Smoking marijuana interferes with learning 

and memory which increases the risk of 

poor grades and dropping out of school. 

Research shows regular marijuana use by 

teens reduces IQ levels and test scores.

In the 2013 Monitoring the Future Survey, 

five-year drug use trends shows significant 

increases in past-year and past-month 

(current) marijuana use among 8th, 10th, 

and 12th graders. From 2008 to 2013, 

past-month marijuana use increased from 

5.8 percent to 7 percent among 8th graders; 

13.8 percent to 18 percent among 10th 

graders; and 19.4 percent to 22.7 percent 

among 12th graders.

Source: "Monitoring the Future Survey, Overview of 

Findings." National Institute of Drug Abuse, December 

2013, P.2 ., www.drugabuse.gov/monitoring-the-future-survey-overview-findings-2013.

What You Should Know About

United States Department of Justice

Drug Enforcement Administration

Demand Reduction Section

US Department of

. .

Justice

Drug Enforcement Administration .

forced through the filter usually into a 

receptacle. The receptacle is then heated to 

burn off the remaining butane creating a 

butane gas. Given the extremely volatile 

nature of heating butane and creating a gas, 

this process has resulted in violent explosions.

THC extraction labs are being reported 

nationwide, particularly in the western 

states and in states where local and state 

marijuana laws are more relaxed.

Scan to view the website.

www.justthinktwice.com

www.getsmartaboutdrugs.com

Email Demand.Reduction@usdoj.gov for more information. December 2014

THC Extraction Lab

Puyallup, WA

Also Known As:

Did you know?

Source: www.drugabuse.gov/publications/maijuana-factsteens/somethingstothinkabout.

Marijuana

Concentrates

THC

Extractions

www.dea.gov

THC Extraction Lab

Puyallup, WA

THC Extraction Lab

Bellevue, WA

DEA ATF

PUYALLUP 

PD

BELLEVUE

PD

Child’s

Tricycle
A marijuana concentrate is a highly potent 

THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) concentrated 

mass that is most similar in appearance to 

either honey or butter, which is why it is 

referred to or known on the street as "honey 

oil" or "budder."

Marijuana concentrates contain extraordinarily high THC levels that could range 

from 40 to 80%. This form of marijuana 

can be up to four times stronger in THC 

content than high grade or top shelf marijuana, which normally measures around 

20% THC levels.

Many methods are utilized to convert or 

"manufacture" marijuana into marijuana 

concentrates. One method is the butane 

extraction process. This process is particularly dangerous because it uses highly 

flammable butane to extract the THC from 

the cannabis plant. In this process, shredded or ground up plant material is stuffed 

into a glass, metal, or plastic pipe, with a 

filter on one end and then the butane is 

forced in the open end of the pipe. As the 

butane goes through the pipe, the THC 

within the plant material is extracted and 

Photo courtesy of San Antonio Police Dept., San Antonio, Texas

Photo: Marijuana Concentrate

Photo: “Dab” of Marijuana Concentrate used with electronic cigarette

Photo: Marijuana Concentrate

What Are Marijuana Concentrates?

Street or "slang" terms change often and 

vary regionally across the country. Marijuana concentrates are often referred to as 710 

(the word "OIL" flipped and spelled backwards), wax, ear wax, honey oil, budder, 

butane hash oil, butane honey oil (BHO), 

shatter, dabs (dabbing), black glass, and 

errl.

How Is It Abused?

One form of abuse occurs orally by infusing 

marijuana concentrates in various food or 

drink products; however, smoking remains 

the most popular form of ingestion by use of 

water or oil pipes.

A disturbing aspect of this emerging threat 

is the ingestion of concentrates via electronic cigarettes (also known as e-cigarettes) or 

vaporizers. Many abusers of marijuana 

concentrates prefer the e-cigarette/vaporizer 

because it's smokeless, odorless and easy to 

hide or conceal. The user takes a small 

amount of marijuana concentrate, referred 

to as a "dab," then heats the substance using 

the e-cigarette/vaporizer producing vapors 

that ensures an instant "high" effect upon 

the user. Using an e-cigarette/vaporizer to 

ingest marijuana concentrates is commonly 

referred to as "dabbing" or "vaping."

Being a highly concentrated form of marijuana, the effects upon the user may be 

more psychologically and physically 

intense than plant marijuana use. To date, 

long term effects of marijuana concentrate 

use are not yet fully known; but, we do 

know the effects of plant marijuana use. 

These effects include paranoia, anxiety, 

panic attacks, and hallucinations. Additionally, the use of plant marijuana increases 

one's heart rate and blood pressure. Plant 

marijuana users may also experience withdrawal and addiction problems.

THC Extraction Process 

Using Butane

What Are The Effects Of Using 

Marijuana Concentrates?

Street Names