What Are Concentrates? RSO, Distillate, Live Resin, Shatter & More
By Jeff Eckenrode
Image credit: Adobe
Quick Answer: Cannabis concentrates are potent extracts that isolate cannabinoids and terpenes for stronger effects than flower. Popular types include RSO (full-spectrum, therapeutic), distillate (refined, high THC or CBD), live resin (fresh-frozen, terpene-rich), shatter (glass-like, potent), and wax/budder (soft, flavorful). They’re used in vapes, dabs, edibles, and topicals.
Walk into a dispensary and you’ll see not just flower, but a wide range of cannabis concentrates—products designed to deliver cannabinoids and terpenes in their most potent forms.
From RSO to distillate, live resin, and shatter, concentrates open the door to diverse experiences.
But what are they, and how do they differ?
What Are Cannabis Concentrates?
Concentrates are made by extracting the most desirable parts of the cannabis plant (cannabinoids and terpenes) and leaving behind plant matter.
The result is a product that can be far more potent than flower, often ranging from 60–90% THC (or high levels of CBD in certain extracts).
Popular Types of Concentrates
RSO (Rick Simpson Oil): A thick, full-spectrum extract originally developed for medical use. Often consumed orally, it contains a wide range of cannabinoids for powerful therapeutic effects.
Distillate: Ultra-refined oil with extremely high THC or CBD content. Flavor is usually added back with terpenes, and it’s commonly found in vape carts or edibles.
Live Resin: Made from fresh-frozen cannabis, preserving terpenes for bold flavor and a true-to-flower experience. Popular in vapes and dabs.
Shatter: A brittle, glass-like extract known for purity and potency. Used mainly for dabbing.
Wax/Budder: Concentrates with a soft, whipped texture, prized for their strong effects and terpene-rich profiles.
Image credit: Green Sativa
How Are Concentrates Used?
Concentrates can be enjoyed in several ways:
Dabbing with a rig for fast, intense effects
Vape cartridges for convenience
Edibles or tinctures when infused into food and drink
Topical use in the case of RSO and certain oils
The method of consumption often depends on preference, potency, and desired onset time.
Image credit: Christopher Ott
Why Choose Concentrates?
Concentrates offer:
Potency—higher cannabinoid levels than flower
Flavor—especially in terpene-rich options like live resin
Versatility—from vapes to edibles to topicals
They’re especially popular with experienced consumers and medical patients seeking strong, reliable effects.
What Are Concentrates?
Cannabis concentrates come in many forms—RSO for wellness, distillate for purity, live resin for flavor, shatter for potency—but all share one goal: delivering cannabis’s benefits in a powerful, concentrated way.
Whether you’re new to extracts or an experienced dabber, there’s a concentrate that fits your needs.
Where can I find Concentrates?
Whether you’re shopping online or in Redmond, we’re here to help you find what you need, when you need it. That includes concentrates!
We carry a wide selection to choose from so your options are always fresh (and practically endless).
Click on our online menu link below to see our current availability.
FAQ Cannabis Concentrates
What are cannabis concentrates?
Cannabis concentrates are extracts made by isolating the most desirable parts of the cannabis plant — cannabinoids like THC and CBD, and terpenes — while removing plant matter. The result is a product far more potent than flower, typically ranging from 60–90% THC (or high levels of CBD). They come in many forms — oils, waxes, resins, and shatters — each with different textures, flavors, and uses.
What is the difference between RSO, distillate, and live resin?
RSO (Rick Simpson Oil) is a full-spectrum, ethanol-extracted oil containing a broad range of cannabinoids and terpenes — thick, dark, and intended primarily for oral or topical medical use. Distillate is ultra-refined through fractional distillation, producing a near-pure (90–99%) THC or CBD oil that is flavorless and versatile for vapes and edibles. Live resin is made from fresh-frozen cannabis, preserving far more of the original terpene profile for bold flavor and a more true-to-flower experience.
What is shatter and how is it different from wax or budder?
Shatter is a brittle, glass-like concentrate known for its purity and potency, primarily used for dabbing. Wax and budder are soft, pliable concentrates with a whipped or creamy texture — their slightly different consistency comes from variations in the agitation and temperature during processing. All three are solvent-based extracts, but wax and budder tend to preserve more terpenes than shatter, giving them stronger flavor profiles.
How are cannabis concentrates consumed?
Concentrates can be consumed in several ways: dabbing with a rig for fast, intense effects; vape cartridges for convenient, portable use; edibles and tinctures when infused into food or drink; and topical application for RSO and certain oils. The right method depends on your preferred onset time, desired potency, and whether you want psychoactive effects or localized relief.
Are concentrates right for beginners?
Concentrates are generally best suited for experienced cannabis users due to their high potency. A dose that feels modest for a seasoned consumer can be overwhelming for someone new to cannabis. Beginners are better served starting with low-THC flower, micro-dosed edibles, or CBD-dominant products and working up gradually. If you're curious about concentrates, ask a Hashtag budtender to walk you through entry-level options.
Why do experienced consumers and medical patients prefer concentrates?
Concentrates offer higher cannabinoid levels than flower in a smaller quantity, making them efficient and cost-effective for frequent or medical users. Terpene-rich options like live resin and wax deliver complex flavor and a more complete cannabis experience. For medical patients, the potency of products like RSO can provide relief that lower-concentration products may not match. And concentrates' versatility — usable in dabs, vapes, edibles, and topicals — means one product can serve multiple purposes.
Want to learn more about cannabis concentrates?
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