This article is an excerpt from Weedmaps Learn, an educational resource designed to inform new and returning customers and patients about various cannabis products, legislation, and history.
Shatter
Noun
Pronounced ‘sha-ter, this cannabis concentrate derives its name from its brittle, glass-like appearance and the fact that it tends to snap or break into smaller pieces when handled.
The History of Shatter
While shatter in its current form is a relatively recent development within the history of cannabis consumption, its roots can be traced to the age-old practice of hashish production. By the late 1990s, the process of modern cannabis concentrate production was being refined and what we would now consider shatter was first produced. By the early 2000s, shatter and other concentrates were increasing in popularity and becoming more prevalent within dispensaries. With the turn of the most recent decade, shatter has become a staple in medicinal and/or recreational cannabis-related businesses with a common sentiment amongst concentrate users being, “If it doesn’t shatter, it doesn’t matter.”
How is Shatter Made?
While it may be made from a variety of cannabis flower remnants such as trim, shake, or nugs, plants are rarely harvested for the sole purpose of making shatter or other concentrates. When making shatter, the desired cannabinoids are separated from the raw flower through an extraction process that utilizes heat and compression. Next, any unwanted materials are removed with a solvent induced vacuum purge.
Typically, ethanol is utilized during this purge as CO2, which is utilized for other cannabis concentrates, removes the moisture necessary to give shatter its characteristic texture. Additionally, the lower temperatures utilized during this purge (between 85° – 110°F) and lack of agitation, when compared to the manufacturing of other concentrates, gives shatter its recognizable glass-like appearance. If the initial extraction or subsequent vacuum purge are performed improperly, the consistency of the shatter may be compromised, resulting in a final product that has a texture similar to butter or sugar.
WARNING: The manufacturing of shatter and other cannabis concentrates should only be performed by professionals as these processes can be extremely dangerous and may result in bodily harm or death if not performed properly.
How to Store Shatter
When stored improperly, shatter can begin to break down and take on a consistency similar to sugar or butter. To prevent this degradation from occurring, shatter should always be stored in an air and light-proof container and ideally kept within a refrigerator.
Brent Malone 