Teenagers are exposed to so many forms of substances that it can be difficult to know what to expect. Of course, smoking marijuana has been around for years and depending on how you look at it, it has mostly been pretty harmless. Until now. Recently, marijuana concentrates have become popular. Although, in essence, this substance comes from the same source, they can have a much more potent effect. It’s important to understand marijuana concentrates risks.
If you’re taking or considering taking any drug, or if you suspect that someone you know may have a problem with a particular substance, it’s best to educate yourself with the facts. Learn more about marijuana concentrates and the risks they pose in the guide that follows.
What is it, Exactly?
Marijuana concentrates are hardened masses of THC or tetrahydrocannabinol. It is normally yellow or brownish in color and looks like honey or hardened butter.
It’s much stronger than any joint the average person would roll, where the levels of THC are usually around 20 percent. The THC levels of a marijuana concentrate range from 40-80 percent, so it can be up to four times as strong. As one can imagine, this means its effects are also much stronger.
Reports have said that one hit of “wax” can be the equivalent of two joints. It can be gooey, like honey, waxy or hard.
It’s called by a variety of street names. 710 is a common one (this is the word oil flipped and spelled backward), budder, wax, honey oil, BHO (butane honey oil), dabs, shatter, black glass and errl.
How Are Marijuana Concentrates Made?
It’s made by extracting the THC from marijuana plants. One popular method is quite dangerous, yet many people try to do it at home. This is when someone uses butane, which can be very explosive, and puts it through an extraction tube that is filled with marijuana.
When the butane is burned off or evaporates, a sticky liquid remains. This is called “wax” or “dab”. Using this process poses a considerable risk, as butane is a highly flammable solvent. People have died due to explosions in their homes and others been injured when trying to make the substance.
How Do You Use Marijuana Wax?
There are a number of ways that people ingest marijuana concentrates. Smoking is probably the most popular form for people to get high, so that doesn’t vary much from the traditional ways of smoking marijuana, except for the effects. People often use heated glass bongs or oil pipes to use the substance.
Another way is by putting it in food or drink – like a traditional weed, people bake brownies and cookies with concentrates. Putting it in coffee has also become popular in certain states.
Using a vape or e-cigarette is some users way of getting their THC fix, as it is easy to hide and very acceptable in public. The person simply takes a “dab” of the marijuana concentrate, then they heat it using the vape and the vapors that they inhale give them an instant high.
People think that it’s odorless and while it is less so than smoking a joint, it’s still a distinctive scent.
Wax Risks
The potential risks of “dabbing” aren’t all known yet, as it is quite new. However, the negative effects of high doses of marijuana are known, and since the concentrates are so potent, the user does experience a strong high, but they are also susceptible to much worse side effects too.
There are several health risks involved with abusing marijuana and these are exacerbated when it is abused in concentrate form.
The following are some negative effects, that are felt much more keenly by those who abuse “wax” or “budder”:
- Bad memory
- Increased heart rate
- Paranoia
- Heightened blood pressure
- Increased anxiety
- Sensory perception changes
- Panic attacks
- Seeing things (hallucinating)
- Hearing things that may not be there
- Feeling like your skin is crawling
- Temporary psychotic breaks (may require hospitalization)
It is now possible to overdose on marijuana, something that wasn’t thought possible previously.
More Serious Problems
Marijuana alone has been known to give users a psychedelic experience but concentrate can make this much more heightened. This can have pretty negative effects and be hard to shake off. Several users have been hospitalized due to this.
One teenager was hospitalized for seizures following ingestion of concentrates. Several people have been known to pass out from the effects of wax and if this happens, they are at risk of banging themselves onto something sharp and severely hurting themselves. At least one person has died this way.
If someone has a preexisting mental condition, even if they’re not aware of it, it can be very dangerous for them to even experiment with this substance. Those who have had bad experiences include people who suffer from depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.
Those who vape are exposing themselves to the molecules from butane, which is toxic, and this can have long-term harmful effects on their lungs. The long-term side effects are yet to be seen, as people have only started abusing concentrates recently.
However, it is expected that they will be worse than the long term effects that have been seen in regular marijuana users. Chronic health issues and withdrawal are much more likely with this new substance.
Another serious health risk is butane poisoning. When the butane is used for extraction, it leaves behind some of its neurotoxins. This can literally kill brain cells. There’s a reason why the process of extraction is illegal.
Get Help
It appears that this has become a popular pastime among many teenagers, with increasing use among 8th-12th graders. If you have someone of that age group around, be open and talk to them about drugs. Try not to be judgemental and understand that they will be curious.
If you’re concerned about a loved one’s use of marijuana concentrates then there are options you can consider, such as intervention and rehabilitation.
54 comments
hi
Im a 16 year old and I recently quit wax. Ive been vaping for about a year now and the permanent effects of wax scares me. Is it too late? Will I suffer from permanent brain damage?
Hi Brian,
Glad to hear that you have quit smoking wax. Don’t worry, you will likely bounce back and fully recover. Please feel free to search our site for resources of treatment or counseling. It might be a good idea to reach out to a local counselor or treatment center. Especially if you ever get the urge to use again. I wish you success in your recovery!
Marijuana is very useful for the body but excessive consumption of it is not good for the body.
Wax and even some edibles are no joke. I stupidly tried wax about 3 years ago and I had voices talking in my head that night. I thought I was losing my mind. I also had elevated heart rate and it seemed like I could feel the whole “electrical” system (as I called it at the time) around my heart. It really scared me. It’s a shame that a natural form of a drug isn’t enough and someone has to go and make it more concentrated! I wonder, at what point will they stop?
