What is Shatter & How Do You Use It?

Lately in our different types of cannabis concentrates series, we have taken a closer look at wax, rosin, resin & diamonds, and in this article we cover yet another trendy product that has hit the market: shatter. What is it and how is it made?

Shatter is a highly potent cannabis extract with a brittle, translucent, and glass-like texture that easily breaks into fragments to the slightest press(hence its name).

Cannabis shatter has an amber colored or golden hue due to its high levels of THC, which can range from 70-90%.

Because of its high potency, a small amount of shatter hits hard and fast compared to the average THC content in loose-leaf cannabis flower (15-25%). Obviously, this astronomical potency is the reason for its popularity in the stoner community.

Shatter is mainly used for dabbing although it can also be used in vapes or added to flower. We’ll dive deeper into those methods in a later section of this article.

Here’s a fun fact: While shatter popularity has skyrocketed in the last five years, its origins date back to the 1990s when a Canadian manufacturer named Budderking introduced it alongside budder.

How Is Shatter Made?

Shatter is a type of Butane Hash Oil (BHO), which means it is made using solvents such as butane. However, the extraction process can be quite complex and even risky, which is why it’s best left to trained professionals in a safe, controlled lab setting.

Here’s a quick rundown of the process:

1. Extraction: To start, a solvent like butane is pushed through the fresh loose flower, trim or shake which extracts cannabinoids (CBD, CBG, CBN, and THC), terpenes, and flavonoids from the marijuana flower buds leaving behind the less desirable plant material. The end result is a sticky potent oil.

2. Purging: After that, the oil undergoes a purification phase. It gets a gentle heat treatment in a specialized vacuum oven, which helps to bubble out any leftover solvents, ensuring that the final product is clean and safe for consumption.

3. Solidifying: The purified mixture is then allowed to cool and settle undisturbed. This step is crucial because it lets the molecules align perfectly, creating the solid, transparent sheets that shatter is known for.

Caution:

Trying to make shatter or any BHO concentrate at home is incredibly dangerous ( and illegal in most states). The process involves highly flammable solvents like butane. There have been serious accidents and even fatalities from past DIY attempts, so we strongly advise against trying this at home.

THC Shatter vs. Other Cannabis Concentrates

Shatter gets a rep for having the “worst consistency” because it can be super finicky to work with when you’re about to get down. But how does it compare to other marijuana concentrates you find at dispensaries?

Shatter vs. Wax

Wax is way softer and more pliable than shatter, which is hard as glass. Both are BHO concentrates and pack similar potency but wax is way easier to work with when using dab tools. On the flipside, shatter has a better shelf life than wax.

Shatter vs. Crumble

Crumble has a honeycomb like texture that breaks apart easy, while shatter stays solid until you decide to break it. Many people find crumble more flavorful since its structure holds more terpenes, but shatter delivers a stronger hit thanks to its concentrated molecular makeup.

Shatter vs. Live Resin

Budder is another soft, opaque concentrate that looks like thick cake batter or as the name suggests, butter. It gets whipped during the purging process and is super easy to scoop and handle, making it a great for beginners.

Want to learn more about the different types of concentrates? Check out our beginner guide!

How Do You Smoke Shatter Concentrate?

Shatter is a pleasantly potent form of marijuana concentrate when used correctly and with care. It's great for experienced users looking for something stronger or for medical marijuana patients. Here are a few ways to use it.

Smoking Shatter With a Dab Rig

To truly enjoy shatter, you'll need a dab rig and a bit of know-how on how to dab concentrates. A complete setup can range from $30 to $400, giving you plenty of choices. A smart approach is to start with something affordable, see how you like it, and then decide if you want to upgrade.

Smoking shatter with a dab rig, is pretty simple.

1. First, heat the nail or banger of your dab rig with a torch until it’s hot.

2. Then, wait about 30-45 seconds to let it cool slightly.

3. Use a dab tool to place a small piece of shatter on the nail. As the shatter melts, inhale the vapor through the mouthpiece.

Remember to start with a small amount, as shatter is very potent. Enjoy the experience, but always be careful with the hot torch and nail!

Smoking Shatter With a Vape

You can vape shatter like other cannabis concentrates; use a higher temperature than you would for cannabis flower. However, go too high (like you would for a distillate cart) and risk burning the shatter.

