With CBD concentrates like Shatter, you can take high doses of CBD efficiently and conveniently. You may find hardened, glass-like shatter easier to work with than crumble and wax concentrates, which tend to be sticky and not ideal for on-the-go consumption.
In this comprehensive guide to CBD shatter, I’ll explore what it is, where it came from, and some common reasons for using it. But before I touch upon that and give you some tips on finding top-shelf shatter, here are my top five CBD shatters of 2023.
1. Active CBD Oil – Shatter Plus Terpenes (95 to 97%)
Concerned about failing a drug test? Don’t be with Active CBD Oil’s Shatter Plus Terpenes, which is made without any THC! Packed with more than 950mg of CBD extract and a sprinkling of delicious terpenes, this CBD shatter boasts potency and flavor.
The purified CBD extract makes for clean, pure hits, whether dabbing or vaping. Active CBD Oil uses organic, non-GMO hemp in its CBD shatter, with the finished product completely free from additives, preservatives, and residual solvents.
The shatter has a boulder-like appearance and breaks easily, allowing you to fine-tune your dosage. Third-party tested and federally compliant.
2. Steve’s Goods – CBD Shatter
Steve’s Goods is one of the most popular concentrate manufacturers, and its CBD-isolate shatters come in second on my list. Made with pure, hemp-derived CBD extract and not a hint of THC, you get the health benefits without the drug test risks.
Steve’s Goods uses extract from hemp cultivated in Colorado and tasty plant-derived terpenes to complete this shatter. Choose between a variety of strains and flavors for energizing or relaxing effects.
Available in two sizes: 0.5 grams and 1 gram. All Steve’s Goods CBD shatters are Farm Bill compliant and third-party tested by ACS Laboratory for legality and purity.
Strains: Pineapple Express, Blueberry OG, Strawnana, Girl Scout Cookies, Watermelon OG, Terpin Gorilla
3. Blue Moon Hemp – CBD Shatter
Enjoy maximum CBD relief with these 99.6% shatter products from Blue Moon Hemp. Consisting of high-grade CBD-isolate extract and plant-derived terpenes, expect potent therapeutic effects without any psychoactivity.
Blue Moon Hemp uses organic, non-GMO hemp grown in Kentucky and utilizes supercritical CO2 extraction to ensure the cleanest and purest hemp extract possible. The result is a 1-gram shatter with more than 990mg CBD containing no impurities.
Blue Moon Hemp adds the terpenes afterward, allowing you to choose between stimulating or soothing effects. All shatters are third-party tested for purity, legality, and potency by Kaycha Labs.
Strains: Blueberry OG, Pineapple Express, Sour Diesel
4. Plain Jane – CBD Isolate Shatter
Premium CBD-isolate extract and cannabis-derived terpenes combine in this top-shelf CBD shatter from Plain Jane. Made with non-GMO, organic hemp that’s free from pesticides and herbicides, Plain Jane’s shatter makes for smooth, pure, and delicious dabbing.
This shatter has a yellowy, translucent appearance and can be effortlessly snapped apart, giving you full control over your CBD dose. As an isolated product, Plain Jane’s shatter only contains CBD and doesn’t have any secondary cannabinoids.
Choose between calming Cherry Pie, relaxing Ecto Kooler, or mellowing OG Kush. And if you would rather have a basic concentrate experience without any terpenes, Plain Jane also makes a Natural shatter! Third-party tested with no detectable THC.
Flavors: Natural, Cherry Pie, Ecto Kooler, OG Kush
5. Mile High’s Finest – CBD Shatter
and flavorful natural botanical terpenes infused into every concentrate.
Mile High’s Finest recommends its shatter for dabbing, vaping, eating, or sprinkling into joints. The versatility of CBD shatter explains much of its appeal, as these guys recognize. A variety of strains and flavors are available, offering all kinds of CBD experiences.
CBD Shatter from Mile High’s Finest is third-party tested by Botanacor. All concentrates are compliant with Farm Bill regulations.
Strains: Sour Diesel, Watermelon OG, Super Lemon Haze, Mimosa, The Gas, Grape Kush, Berry Cereal, Cherry Lime Slushie, Strawberry Shortcake, Raspberry Lemonade
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a naturally occurring, non-psychoactive cannabinoid present in cannabis. CBD is the second most prevalent substance in marijuana after THC, but it doesn’t have any intoxicating effects.
Therefore, CBD is primarily intended for therapeutic rather than recreational use. Despite the limited scientific evidence, millions of people self-medicate with CBD, confident in its touted benefits. CBD also has supplemental value, regulating the endocannabinoid system (ECS).
The ECS plays an essential role in our mental and physical well-being. However, researchers didn’t even know about the ECS – never mind its broad scope – until the 1990s.
Since then, we have learned of naturally produced cannabinoids, or endocannabinoids, and about how substances like CBD affect the body. Research shows that CBD is an antagonist of CB1 and CB2 receptors, the two identified cannabinoid receptors in the ECS.
CBD also boosts the availability of endocannabinoids, including anandamide and 2-AG. These endocannabinoids are vital for ECS regulation. By stopping the body from breaking these compounds down, CBD promotes regulation in the ECS.
What is CBD shatter?
CBD shatter is a highly-concentrated and hardened type of hemp extract. Rich in CBD, shatter is famed for its brittleness and glass-like feel – when broken, it shatters into two. Shatter is usually translucent and has a yellow or amber appearance.
Shatter varies in consistency, depending on the hemp extract used. The most brittle shatters contain CBD-isolate extract, whereas stickier, taffy-like shatters are often made with broad or full-spectrum hemp extract.