The wax risks are too enormous. It is better not to get involved.
Marijuana concentrate is a tough and hard drugs. It makes people to misbehave in such away that one will be amazed
It is harmful and life threathling herb. It must be avoided at all cost.
There is no benefit from the taking of the concentrate rather than problems. We shall continue to educate people who are addicted to it.
It is obvious that Marijuana wax concentrate is harmful to people’s health. However, drug addiction should be avoided as much as possible.
This is a great insight to Marijuana. Many thanks to you guy’s for sharing this.
Great and fantastic insights to Marijuana. This is so useful and helpful for a research work.
This is an interesting article about the dangers of marijuana. It is advisable to avoid its side effects.
Nice one detox in finding time to educative us on this. Thank you so much.
I am very happy that I have given up smoking. Don’t worry now everything will be fine soon. Thanks for sharing this blog.
This is so informative and interesting. Now I know the various risks poised by marijuana. Am so glad this article was shared
Marijuana wax Concentrates causes much Adverse Effects to the Body System.
So many are not informed on how dangerous what they take is,to their Health.
Majority get addicted to Drugs they barely know their Negative Effects.
Getting Help is still much advised to those in the challenge already.
Know that it’s Not Over.
I recognize that it has medicinal purposes but a jam oort of a concentrate is the first. That being said, it does not change the fact that this needs regulation. Regardless of what form it takes MJ is MJ.
It is a very informative post. One should always vow for sobriety and stay away from addiction.
Marijuana possess alot of risk and harmful effects to the human body.it a very detrimental substance to the entire body system.
Marijuana can be beneficial or otherwise. The effects stated in this article confirms that marijuana posed so many risks to its users.
This is a well detailed and comprehensive article. I’ve learned a lot
I really learnt a lot from this article, I wonder why people feel they have to Wax there by endangering their lives. Detox to rehab thank you for sharing it was quite educative and informative.
Marijuana has a very bad effect on people especially been taking with food. It possess a bad feeling on humans.
This post is educative. Marijuana is one the most abused substance in this society.
The negative effects stated about marijuana can be devastating. It is not advisable to someone to take it as it can cause addiction.
This is the whole essence why people needs to stay away from marijuana especially taking them in excess and abusing them. Having memory loss is bad enough for those taking marijuana wax
marijuana wax risks are really dangerous to the health and one needs to avoid indulging it. Having heightened blood pressure wouldn’t be the best for anyone
These risks are too difficult to manage. If not taken care of accordingly, it has the tendency to take the victim’s life.
Marijuana is a risk to the entire body, it causes alot of havoc and harmful effects to the body. It is good not to take it at all.
Thank you Detax to rehab for sharing these type of stories with all of us.These stories are really very much inspirational for many people who are addicted with something and try to recover from that.
This is an eye opening article on marijuana addiction. The negative effects of taking in marijuana is not encouraging. Best to stay away or abstain from this drug.
Let be of help to people out there that are into the addicts of Wax. If you have someone of that age group around, be open and talk to them about drugs. Let them know that there’s light outside the darkness they’re.
Thanks for this update. For me, this is a first time I’m hearing about this marijuana wax, but this article is gonna go a long way in helping positively.
So dangerous,by the way all people must know about this,so they Will think before addict
If we have people like this in our environment now let be of help or we refer them to counselor for their recovery. They can’t afford to continue in the darkest of life. Let show to them that there’s light and better life outside addiction.
Marijuana concentrates can be consumed in a variety of ways. Except for the effects, smoking is arguably the most popular technique for individuals to get high, therefore it doesn’t differ much from the traditional ways of smoking marijuana. To consume the material, many people utilise heated glass bongs or oil pipes.
This is such alarming news. I ever thought I’d see the day, where a form of marijuana could lead to overdose, or butane poisoning. Very important to get the word out before it does more harm.
Excessive consumption of these drugs is very dangerous and harmful flto the body. Thank you for sharing this information and well detailed article
This is a very good article. Marijuana destroys life.
From the description alone marijuana wax must be super potent. That means its effects are almost four time that of a normal marijuana joint.
Wow, this is the first time I’ll be reading about this Marijuana Wax. This is so educative.
These wax risks are destructive. Every one must avoid its intake.
Marijuana is be to the health, some of the side effect is life taking and it should be controlled in our society.
The adverse effect of marijuana on health can’t be overstated… People must be thoroughly educated.
Glad to hear that you have quit smoking wax. Don’t worry, you will likely bounce back and fully recover. Please feel free to search our site for resources of treatment or counseling. Thank you for sharing this information and well detailed article
People should be educated on the effects of marijuana. Taking it can affect one’s health. The post is educative. Thank you.
This is an eye opener on Marijuana wax. I never had of the marijuana wax only the normal marijuana so thanks for the informative article and even the harmful effects of it.
Marijuana wax concentrate is destructive. Care must be taken to avoid it at all cost.
The composition is very hard let alone its consumption. Thanks for this revelation.
These risks are enormous. The most painful part of it is the destruction of its victims.
Change in sensory perception is a big risk which makes lives miserable. Thanks for this article.
This post is really educative. Marijuana concentrate is very harmful to the body. One need to avoid it at all cost
Wax if taken moderately and some have doctor’s advice, can be truly beneficial. The mother of my friend rarely suffers from her asthma attack because she is taking marijuana wax.