Dabs are concentrated forms of cannabis that can be in a variety of colors and textures and can be called wax, honeycomb, amber, budder, or shatter, which are all sticky and messy to work with. Dabs contain a highly concentrated level of THC achieved through an extraction process. The terms concentrate and extract can be used interchangeably and refer to the product created during the extraction process which always starts with trichomes.
Trichomes are the resinous glands on the buds of cannabis that contain the cannabinoids and terpenes that provide the compounds that get you high, or provide other physiological effects like relaxation, pain and anxiety relief, etc…
The extract can be made into various forms like oil, wax, sauce, taffy, butter, and many others. One of the most common ways to consume a cannabis concentrate or a dab is by dabbing. Dabbing is the way that you heat the concentrate to release the vapor and inhale it through a dab rig, which looks similar to a traditional long, although is designed differently to withstand extremely high temperatures and includes a nail that holds the concentrate, which is heated with a butane torch. Because of the highly concentrated level of THC in dabs, people should use extreme caution when dabbing, which can cause rapid heartbeat, blackouts, or other psychotic symptoms, and the use of a flammable butane torch in general demands caution and can expose users to additional risks.