Marijuana Wax vs Oil – Cannabis Media Blog

Marijuana Wax vs Oil

The Difference Between Wax and Oil

Shatter, wax, and oil are all cannabis extracts of BHO (butane hash oil) or similar hydrocarbon extracts.  Cannabis extracts are any oil that concentrates the plant’s chemical compounds like THC and CBD.  This is achieved through a variety of extraction processes and solvents, the most common being butane. The end product of extraction is a highly potent oil of varying consistencies most popularly used for vaporization and dabbing.

marijuana wax vs oil


Cannabis wax is a form of hash oil concentrate created through butane hash oil extraction and ironically looks like ear wax. This substance contains up to 90% THC and provides an exceptional high.wax is created through a process called purging, a process in which residual solvents are removed from the product. Wax can take up different consistencies based on heat, moisture, and the texture of the oil before it is purged. There are a number of ways to enjoy cannabis wax including smoking it through a bong, dabbing and vaping it.


Cannabis oil is extracted resin from the cannabis plant that has been dissolved into a carrier oil to create a liquid. There are many ways to make cannabis oil including  CO2 extract, ethanol, and olive oil. The most common types of oil is butane hash oil, CO2 oil, rick simpson oil, and tinctures. Cannabis oil is widely used as a topical and as an alternative medicine. One can also vape it or bake it and/or cook it with different types of food such as putting oil in brownie mix.

marijuana wax vs oil


Wax can come in a soft, semi-solid form as the name suggests, but it can also come in solid forms as well. The types of wax that go by names like shatter, crumble, or honeycomb are brittle solids that will nonetheless melt and vaporize when exposed to high enough temperatures. Wax extracts that have names like sap, live resin, or budder are softer, more pliable substances, exactly what you would expect from a substance called wax.

Oil is, of course, a liquid that comes in various viscosity levels, some oils are thin and others are denser, but they are all ultimately liquids.


Wax is easily the more intense of the two substances because of the extraction method used to create it. When wax is extracted from the cannabis plant, the substance created has a very high concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes, in other words, it is highly potent and very intense and can have THC concentrations of up to 90%.

 By contrast, the production methods used to create oil end up diluting it somewhat so that the concentrations of cannabinoids and terpenes are not quite as high. That is because cannabis oil is usually cut with other oils during the production process in order to attain its fluidic consistency.


 As stated earlier, the type of wax depends on a lot of different factors, from the strain of marijuana used to the way that it is harvested to any special tweaks made during the manufacturing process. Here are some of the most common types of wax extracts.

  • Shatter
  • Budder
  • Live Resin
  • Crumble
  • Wax
  • Rosin
  • Pull-and-Snap
  • Honeycomb

There are different types of oil as well and they vary based on the type of extraction method used in the process.

While even water, CO2, Propane, and Ethanol are sometimes used to extract wax, Butane extraction remains the most popular method; however, the maker should be highly experienced to remove all traces of Butane from the final product.

Whether the output is wax or oil, the consistency doesn’t indicate the technique used to extract it.

For instance, Butane is used to extract both wax and oil; however, the quality of the raw material used will determine the caliber of the final product.

The Difference between Cannabis Wax vs Oil

Any extract that contains a good amount of THC or CBD can be referred to as cannabis wax or oil.

Since the extracts are known by several names, it can get confusing, but the differences lie in the texture, consistency and high.

The biggest difference between wax and oil is the purging process that derives either wax or oil.

If the chemical solvents are purged during the extraction, it results in a gooey liquid otherwise known as cannabis oil, but if the extract is whipped while being heated, the final output is wax that’s flakey due to the air bubbles that accumulate while it’s whipped.


The first difference is the texture where cannabis oil is runny, dark and viscous while the wax is crumbly or sometimes soft to the touch.

Hash oil, CBD oil, or BHO oil is available in syringes since it is liquid, but wax is more crumbly and comes in pouches or small containers resembling lip balms.

Ease of extraction

Another difference is that while it’s easy to prepare CBD oil at home using alcohol (commonly known as Rick Simpson Oil), it’s not so easy to make wax at home unless you use a technique that doesn’t require a solvent at all.

The Easiest Way to Make Cannabis Oil at Home (RSO Oil)

Your friends might even tell you that it’s super easy to make wax at home because all it needs is some Butane, but unless you’re prepared for an explosion that might occur even if something goes slightly wrong, avoid making wax at home.


A simple method of using CBD oil is to infuse it with food and drinks, but you can also use a vaporizer or smear the oil on your joint for an exceptional high.

Dab rigs are used to smoke both oil and wax, but if you don’t own any, you can rely on your trusty bong and sprinkle the wax as a topping to experience a beautiful but powerful high.  

Why Use Wax or Oil in the First place?

Perhaps you love buds and don’t understand the hullabaloo around waxes and oils.

Also, buds are cheap, but concentrates are not, so why do it?

While smoking cannabis buds is great, cannabis concentrates are becoming more popular due to the potency.

You simply can’t expect high levels of THC or CBD in buds, but you can get even 90% pure THC with oil or wax, making it a bargain even if you’re paying more.

A little wax or oil goes a long way, and there’s no wastage, but the same isn’t true when it comes to smoking cannabis flowers.

Regardless of what the ignorant may think of marijuana, concentrates are used by patients suffering from PTSD, Migraine, Asthma, Cancer, and a host of other conditions.  

The resin found on the plant contains incredible medicinal properties that manifold when combined with terpenes.

If you’re only smoking buds, you’re wasting the resin on the plant, but when it’s extracted, you get all the possible medicinal benefits.

Cancer patients need a higher dose to gain relief from their ailments, and that’s why oil and wax are slowly increasing in popularity day by day.

Smoking or consuming extracts that contain pure THC/CBD, irritants and sugar is more desirable because you get high faster and the smoke is cleaner, and your lungs will also thank you.

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