice water extraction requires properly maintained and high-quality starting material to match the flavor/melt-quality of concentrates made with hydrocarbon solvents.
Ice Hash Rosin preserves a flavorful live-plant aroma and the terpenes to go along with it.
TERPENES
Compounds of the plant responsible for aroma and flavor. Here's a few common ones: