What Is Reclaim? [Collection, Potency, and Uses]

Reclaim is a term used to describe the yellow or brown sticky substance that collects inside your rig after dabbing cannabis concentrates. It forms when the vaporized concentrate condenses on the walls of the rig and resolidifies as it cools.

Some of you may be wondering whether you can collect and reuse this substance, and the simple answer is “yes.” However, there are a few things to be aware of before deciding whether you want to consume reclaim. We will explore the pros and cons of using reclaim in the article, but first, let’s look at how to collect it and create your own reclaimed dabs.

How to Collect Reclaim

Some rigs come with a piece of equipment called a reclaim catcher, which is specially designed to collect your reclaim each time you hit a dab. However, not all rigs include these, meaning that you will have to put in some work if you want to put your reclaim to good use.

There are a couple of different ways to collect reclaim from your rig. The first involves using a solvent, such as ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, or grain alcohol. The method is straightforward but can leave residual solvents in your reclaim, which isn’t great for your health.

If you want to try the solvent method, simply pour a small amount of your chosen solvent into your empty dab rig. Use the smallest amount you can and swish it around to remove the reclaim from the walls of your rig. Then, pour the liquid into a shallow dish and allow the alcohol to evaporate over the course of a few hours. You can use a fan to speed up the process if you wish.

If you’d prefer not to use solvents, you can also collect your reclaim using heat. Hold your empty dab rig upside down over a silicone baking sheet or a piece of wax paper. Use your torch to gently heat the bowl and pipe so the reclaim melts and drips out of the rig. Take care to only heat the heatproof elements of the rig and avoid overheating, which will burn off any remaining cannabinoids.

How to Use Reclaim

Once you have collected your reclaim, you can roll it into a joint, use it to top a bowl or try dabbing it a second time. However, be warned: reclaim still contains cannabinoids, but its terpenes will have been burned off the first time around. You will be left with a nasty, oily substance that leaves much to be desired in terms of taste.

Therefore, many people prefer to infuse reclaim into edibles to mask its unpleasant flavor. The good news is that reclaim has already been decarboxylated. This means that the inactive chemicals in fresh cannabis have been activated by the heat applied during dabbing. It saves a time-consuming step that is usually necessary when creating edibles and makes the whole process a breeze.

How to Make Edibles with Reclaim

Because reclaim is already decarboxylated, you could technically eat it as it is and still get high. Unfortunately, it would taste pretty awful, so it’s probably better to mix it into a recipe and create some delicious reclaim edibles instead.

On the plus side, you can add reclaim to pretty much any recipe you choose. However, because it is an oily substance, it is best to find a recipe that includes some oil or melted butter and mix it into this rather than trying to add it to dry ingredients like flour. Heating the oil or butter and dissolving the reclaim into it is the best way to ensure it gets distributed evenly throughout the batch.

Another option is to simply sprinkle the reclaim over your food at the end of cooking for a condiment that’ll give any dish an extra cannabis kick.

So, whether you’re in Florida and looking to give your key lime pie a THC twist or in Pennsylvania and hoping to make your Philly cheesesteak extra dank, reclaim could be a great way to go about it!

How Strong Is Reclaim?

Many people wonder, “Are reclaim dabs more potent than regular concentrate?” The answer is not straightforward and depends on how you are measuring potency.

Technically, reclaim contains more THC than regular concentrate. This is because regular concentrate has not yet been decarboxylated and contains inactive THCA rather than THC. However, as soon as you heat your concentrate, the THCA gets converted into THC.

Because some dabs contain up to 90% cannabinoids, they provide a super potent hit. Reclaim will be less powerful but can still have a significant THC content, depending on the quality and potency of the original concentrate.

How Much THC Is in Reclaim?

The cannabis experts at MCR Labs carried out a study to test just how much THC is in reclaim dabs. They analyzed four different reclaim samples and found that they contained ample THC as well as CBD and CBN. The maximum and minimum quantities of each cannabinoid are outlined in the table below:

Does Reclaim Get You Higher Than Wax?

The MCR Labs study showed that while reclaim does contain THC, it is not as potent as concentrates like wax, which can contain anywhere between 70% and 90% cannabinoids. Therefore, smoking or eating reclaim from wax is not as effective as using fresh concentrate.

However, reclaim does contain higher-than-average levels of CBN. This is the cannabinoid that forms when THC is degraded by time, heat, and light. It is associated with relaxing and sedative effects, so if you are looking for a concentrate to give you a good night’s sleep, reclaim might be a fantastic option.

How Long Does Reclaim Last?

Like all concentrates, dab reclaim lasts a while but will go bad eventually. Some suggest that it’s best to use it within six months of collection. After this, it may begin to lose potency.

To keep your reclaim fresh, store it in an airtight container away from heat and light and use it as soon as you have the chance. Some people even recommend storing it in the freezer to extend its shelf life indefinitely.

Reclaim Dabs: Summary

Reclaim dabs are not as potent or tasty as fresh concentrates, but if you are looking to save cash and get the most out of your stash, they’re certainly a viable option. If the idea of smoking this tasteless, goopy substance doesn’t appeal, why not try cooking with it instead?

Reclaimed dabs are a great way to reduce waste, and as a bonus, you get a nice clean rig, too! What’s not to love?