Shake weed, which is another name for the leaves, stems, and trimmings of a cannabis plant that fall off buds and gather at the bottom of cannabis storage containers, is also referred to as “shake” or “marijuana shake.” It reminds me of the chips at the bottom of the bag.
While the potency of shake weed is generally regarded as lower than that of regular marijuana buds, the concentration of active ingredients varies. Although shake weed may contain some kief, it’s important to remember that kief (resinous trichomes) is not the same as shake weed. It is always advised to consult with an MMJ doctor for proper guidance before you decide to try shake weed.
What Is Shake Weed?
The term “shake weed” describes the portions of the cannabis flower that break off while being handled or packaged. Its longest drying and deteriorating period makes it generally of lower quality than the other buds.
Products marketed as “shake weed” occasionally contain what is actually “trim,” further degrading the product’s quality. Dead fan leaves and other undesirable parts of the cannabis plant that are usually removed prior to curing are referred to as “trim.” These can make smoking more unpleasant because they contain a lot of chlorophyll. This is one of the main reasons it’s important to buy cannabis from vendors or shops you can rely on, as they will be truthful about the ingredients in their offerings.
How Does it Work?
Cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN), two of the active ingredients in other cannabis strains, are frequently present in shake weed. This indicates that it functions similarly to other cannabis strains.
The precise effects of any given batch, however, can be more difficult to forecast due to the active ingredient amounts in shake weed tending to be more variable. This is partially because shake weed is frequently made from shake from various cannabis plant strains with varying amounts of active ingredients, and it may also have a “trim” content.
When you buy weed edibles online, you might be able to find products labeled “premium harvest shake,” which are made of shake from single strains of cannabis, if you’re looking for a more consistent kind of shake marijuana.
The Potential Health Benefits and Uses of Shake Weed
Shake weed usually contains more CBN because of its age and exposure to light. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has a stronger sedative effect when it breaks down into cannabidiol (CBN).
Shake weed is just as useful in joints and dry herb vapes as regular buds. Shake vaporization preserves the most of the THC while maintaining a consistent flavor with other buds.
Furthermore, unlike other cannabis varieties, shake weed doesn’t require grinding because it already contains tiny flower fragments. It may also be more difficult to pack into bowls or roll into joints as a result. It’s advised to spread the shake as evenly as possible to ensure the best shake joints and more even burning. You might also need to strain your shake before using it in order to get rid of any unwanted seeds and stem fragments.
There are other ways to use shake if you’re not a fan of smoking joints. You can create your own shake tinctures, edibles, or add them to tea.
- Tea
It’s been demonstrated that blending cannabis with tea can enhance some of the powerful but non-euphoric effects of CBD. Nevertheless, due to the low water solubility of the cannabinoids in tea, the full effects of cannabis are typically not realized. Since cannabinoids like to bind to fat, one way to extract more cannabinoids from your tea is to use hot milk instead of water.
- Edibles
Shake is frequently used in cannabutter, cannaflour, and cannabis coconut oil, among other edibles. To activate the cannabinoids, however, you must first “decarb” or decarboxylate the cannabis. In order to change the inactive forms of THC and CBD into more active forms, the plant material must be heated to 230 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. When made into an edible, shake weed’s low potency can be increased to produce a very potent product.
- Homemade Tinctures and Infusions
Shake weed can also be used to make infusions and tinctures. To make a tincture, immerse your decarboxylated shake in a high-proof alcohol container; shake or mix occasionally to aid in the dissolution of the activated ingredients. Let the mixture sit for at least 24 hours. After that, the mixture can be strained and put into a dropper bottle.
Infusions extract and concentrate the active ingredients into a drinkable liquid, so they’re a good way to get more “bang for your buck” from shake weed. Cannabis is typically boiled in milk with a small amount of extra oil or fat to extract active ingredients like fat-soluble CBD.
You can use fats and oils such as butter, cream, coconut oil, or cocoa butter. You can add more ingredients to improve the flavor later on, like cocoa, coffee, vanilla, and cinnamon. Removing a large amount of the chlorophyll from the shake weed by boiling it in water and then discarding the water before heating it in milk can also enhance the flavor.
The Potential Risks and Side Effects of Shake Weed
Shake weed’s primary drawback over “regular” weed is its inconsistent nature. Shake is more or less likely than regular cannabis flowers to contain terpenes or cannabinoids, and its THC content is not usually regulated as it is in buds. Different strains can yield shake, and dosage determination is difficult. Shake should not be used to treat medical conditions, therefore, by patients.
Always seek advice from a marijuana doctor if you want to use marijuana to treat a medical condition. A doctor can recommend the safest products for your condition and can also issue you with an MMJ card, which will allow you to legally buy marijuana from a state-licensed dispensary.