Dab pens are a great alternative to your dry-herb vapes and vape pens. Many have dual-use capabilities with two separate smoking compartments–one for dry herbs and another for concentrates like shatter. Smoking shatter with a vape or dab pen offers the convenience of enjoying a smoke session anywhere, especially when you include a vape filter.

How to Smoke Shatter With a Bong

You can, of course, top off your flower with shatter as you would with kief. If you want to smoke shatter in a bong, place a screen at the bottom of a clean bong bowl, add the shatter, and light as usual. You should encourage gentle, even heating by moving the bong bowl.

How to Smoke Shatter With a Blunt

Smoking shatter with a blunt is similar to smoking shatter with a cigarette. As mentioned, mix the shatter with the flower before rolling, or twax your paper. However, this method of smoking shatter is least effective because of the lack of control over precise temperature, resulting in using more THC/shatter than is necessary. 

Smoking Shatter With a Joint

All you need to smoke your shatter with rolling papers is cannabis, some shatter, rolling papers, a MouthPeace, and the know-how to roll a joint or blunt.

Lay out the rolling paper, filter/mouthpiece/crutch, and distribute the flower as usual. Then, drop small amounts of shatter onto the flower, roll the shatter into a long snake, or heat it until it’s soft enough to spread on the rolling paper if it’s too sticky. The snake can either go inside the blunt or around the outside.

Smoking Shatter with a Pipe

Yes, of course you can! Apply the shatter on top of the dried cannabis and add a pipe screen for easy cleanup. As mentioned earlier, a dab rig, or water pipe, is the preferred method for smoking shatter. Investing in either will ensure a pleasant and easy way to smoke shatter.

Possible Side Effects of Shatter

Now that you are well educated on the different ways to use shatter, let's talk about the experience itself. Does Shatter use cause any side effects? Like any form of cannabis use, it does.

Shatter might have the beautiful color of honey, but its high potency means an intense high & if you overindulge, the experience will be anything but sweet.

Short-term effects at low doses include:

• Intense euphoria that hits within minutes

• Altered sense of time and space

• Increased heart rate for up to 3 hours after use

• Impaired coordination and slower reaction times

Overconsumption risks include:

• Severe anxiety attacks or panic episodes

• Hallucinations or delusional thinking

• Psychosis episodes, especially in those predisposed to mental health issues

• Dangerous decision-making due to impaired judgment

Of course, everyone reacts differently based on their own body chemistry and consumption habits. If you have any concerns about the effects or potential health risks of using a cannabis extract, it’s always a good idea to chat with a medical professional. But generally, the best approach is always to practice safe consumption and understand the cannabis product you are using before you try it.

What is the Best Way to Smoke Shatter Safely?

When smoking shatter or any cannabis extract, the old saying ‘start low, go slow’ is definitely true here, especially for beginners. Start with a piece the size of a grain of rice or smaller and wait at least 15-30 minutes before consuming more to gauge the effects.

Also make sure to buy your shatter from legal dispensaries that are required to test their products for purity and safety. Low quality black market shatter may contain leftover solvents which can be harmful to your health.

Lastly, consider getting a filtration device in your cannabis regimen. This MouthPeace filter allow consumers to experience all the good and psychoactive effects of smoking while lessening potential lung damage from smoke, making your dabbing sessions more comfortable and safer for long term use.

Frequently Asked Questions About Shatter

Is shatter the same as wax?

No, shatter and wax are both BHO concentrates but have different textures. Shatter is hard and glass-like while wax is soft and pliable.

Is shatter the same as dabs?

Dabs is a general term for all cannabis concentrates consumed with a dab rig. Shatter is one type of dab, along with wax, budder, and rosin.

What is shatter high like?

It’s a very strong and fast acting high. Because of the high potency users report intense cerebral and physical effects that hit almost immediately after inhaling.

Is shatter the strongest THC concentrate?

It’s one of the strongest, with THC levels usually at 90%. Other concentrates like THC diamonds are stronger but shatter is always top shelf for potency.

Can you smoke shatter in a joint or bowl?

Yes. You can break it into small pieces and mix it with cannabis flower in a joint, bowl or bong. This will increase the potency of your smoke.

How much does shatter typically cost?

Prices vary depending on location, quality and potency. Expect to pay between $20 to $50 a gram.

Is shatter stronger than hash?

Yes. Traditional hash has a THC content of 20-60%. Shatter is way stronger with 70-90% THC.

How long does a shatter high last?

The effects hit almost immediately and last several hours. The peak of the high usually hits within the first hour and then subsides over the next 1-3 hours.