The Difference Between Cannabis Flower and Hash(ish)

Even though both raw cannabis flower and hashish are made from the same plant, they have quite a different nature. Here we’re going to fill you in on some of the differences and give you the hash introduction, so you can experiment and get goofed any way you like. 

Cannabis 

Cannabis is a more general term that refers to the plant family, which includes Cannabis sativa, cannabis indica, and cannabis ruderalis, which have psychoactive properties. Once cannabis is grown and the plant is harvested, it provides you with one of the most popular recreational substances and underappreciated medicines. 

The plant contains a plethora of chemical compounds, many which we are only just beginning to understand. From cannabinoids to terpenes to flavonoids, we have started to see the potential of these compounds but we still have plenty of research that needs to be conducted. The two most commonly studied have been THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), but compounds such as CBG (cannabigerol), THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid), and CBCV (cannabichromevarin) are making themselves known. 

CBD is believed to be the non-psychoactive compound, but provides numerous medicinal benefits; while THC, on the other hand, is the psychoactive compound that is loved by recreational and medicinal consumers. 

Cannabis, to sum up, can be seen as the raw flower and ‘nugs’ that are harvested from the cannabis plant after reaching maturity. These flowers must be dried and cured correctly for the best possible outcome with the most potential for high levels of various cannabinoids. 

Hash(ish) 

Hash is a cannabis form that is obtained from the resin of the plant. Resin comes from trichomes of the plant (trichomes store the plant’s cannabinoids, such as THC or CBD), as well as leaves and other parts – providing a potent form of cannabis. The resin is extracted and commonly forced into bricks or balls, from which pieces will be broken off and consumed. 

Hash doesn’t act in the same way as cannabis flower, so it doesn’t actually burn and keep itself lit as seen with cannabis flower. Because of this, it is commonly mixed in with cannabis flower or tobacco to provide a more consistent burn, while others will add a little to bongs or pipes. 

So What’s the Difference? 

To sum it all up, hash can be seen as a cannabis form that has simply gone through another step in the process. It starts out as plain old cannabis, but resin is extracted and the plant matter is handled in such a way that it seems to be something completely different when it comes out the other side. Hash is also believed to be more potent because none of the usual plant matter is consumed, it is a collection of resin which contains all the compounds that provide cannabis’ effects. 

Although this seems to be particularly difficult to source in South Africa, hash is a great way to consume cannabis and worth trying for yourself. Hash is also something you can make fairly easily at home come harvest time.