A new type of extract is emerging to the cannabis market. It is being called CRC or color remediation column BHO and it refers to the filtration method used in the BHO ( Butane Hash Oil ) extraction process of cannabis material. Previously extractors running Cannabis material use a closed loop or short path extraction system that would use pure butane/butane blends or alcohol as the solvent and nothing else. The color of hash is often dictated by the color of the trichomes you are extracting. When using old flower and lower quality material, the product tends to come out a dark gold or even brown product, often due to the trichomes becoming amber in color over time, sometimes meaning it has many impurities such as plant lipids and fats that remain after the THC is extracted. So What does that mean? .
Well, first off deciphering top quality concentrates will be more difficult to judge. People often associate a lighter color with a better product, which is not always the case (well get into that another time). This method can make it near impossible for someone to tell the difference between live resin and CRC BHO, ultimately confusing the customer.
If there is one thing about cannabis entrepreneurs, its their ingenuity. Stoners always find a way to make something better/different. Using this new CRC method, extractors use a different combination of 3 things to essentially “fix” the color of otherwise dark hashish:
- T5 Clay
- Frying Oil Saver “Filter Powder”
- Silica gel 200-400 mesh
Once compacted tightly together in a filtration column the BHO material is will run through this column for its final filtration where its able to further extract impurities (and almost everything else) out of each run of material. So what does that mean? They basically filter the shit out of BHO changing the color from dark brown/black to a clearish yellowish stabilized oil, that you can then smoke or dab.
So is it safe to smoke? We are honestly not sure? Upon looking at it, it looks like good BHO and has a fair to decent nose and experts say “if done properly” there is no cross contamination using the products to clean the THC. However, If not done properly it has been reported that microscopic silica and other particles could be dangerous and that could fuck your lungs up. Upon smoking it most of our staff has reported it as being harsh on the lungs as well as an astringent after taste and a little burning feeling in the throat. Although with product that was run “Lightly” meaning with less filtration, we found it to have a decent to pleasurable flavor and not as harsh.
It seems the BHO and concentrate market is going to start to surge since the vape pen apocalypse hit. Hinting to us the large operations manufacturing THC distillate are more than likely shifting to a BHO CRC method in order to recoup their losses on recent tainted vape cartridge scare. A conscious chronnoisseur would be wary of any new/untested product hitting the market.
In the mean time we would recommend sticking to long time tested and trusted products, from a legal source in order to ensure safety of smoking any cannabis product.
