DEA to Create New Drug Category for Dabs

Here we go.

As first reported last week by the Broward Palm Beach New Times, the Drug Enforcement Agency is currently looking to create a new drug classification for cannabis concentrates, known by many names, including earwax (or just “wax), BHO (short for “butane honey oil” or “butane hash oil”), or dabs.

Medical marijuana patients in most medical states have probably come across wax and have at least heard of dabs, which are most definitely a much, much stronger dose of cannabis then just straight up flower or even many edibles. Dabs with great wax from a medical marijuana center that has high quality concentrates is totally incomparable to anything else, so it’s understandable that those in charge are now a bit more clued in to exactly what dabs do.

Dabs have created a culture unto themselves, with many long time smokers becoming straight-up dab-heads, no longer even smoking flower because it’s just not strong enough. As might be expected with something like this, people have now begun to attempt to make their own wax, which is really where the trouble starts for the Feds, or really any responsible adult in charge.

Fruity Pebbles Shatter BHO

Because full melt medical marijuana concentrates are extracted using a chemical solvent (in most cases, butane, though hexane, CO2 and others can work) earwax, shatter, and other full melt concentrates are meant to be made in a lab under controlled conditions.

In the past year, there have been several instances of people blowing their basements up and seriously hurting themselves while attempting to make their own wax.

This is what I and plenty of other people suspect is behind the DEA trying to create a different classification for full melt concentrates, so that they can try to stop home labs and further problems.

While I personally applaud the effort on the part of these stoners to get their own wax, you shouldn’t be messing around with chemicals while you’re stoned! Or when you don’t have the slightest idea of how to properly purge the chemicals.

A head grower I respect once put it like this: it’s not a good idea to smoke anything made by someone who doesn’t have at least a bachelor’s degree in chemistry or some other related field. While I think it’s entirely possible to learn how to make your own wax and use proper materials in a carefully controlled environment without a college degree, I totally agree with the sentiment.

I have gone on the record many, many times here on Weedist to discuss my fondness for dabs, and I’m glad that I live in the one recreational state that has decided to keep BHO legal. However, I get my wax and shatter from a medical marijuana center that has the right equipment to blast (and really, more importantly) purge butane, not some guy who made it in his Mom’s basement.

I guess the point is that earwax, while it is great and really does have incredible medicinal capabilities, is more complicated than just growing a few plants and it’s unfortunate that we’re talking about a new classification for full melt concentrates instead of a reclassification for raw marijuana.