HASH VS WEED
In this article, we will try to understand what differences there are between hash vs weed, and which is better between the two. Many cannabis newbies can get confused between the two (weed and hashish) believing that these are the same things, while there are many distinctions to make between the two.
WHAT ARE “MARIJUANA ” AND “HASHISH”?
The cannabis Sativa plant contains both hashish and marijuana. The key distinction between the two is that “grass” refers to dried plant parts, mostly flower buds, while “hash” refers to a paste made from the plant’s resin or sap. Hash has a higher level of psychoactive chemicals than marijuana.
MARIJUANA
As we mentioned previously, marijuana is cannabis that has been harvested and dried. These are the dried flowers of cannabis, ready to be vaporized or used for many other types of products, concentrates etc. There is also a type of weed called “brick weed”, a compact, brick-style concentrate of seeds, flowers, leaves and stems.
The herb is therefore the dried flower of cannabis. There are numerous variants and genetics of cannabis, all of different qualities and with different peculiar properties. Each of them has very different effects or flavours, appreciated or not. This is what is commonly referred to as “weed”.
HASHISH
As for hash, that is to say, smoke (according to the slang name given by some), it is an extract that is obtained from the resin, which is found on the flowers or leaves of cannabis. They are the trichomes, “hairs” or papillae or growths present on cannabis plants, which are removed or separated from the flowers and leaves and used to produce this product in balls, blocks or cylinders. It is hash (hashish), a concentrate with a very particular, unique, very intense flavour.
Hash has various origins (Morocco, India, Afghanistan). In each of these places, the hash is made in different ways. In Afghanistan, for example, a very creamy and intense product is produced by sieving dried cannabis, to obtain a raw product called kief, which is then heated and pressed.
As for India, the hashish is instead produced like this live cannabis flowers are picked up and rubbed for a long time with the hands, producing a thick resin through friction. It is hash which is then called charas and sold in balls.
DIFFERENCES AND EFFECTS BETWEEN WEED AND HASH
First of all, as we have seen, there are differences in the way hash and weed are prepared. Meanwhile, the herb is produced by growing female cannabis plants. For the most part, these are indoor crops, with artificial lights and “effect” nutrients to maximize the yield of cannabis plants in terms of resins.
After flowering and complete maturation, the plants are harvested and dried. Drying maximizes the flavour and quality of the flowers, which in this period and thanks to this fundamental stage reach full maturity.
We have seen above how hash (hashish) is prepared by detaching the resin from the cannabis flowers. This implies the separation of the trichomes through the methods described above, used in India, Afghanistan, and Morocco. Then there is a product called rosin hash. Which is obtained by pressing the cannabis flowers with a straightener (even a hair straightener can also be used) so that the heat produces a golden, substance-rich resin.
Another difference between them certainly concerns the flavour that characterizes hash and weed. The grass has a fresh, grassy flavour, sometimes fruity tastes. On the other hand, the hash is spicy, intense, and has a full, very particular flavour. Its flavour also varies greatly depending on the way it is produced. Which as we have seen can differ greatly from region to region.
THE EFFECTS
Another big difference between weed and hash concerns precisely the effects that are encountered if you smoke one or the other. Who smokes hashish will surely have incomparably more powerful effects. Hash in fact contains a percentage of THC between 15 and 30%. Very, very high, then. BHO even contains 90% THC, for a guaranteed high! Such high percentages of THC are hard to find in weed. In any case, even for weed, the percentage of THC differs depending on the cultivation method used, the variety, etc.
Here the differences between the two substances are definitely diminishing. Both products can be vaporized, smoked, or placed in edible products to be eaten. Very famous and delicious are the hashish-based desserts, which in the United States are particularly appreciated by young people. However, a hash cannot be used to make concentrates, while weed can.
HASH VS WEED. THE FINAL COMPARISON
Cannabis inflorescences, those from which the herb is obtained, are those subjected to the greatest and most complicated transformation process. In fact, the flowers are brought to complete ripeness for two months or even more. Then there is the drying procedure which lasts a couple of weeks. The process varies however and can take longer. Hash is obtained from the resin and therefore from the trichomes of the cannabis plant. The procedures for extraction vary greatly depending on the area and who produces it. Depending on the procedure used, the hash obtained will also have a very different consistency, weight and flavour. The consistency can be light or pasty, for example. The colour can then be black or brown, yellow or red.
WHAT ABOUT THC CONTENT?
THC the psychoactive component of cannabis characterizes hash more than weed and this is because in the trichomes and in the resin there is a greater quantity of cannabinoids. The smokers who consume hashish will certainly be able to say that the effects are different and more intense when compared to the effects obtained with the consumption of “weed”.
IN CONCLUSION
So, what is better hash or weed? It is not possible to give an unambiguous answer to what is better. We’ve listed the main differences between hash and weed, but the choice will obviously depend on personal taste.
In the next article, you’ll learn about Charas hash. We will explore together the interesting facts about it.