Learn about the slang terms associated with marijuana concentrates and how to tell if your teen is using them.

Dabbing is a dangerous type of marijuana use that has becomemore common in recent years. While the use ofmarijuana by teenshas been a common drug issue for years, the new trend has taken marijuana use to another level. Dabbing involves using cannabis extracts with higher levels oftetrahydrocannabinol(THC), the active ingredient in marijuana that creates a high.

Because of the increased popularity of dabbing with teens, it is important to understand some of the slang terms formarijuana concentrates. By understanding or recognizing these terms, you can have a better understanding of what they mean and whether or not they indicate that teens are dabbing.

What is Dabbing?

Dabbing is using dabs or marijuana concentrates. Dabbing creates a stronger high because the active ingredient of marijuana is much more concentrated than it would be in a typical joint. The strongest marijuana joint that is smoked the traditional way is about 20% THC, while dabs may contain an80% or even higherconcentration of THC. Dabbing also delivers the THC to the body much more suddenly than smoking a joint would, making it even more potent.

There are different types of dabs that have differing appearances, depending upon how they are made. The most common dab is butane hash oil, or BHO, and is made by using butane to extract the THC from marijuana leaves and then concentrate it. The THC may also be extracted mechanically or by using other chemicals.

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Common Dabbing Terms

Teen drug slangincludes severaldab slang termsthat most people may be unfamiliar with. These terms relate to the substances used while dabbing, the devices used to dab, or methods by which dab is made:

Dangers of Marijuana Dabs

Because of how concentrated the THC in marijuana dabs is, it creates risks that might not normally be encountered when smoking a typical joint of marijuana. Specifically, the US Drug Enforcement Administration(DEA) warnsthat ateen overdosemay occur and that those who overdose on dabs may experience paranoia, anxiety, panic attacks and hallucinations. Additionally, marijuana concentrates may cause increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, withdrawal, and problems related toaddiction.

The dangers of dabbing also include dangers introduced from the process of how dabs are made. One of the more popular methods of making marijuana concentrates involves using butane, which creates an explosive gas. Therisk of explosion while making dabsusing butane is comparable to that of making methamphetamine. Many of the processes used also leave behind chemicals and byproducts that can be harmful.