Cannabis Concentrates And The Rise Of Dab Culture
Cannabis concentrates have come a long way since they were first popularized in the 1960s and 70s. From crude old school DIY methods to widespread modern commercial production, concentrates have evolved into boutique high end dispensary products, and that’s all thanks to a growing dabbing culture that looks set to dominate the future of cannabis consumption.
DIY Dabbing: Humble Beginnings
Resins extracted from the cannabis plant have a surprisingly long history, especially in Asia. However, they didn’t become popular in the west until the hippy movement of the 60s kicked off stoner culture. Inspired by asian and african resin making practices, stoners from the US and Europe began to DIY their own hashes and oils and also the means to consume them. Hot knifing became a simple and popular way to vaporize extracts at first, but before long, stoners began to develop proto dab rigs or “oil burners” by modifying pipes and bongs.
A Culture Is Born
During the 1980s and 90s cannabis concentrates started to make a name for themselves with cultivators and enthusiasts alike, and with the introduction of quartz and borosilicate heat resistant glass, DIY oil burners evolved into specialized concentrate rigs to handle them. Often these rigs were available from head shops, and coupled with a more widespread access to concentrates themselves, slowly but surely cannabis concentrates grew in popularity. However, even by the early 2000s dabbing cannabis extracts remained a niche pursuit of hardcore stoners. But that was all about to change.
Changing Perceptions
One of the main reasons for the rise of dab culture is the matter of shifting public perceptions around smoking. As the detrimental health effects became more widely known, even smoking cannabis flower in a joint began to fall from grace, in favor of healthier vaping, dabbing, and edibles. This has driven a fundamental change in consumer behavior which is taking dabbing culture to a whole new level of popularity.
Industry Domination
In the past decade cannabis concentrate consumption has skyrocketed while flower sales have flatlined. Not only that, but affordable dab rigs and e-vapes have become widely available too. Thanks to this, dabbing culture has matured into a hugely popular movement that now enjoys mainstream commercial success. Today, It’s hard to find a dispensary or cannabis outlet that doesn’t stock cannabis concentrates and dab rigs, which means we’re living in a golden age of dabbing, and it doesn’t look like it will be ending any time soon.
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