There are a lot of slang terms for marijuana. Weed. Pot. Green. Dope. The list goes on and on.

One of these slang terms is hash – or so you may think. Hash is actually a different product than the green nuggets of cannabis flower that you roll up in your joints. Weed and hash share many similarities, but their differences are worth noting. 

Before you start shopping for weed, hash, and other cannabis products, know the difference and how you can use them. 

What is “Weed?” 

Weed is just regular old weed. It’s the flower from the marijuana plant. Once harvested, dried, and cured, you can grind it up and smoke it. (Learn more about the different parts of the marijuana plant on our blog.) 

What is “Hash?”

On the flowers of marijuana plants lie tiny trichomes. These trichomes look like crystals or even a morning dew. The resinous trichomes help to protect and preserve the marijuana plant. After the flower is harvested, protecting the trichomes can help to preserve the flavours, aromas, and effects that are unique to each strain. 

Trichomes can also be collected without harvesting the flower. They contain terpenes, cannabinoids, and other active ingredients of the marijuana plant. When a grower collects just the trichomes and compresses them together, they can make hash. 

The Two Types of Hash

The process in which growers take to collect and compress trichomes can create two types of hash. The most common form of hash is solid hash. It looks almost like a moulding clay. These solid forms of hash are also called “bricks.” 

Solid hash is easy to harvest, even at home. Home growers often use hair straighteners or irons to compress and separate resin from the marijuana plant and create a solid hash. 

But the oil form of hash is becoming more popular. Growers use butane oil to separate the trichomes from the plant and create an oil. Butane hash oil (BHO) is a coveted score in the world of weed, but it’s not easy (or safe) to make at home. 

What’s The Difference Between Weed and Hash? 

Both products come from the marijuana plant. But why would someone choose weed over hash, or hash over weed? 

Potency 

The main difference between weed and hash is the potency. Regular marijuana has a THC content between 10-25%. Solid hash is more potent. While some hash products start with a THC content around 20%, it’s not uncommon to see hash with up to 60% THC. 

BHO has an even higher THC content. Concentrates like hash oil can reach up to 90% THC. 

Hash may also have a higher concentration of CBD than flower typically does. 

Taste 

For some people, the potency of the product isn’t so important. It’s the taste. Just like there is a higher concentration of THC and cannabinoids in solid hash, there is also a higher concentration of terpenes. Terpenes give each strain its unique taste. 

On the other hand, some people try the taste of hash and go back to flower. It’s all about personal preference. 

Price and Availability

Around the world, hash may be more available and cheaper. In Canada, however, you’re more likely to get a better deal on plain old weed. Due to the potency of concentrates like hash oil, you’re not likely to find any liquid hash that is cheaper than flower. 

Will Hash Get You Higher? 

The physical and mental effects of weed and hash are pretty much the same. But due to the potency of hash, you might feel like you’ve been hit by a bus the first time you try it. You will get higher from hash if you’re using the same amount of hash and flower. 

If you’re using hash oil, be very careful about how much you use. A quick dab is all you need, especially if you’re new to hash or concentrates. 

Consuming Weed vs. Hash

You can consume hash using the same methods that you use to smoke weed. 

Smoking Hash 

It’s possible just to break up hash and add it to a joint, blunt, or even a pipe. Many hash users mix their solid hash with marijuana when smoking it for a harder hit. This is the most common way to smoke hash. Putting hash in a bowl or a bong could eliminate some of the harsh tastes of smoke, but many experts believe that you’re just wasting your money by popping it in a bong when flower will do just fine. 

Vaping Hash 

There are different vape pens for every occasion. Whether you want to vape dry herb, oil, or hash products, you can find a vape pen that will fit your needs. It may not be the same vape pen, but one exists on the market. Check to see what you can put in your vape carts before you buy. 

Eating Hash 

There are plenty of ways to add hash into butter and baked goods. But be careful. Edibles made from flower are strong enough (and hit you differently than just smoking.) Take only a few pieces at a time and wait things out until your body digests your hash brownies. 

Dabbing Hash 

Dabbing is becoming one of the more popular (and controversial) ways to consume cannabis. Dabbing requires a special rig that allows you to vaporize small bits of wax, butter, or BHO. If you only have solid hash, you can still dab, but you’ll need to take a few extra steps to have a product that you can put on your dab rig. It’s best just to grab some oil and have it delivered ready to dab. 

Where to Buy Hash 

Cannabis edibles and extracts are legal to buy in Canada. Brick-and-mortar dispensaries may have a limited selection of hash, BHO, and other concentrated products. The best way to get hash fast is to order it online. 

Check out our entire inventory of hash, live resin, and other concentrates. At Speed Greens, we are dedicated to selling high-quality cannabis products and delivering them discreetly, right to your door.