CBD-isolate shatter is pure CBD, while broad and full-spectrum products have a more complete hemp extract. Full-spectrum hemp comes with all cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, and a little THC. Broad-spectrum hemp has all of these except for THC.
The 2018 Farm Bill states that hemp-based products like CBD shatter must have less than 0.3% THC. However, even a tiny THC percentage adds up in concentrated products and could set off a sensitive drug test. Hence, you may prefer a THC-free shatter.
Benefits of CBD shatter
As with all concentrates, the main benefit of shatter products is their high strength. If standard CBD products haven’t given you enough relief, shatter’s more intense effects should deliver a more satisfactory experience.
We’ll explore the versatility of CBD shatter in the next section, but the multiple consumption methods give shatter an advantage over capsules and edibles. Inhalation provides fast-acting effects while taking shatter orally is great when you need all-day relief.
Judging by existing research, some conditions may require higher dosages of CBD. Let’s consider a 2011 study published in Neuropsychopharmacology that examined CBD’s benefits for social anxiety.
Scientists found that CBD can help alleviate social anxiety symptoms. However, the trial involved giving 600mg dosages. Sure, you may not need that much to benefit, but it points toward high-strength CBD products like shatter being more effective than weaker products.
Many people use CBD as a natural painkiller, viewing it as safer than addictive prescription opioids. Strong doses may also be required to provide adequate relief, given how severe some pain can be.
Moreover, some CBD products are better at managing pain than others. For instance, neuropathic pain often causes sharp, shooting sensations from which you need speedy relief. The hard-hitting and fast-acting effects of dabbing CBD shatter are likely to work better than a medium-strength, slow-acting, edible capsule.
How to use CBD shatter
Dabbing: Dabbing is a fast and effective way to consume CBD shatter, and it’s healthier than smoking. But it’s not cheap to start with dabbing concentrates, as it requires a dab rig, a dabber, a nail, and a torch.
Dabbing works by placing the shatter on the dabber, heating it against the nail, and inhaling the vapor. Vapor has fewer cancer-causing compounds than smoke and is smoother to inhale.
Vaping: To vape shatter traditionally, you’ll need a device compatible with waxes and concentrates. As with dabbing, vaping shatter is safer than smoking it in joints. Concentrate vaporizers are also cheaper than dabbing equipment.
Smoking: While smoking gets a bad rep, it’s still a common way of consuming cannabis and hemp-based products. If smoking is your preferred way of taking CBD, you’ll be pleased to know the effects hit just as rapidly as vaping it.
You can break up CBD shatter and mix it with flowers in a blunt or joint. You can also add a few shatter pieces to the bowl of your bong, bubbler, or pipe.
What to Look For When Buying CBD Shatter
If you aren’t sure where to begin with CBD shatter, please look at my top five products in the article. These shatters guarantee a pure experience and ensure that you stay within the law.
But what exactly makes a high-quality shatter product? Here are the four things I look for when purchasing CBD shatter.
Third-party lab reports
While CBD brands don’t have to conform to third-party testing, I recommend only purchasing shatter from those that do.
Brands that cannot provide third-party certificates of analysis for CBD shatter products may be trying to scam you. With concentrates, they may infuse shatter with too little CBD or use poor-quality extraction methods that leave the shatter full of impurities.
Hemp extract
Most CBD shatter products contain CBD-isolate extract. These products have higher concentrations of CBD but no secondary cannabinoids, so they cannot produce the entourage effect. However, this THC-free extract will keep you safe with drug tests.
Some CBD shatters are made with full-spectrum hemp extract. These are more taffy-like than brittle in consistency but contain minor cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids in addition to CBD. But they may also have up to 0.3% THC.
Or you could go for a broad-spectrum CBD shatter. This form of hemp is more beneficial than CBD-isolate since it consists of secondary cannabinoids. But importantly, broad-spectrum hemp extract is also THC-free.
Terpenes
In most CBD shatters, the terpenes are added separately instead of being part of the hemp extract. These substances provide natural flavoring, but they also tailor your shatter experience.
CBD shatter with a Sativa terpene profile produces stimulating and focus-enhancing effects. However, shatters with indica terpenes are more associated with relaxation and stress relief.
Extraction method
Nowadays, all the top CBD brands use supercritical CO2 extraction to pull cannabinoids from the hemp plant. CO2 extraction has surpassed butane hash oil and other solvent-based methods as the gold standard.
Many companies claim to use supercritical CO2 extraction, but it’s difficult to prove. Ideally, look for third-party lab reports that cover product purity, not just potency and legality.
How to Store Your CBD Shatter
Store CBD shatters in cool, dark, and dry conditions to preserve freshness and potency over time. Keeping CBD shatter in the dark prevents the ultraviolet degradation of cannabinoids. Storing shatter in an airtight container also stops potency loss due to oxidation.
How Long Does CBD Shatter Last?
CBD shatter’s effects last for around three hours when dabbed, vaped, or smoked and kick in almost immediately. Eating CBD shatter leads to an average longer-lasting experience of around eight hours, but the effects will take at least half an hour to show.
Purchasing CBD Shatter Online vs. Shops Near Me
With CBD shatter now legal and mainstream, it’s become popular among many physical vendors, including convenience stores and gas stations. However, I always endorse buying shatter from online stores specializing in these hemp-based products.
Safety should be your top consideration, especially with shatter, given the high risk of impurities with concentrates. The leading online hemp retailers always make third-party certificates of analysis available, an admirable, rigorous approach that isn’t always true of physical stores.
