Cannabis Alchemy

by D.Gold

Preparation of Hashish

Hashish may be prepared from the extracted cannabis oil by mixing it with finely-powdered marijuana. The oil may be at any stage of refinement. Extremely strong hashish is obtained by using oil which has been isomerized, acetylated, and refined through removal of nonpsychoactive compounds. Along with the potency of the oil itself, the ratio of oil to powdered marijuana determines the strength. In order for the hashish to be the proper consistency, a minimum of fifteen per cent oil must be used. This gives a product with the same consistency as powdery Moroccan or Lebanese hash. Fifty to sixty per cent oil (about equal parts of oil and powder) is the maximum amount of oil that can be used to give a product with hashish consistency. This product will be very strong and resemble in appearance and consistency the sticky, pliable charas of Nepal and India.

Powdered marijuana of the finest consistency is obtained by the following method: clean, very dry marijuana is pulverized in a high-speed blender. The material may be dried in a preheated oven (25O°F) for fifteen-minute intervals. A very fine dust will collect on the blender top. This is sifted through a piece of nylon stocking or a very fine mesh screen.

Many times the taste of the hashish is improved if the oils giving the marijuana its taste and smell are removed from the dust. This is accomplished by extracting it with alcohol in the stew-pot apparatus as described earlier. Further extraction of the compounds contributing to the taste and smell is accomplished by boiling in water. All solvent is removed from the dust first, as the fumes might present a fire hazard. The water is filtered from the dust and the process is repeated with fresh water until the water remains clear, indicating that all soluble substances have been leached from the cellulose material. The cannabis dust is thoroughly dried, and is then ready to be mixed with the oil.

The mixing is facilitated by first heating the dust and oil and then working them together in a large mortar, or by kneading the mass with the hands. Thin, fiat, hand-pressed patties like those from Afghanistan may be fashioned, or one may mold clumps of “fingers” or round “temple balls” such as those found in Nepal. Flat sheets and blocks may be formed by pressing the mixture between two heated steel plates in a vise.