The Orchestral Effect
The orchestral, entourage, and/or full-spectrum effects are popular but less-than-clear marketing terms floating around an industry expected to reach $8 Billion in sales by 2020.
The orchestral effect refers to the interplay of magnifying and mitigating effects within a strain/concentrate’s unique cocktail of cannabinoids and terpenes. A growing body of science (and slowly developing consensus) will uncover more about the ideal synergies between cannabinoids that best achieve desired effects, such as relaxation, buzz, or euphoria. For now, because there are many unstudied cannabinoids, any claimed orchestral effect is basically a best guess based on years of black market experimentation, a seed’s suspected lineage, and then what the customer’s report back! There is very little sophisticated information publicly available regarding cannabinoid synergies, because cutting edge laboratories prefer keeping findings private, as long as the standing federal prohibition bars these companies from placing proprietary protection on their discoveries.
High Temp Dabs (750 - 1000 degrees)
Users who prefer high temperature dabs (750 - 1000) typically do so because it leaves little/no dab residue (or reclaim) and offers punchy, immediate, and short-lived effects. Some terpenes and cannabinoids deteriorate, losing their chemical structure, at these high temperatures, thus eliminating intended orchestral effect and taste profile.
High temperature dabs remain popular despite a growing body of evidence suggesting that high temp are worse for the body.
Low Temp (350 - 450 degrees)
Two increasingly popular low temp dabbing methods entail either heating your nail along with your concentrate or super-heating your nail to glowing red and then waiting 10 seconds before dropping your concentrate and sealing it with a carb cap. Lovers of the low-temp dab cite its full-expression of flavors, resulting in tastier and less cough-inducing smoke sessions.