What is Shake Weed?

What is the first thing you think of when you hear the word “shake”? A tasty sweet beverage made by blending ice cream and milk? Moving something backward, forward, up and down with short, quick vibratory movements? Both are valid — but if you are a cannabis consumer, your mind probably thought of shake as the excess plant matter that accumulates at the bottom of your stash. If you are a newbie or canna-curious, here is everything you need to know about shake weed.

What is weed shake and how does it happen?

Marijuana shake is made up of small little pieces of cannabis flower and may also contain little bits of stems, leaves and trichomes. Whereas “trim” is man-made, weed shake occurs naturally when buds are broken up into smaller pieces due to processing and handling. It’s basically little fragments of the cannabis plant that have detached from the larger buds.

What is weed shake? What is trim? What’s the difference?

When a cannabis grow is ready to be harvested, trim is the excess material, particularly leaves, that is removed during the manufacturing process. To make salable weed aesthetically pleasing and as potent as possible and to achieve the best final product, leaves, stems and tiny buds of lower quality are trimmed away from the larger buds, either by hand or machine. Weed shake is usually pot that organically detaches from the already trimmed buds during its handling, transportation or storage. Marijuana shake is what falls off of the nugs and then naturally accumulates at the bottom of the bag, jar or other weed storage container. Trim looks like what you would pick off of a plant — shake looks almost identical to ground-up weed.

How and for what is shake weed used?

Because of cannabis shake’s finer consistency, it is easy to use in a variety of applications. Unlike bud flower that needs to be ground, shake weed is perfect just as is for usage within pre-rolls, to easily pack into bowls, or even sprinkle on top of ground flower. Shake materializes as finer, smaller pieces, which makes it ideal for creating infused products like butters or oils, as the tiny bits are just easier to process. Shake weed is inherently perfect for usage in edibles, teas, tinctures, and topicals like balms and salves. Cannabis shake is also a very efficient and cost-effective choice for weed lovers who vape as their preferred method of consumption.

Will shake weed get you high?

Cannabis connoisseurs will often turn up their noses at the thought of consuming shake by assuming that it is either an older product or of a lesser quality — but that is not always the case. Most cannabis shake is just as smokable and of comparable potency to the prettier and more expensive cannabis flower nuggets. While some may see shake as trash, it is actually an incredibly versatile and more cost-efficient option for individuals looking to get high. Important to note that the above applies only to shake and not trim. While trim is, of course, technically smokable, it can also burn your throat and cause discomfort to your lungs far more than full buds or shake ever would or could.

What are the pros and cons of cannabis shake?

There are lots of good reasons to purchase shake weed:

• Price: Cannabis shake is usually less expensive than traditional flower buds, making it a more budget-friendly option for those who appreciate a good bargain.
• Versatility: Shake can be used for a variety of consumption methods, including burning, vaping, and creating an infusion for use in edibles or topicals.
• Potency: Although it may differ in its aesthetics, weed shake should have the exact same potency as the buds from which it came. And for those who are interested in microdosing THC, small amounts of pot shake could be the key to a less-intense high.
• Waste reduction: After trimming and packaging, the shake that remains is oftentimes just discarded. Purchasing shake weed is a great way to reduce waste within the cannabis industry.
• Differentiation: Shake is often compiled from multiple cannabis strains — which means it can provide differing effects for the user than what would occur with just one strain alone. If desiring a fun and intriguing consumption experience, weed shake may just be the perfect way to go.

That said, weed shake may not be the right choice for everyone. There are definitely reasons that some people choose to not partake:

• Unattractiveness: While cannabis shake is not ugly, it is definitely not as aesthetically pleasing as some big fluffy buds covered in sparkling trichomes. A feast begins with the eyes — and shake is more akin to fast food perhaps than a Michelin Star restaurant meal.
• Unpredictability: The mixing of different strains that is contained within pot shake has the potential to be problematic, especially for those who are using cannabis medicinally and therefore need very specific compounds to achieve desired effects. If shake derived from one single strain can be found, then this concern can be potentially minimized.
• Lesser flavor and quality: While the literal shake itself should be of the same level and quality as the buds from which it came, the addition of some extraneous stems and leaves could impact the flavor profile of the shake weed. This could affect the overall quality and smoking experience, making it less enjoyable than partaking of whole cannabis buds.
• Unavailability: Even if you have come to the conclusion that you prefer weed shake for your personal usage, supply and demand might mean that shake is not always readily available for purchase — especially when it comes to the shake from those high-quality specific strains.

Cannabis shake is not for everybody — but may be an absolutely fantastic choice for some. The best way to decide if shake weed fits your preferences and needs is to just carefully weigh all the pros and cons — and then just give it a try to see what you think.

Get Involved in the Cannabis Industry!

Whether you’re an enthusiastic pot smoker or someone who is just learning about the benefits of cannabis, it’s always a great time to surround yourself with like-minded people. And there’s no better place to do that than at CannaCon.

CannaCon is the nation’s leading business-to-business cannabis conference with a goal to grow the cannabis industry by educating cannabis business owners and consumers on all things related to cannabis and CBD. Their trade shows feature a large exhibition hall with exhibitors from around the country, as well as seminars delivered by industry experts.

Shake your tailfeather — and register to attend a CannaCon today!