I've been partaking for forty years or so, and I partake for the effect, not for the flavor. If there were only flavor, and no effect, I wouldn't partake.
However, I can't remember a single time, in all these years, that the different flavors and aromas weren't appreciated and discussed. Not one.
Which leads me to point out that something else missing from Pure Gold (or any super refined extract) is variety of effect. PG has the same effect
every time. I happen to like that effect, but still... So while we've been talking about the loss of flavor and aroma, we've sort of passed over the loss of variety of effect. The same way I chose an herb (indica or sativa or a blend or a specific variety) for the effect I want, I also want to chose a concentrate for its effect.
After years of trying to find the best way to travel with our beloved herb, I finally settled on Pure Gold, in a small clearomizer, with a small Vision Spinner variable voltage (eGo style) battery. It is totally an e-cigarette except it happens to have thc instead of nicotine... I have shown and discussed it with agents when entering (and leaving) a new country with no problems. It has zero odor that can be identified, and since I'm also trying to quit cigarettes, I have a little bottle of e-juice and the other accoutrements that accompany a "normal" e-cig.
But I pay a big price; there's no real joy of the experience anymore, just the joy of the effect.
When I'm home, it's no problem. I have what I like in most of the stages between herb and super refined concentrate (hash, kief, bubble/ice, wax/shatter). Though expensive, there is really no herb I can't get at home, same as when I'm in LA or Amsterdam. Bringing different dispensary waxes/shatters/whatevers back from Cali is relatively easy, and the variety of flavors and effects is spectacular. If it weren't for this variety, I'd probably be sick of Pure Gold, and I expect my tolerance would be much much higher.
Yet even with all that variety of concentrates, I still prefer vaping herb to
any concentrate. It's just a richer experience for me. Much as I'd prefer drinking scotch or cognac to everclear, if I drank.
I'd love to be making my concentrates with a Liquidizer (the product), but as I said a bunch of messages ago, living in a small city apartment doesn't make for safe butane extractions. I'm envious of those of you who can, and I'm enjoying sharing your experience vicariously. By doing it yourself, you can decide just how far you want to go on the path between herb at one end (with its infinite variety of flavors and aromas and effects), and super refined (but mostly tasteless and aroma-less) at the other end.
I'd also like to thank Liquidizer (the person who chats with us here) for sharing all the information and insights; I'm happy you like to hang out here.
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