The Louisiana medical marijuana program allows patients who have been approved for a medical marijuana card to shop at any of the State’s 9 dispensary locations and purchase legal cannabis.
Among the products you’ll find at Louisiana pharmacies are concentrates, which are highly potent extracts from the cannabis plant.
These extracts have high amounts of THC and are designed to help patients with severe symptoms, offering powerful and long-lasting relief in small dosages.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Louisiana concentrates and how medical marijuana patients use them in their treatment plans!
What are Cannabis Concentrates?
Concentrates are Extracts of Cannabinoids, and They’re Potent
Concentrates are extracts from the cannabis plant, isolating and processing compounds such as THC into a highly concentrated state.
That’s why concentrates come with such high THC percentages like 60% or 90% THC, because these extracts are simply large quantities of THC pooled together.
Concentrates are made by removing the trichomes on the surface of buds and leaves and processing them into a highly isolated structure, leaving high concentrations of THC in the final product.
Concentrates can come in a variety of different product types, which are designated based on their composition and the techniques used to process them.
Some common types of concentrates are:
· Badder
· Bubble Hash
· Budder
· Crumble
· Diamonds
· Distillate
· Live Resin
· Live Rosin
· Pressed Hash
· Rosin
· Sauce
· Shatter
· Water Hash
· Wax
Solvent vs Solventless Concentrates
Concentrates are also distinguished by two categories:
· Solvent-Based
· Solventless
Solvent-based concentrates use a chemical to extract the compounds such as butane, ethanol, or alcohol, which is purged and completely removed from the product before it’s ready to consume.
Solventless concentrates don’t use a chemical solvent to extract the compounds and thus don’t require purging them. Popular methods for solventless concentrates are heat press, sifting, and water filtering.
Another minor category in concentrates are live concentrates, which are extracts that have been frozen to preserve their terpenes. Live resin & live rosin are some of the most sought-after medical marijuana products on the market and offer incredible flavor and potency.
How do Medical Marijuana Patients Use Concentrates?
Concentrates are Favored by Patients with Severe Symptoms or High Tolerances
Concentrates are designed for patients with severe symptoms or high tolerances to THC.
Because of the high concentration of THC, patients with a low tolerance or patients who are new to cannabis should approach extracts with caution.
Consuming large amounts of THC can cause a range of negative side effects, though for some severe symptoms these may take a back seat to effective treatment.
Patients with severe chronic pain, PTSD, cancer, HIV/AIDS, and many more use concentrates to apply a large and potent dosage that lasts approximately 1 – 3 hours, with perceivable effects being much more noticeable than traditional cannabis products like cannabis flower or tinctures.
How to Dose Cannabis Concentrates
Cannabis concentrates can be consumed in a variety of ways and each consumption method will yield its own results with potency.
Vape cartridges and sublingual dosing are the calmest way to dose concentrates, though these two options are primarily for cannabis distillate.
Dabbing and smoking are the main ways to dose cannabis concentrates, with dabs being the most common method.
To effectively dose a cannabis concentrate by dabbing, patients will heat a surface area like quartz to a high temperature and place a half-a-rice-grain amount of concentrate onto the surface which is then inhaled, typically through a water pipe.
Smoking concentrates is typically done by adding a small amount of extract to cannabis flower, which can be utilized with water pipes, dry pipes, or joints and blunts.
Concentrates are extremely effective for patients with a high tolerance to THC as they can deliver a potent dosage with very little material required, which can also make them a more affordable option for some patients.
Currently, concentrates are available in Louisiana and cultivators are slowly ramping up production to provide more access to concentrate products for medical marijuana patients.
Get Your Louisiana Medical Marijuana Certification
Louisiana offers a comprehensive medical marijuana program that allows physicians to certify patients for medical marijuana for any condition they believe the patient could improve by using cannabis as a medicine. Louisiana also offers telehealth certifications for patients looking for the extra convenience of applying for your medical marijuana card online.
You can become a medical marijuana patient today by consulting with one of our qualified doctors!
Getting a medical marijuana card in Louisiana is easier than ever, beat the lines and get your medical marijuana certification in Louisiana today, and you can even get certified for medical marijuana online for ease of use and convenience.
For questions about Louisiana’s medical marijuana program, or how to become a medical marijuana patient in Louisiana, consult with one of our trusted doctors and book an online medical marijuana appointment today!
Doctors Who Care.
Relief You Can Trust.
At Louisiana Marijuana Card, our mission is helping everyone achieve wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to medical marijuana. Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce the stigma for our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
Call us at (833) 253-2943, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
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