Concentrates Explained

What makes something a cannabis concentrate?

A concentrate is cannabis material that has had its resin, containing cannabinoids and terpenes, separated out and reduced away from the rest of the plant. The result is a product with much higher cannabinoid density than raw flower, consumed by dabbing, vaporizing, or adding to a pre-roll.

Concentrates cover a wide range of textures and production methods, from solvent-based extraction using butane or CO2 to solventless methods using only heat, pressure, or ice water. The category name usually describes either the texture of the final product or the method used to make it.

Because concentrates are so cannabinoid-dense, Ohio testing rules apply the same potency and contaminant screening to them as to flower, and the resulting THC percentage on a concentrate label is typically far higher than what you would see on a flower label.

What are wax and shatter, and how do they differ from each other?

Wax and shatter are both solvent-extracted concentrates that end up with different textures based on how they are processed after extraction. Wax has a soft, opaque, crumbly texture, while shatter is purged into a hard, glass-like, translucent sheet. Chemically they can be very similar despite looking different.

The texture difference comes down to how the extract is agitated and purged of residual solvent during processing, not a fundamentally different starting material. Producers choose one finish over another partly for handling preference and partly for shelf presentation.

Both are typically vaporized using a dab rig or a compatible vape device, and both are covered by the same Ohio testing and labeling requirements as any other cannabis product sold at a licensed dispensary.

What is live resin, and how is it different from standard extracts?

Live resin is made from cannabis flash-frozen immediately after harvest, rather than dried and cured first, which preserves more of the plant’s original terpene content. That extra preservation step is why live resin products often carry a stronger, fresher aroma than concentrates made from dried flower.

Standard concentrates are typically made from dried and cured flower, which loses some volatile terpenes in the drying process regardless of how carefully it is handled. Freezing the plant material right after harvest skips that loss almost entirely, which is the whole premise behind the live resin category.

See live resin vs distillate for a direct comparison between this fresh-frozen approach and the more refined, terpene-stripped distillate process used in many vape products.

What is rosin, and how is it different from solvent-based concentrates?

Rosin is a solventless concentrate made by applying heat and pressure to cannabis flower or hash, squeezing the resin out mechanically rather than through a chemical solvent. Because no solvent is involved, rosin production skips the purging step that wax and shatter both require.

The solventless label is the main draw for shoppers who prefer to avoid solvent-based extraction entirely, even though solvent-based concentrates sold in Ohio are tested and screened for any residual solvent before sale under state rules.

Rosin can be made from fresh-frozen material as well, sometimes marketed as live rosin, combining the solventless method with the terpene preservation benefit associated with the live resin category.

How do I choose a concentrate at The Garden, and where can I buy one?

Consider potency, terpene freshness, and how you plan to consume it: dabbing, vaping, or adding to a pre-roll. Live resin and live rosin generally offer stronger aroma and terpene preservation, while standard wax and shatter offer a more budget-friendly entry point into the category.

If terpene flavor and aroma are the priority, live resin or live rosin are usually the better starting point. If cost or availability is the bigger factor, standard wax or shatter from a trusted Ohio processor is a reasonable place to start.

Check the live menu for Camp Washington or Sycamore Township, or browse the concentrates category page for what is currently in stock.

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