Cannabis Concentrates — the complete Swiss guide
Concentrates are the most potent and cleanest form of cannabis. From classic hash to solventless rosin to live resin: this hub explains every extraction method, its potency, and its place in the Swiss <1 % THC market.
TL;DR: Concentrate = separating trichomes from plant matter. Solventless (kief, hash, rosin, bubble hash) = cleanest full-spectrum consumption. Solvent-based (live resin, BHO, wax, shatter) = higher terpene retention, license-required. In Switzerland legal from <1 % THC flower as long as the final product stays under 1 %.
What are cannabis concentrates?
A concentrate bundles the active compounds of the plant — cannabinoids (CBD, CBG, THC), terpenes, flavonoids — into a much smaller mass than dried flower. Where flower holds 10 % CBD, good rosin sits at 60–80 %.
Benefits: smaller volume, cleaner consumption (no plant combustion), intact terpene profile, far more efficient uptake via dab or vape.
The two big families
Solventless: kief, dry-sift, bubble hash, rosin. Purely mechanical separation, ice water or heat + pressure. Zero chemical residue — Swiss standard for consumer products.
Solvent-based: BHO (butane), PHO (propane), CO₂, ethanol, live resin, wax, shatter, diamonds. Higher terpene extraction and yield, but industrial control required — not legally producible in Switzerland without a license.
Key concentrates at a glance
Kief: trichome dust from grinder or screen. CBD 25–50 %.
Hash: pressed kief or bubble hash. CBD 30–60 %. The classic.
Legal & import — Switzerland
Concentrates from Swiss <1 % THC flower are legal for personal use — kief, hash and home rosin fall under the same rules as the source flower. Key limit: the 1 % THC ceiling must be preserved in the final product, otherwise the Narcotics Act (BetmG) applies.
Importing THC wax (US/NL) is drug trafficking and gets seized at customs. Live resin and BHO are only produced legally by a few licensed Swiss operators.
FAQ
What's the strongest legal concentrate in Switzerland?
Rosin and bubble hash from strong CBD strains hit 70–85 % CBD — 5–8× stronger than the source flower while staying under 1 % THC.
Solventless vs solvent — which is better?
Solventless (rosin, bubble hash) is cleaner with no residue. Solvent (live resin) retains more volatile terpenes but needs industrial purification.
Can I make concentrates at home?
Kief, dry-sift, bubble hash and rosin yes, with simple gear. BHO/live resin: no — flammable solvents + explosion risk + no license.
How do you consume concentrates?
Rosin/wax: dab rig or concentrate vape (Puffco). Hash/kief: bowl topping, in a joint, or pressed. Oils: sublingual.
Are concentrates more expensive than flower?
Per gram yes (CHF 30–80 vs 8–14), but per active milligram often cheaper — 1 g rosin replaces 6–8 g flower.