Moon rocks are nugs of cannabis flower dipped in extracts and rolled in kief. They're typically high in THC — averaging more than 50% — and valued foremost for their potency.
Moon rocks look like something from a lunar landscape, but they're more likely named for the out-of-this-world high you get from smoking them. They are, after all, weed dipped in concentrates and rolled in even more concentrates.
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A wealth of moon rock variations are already out in the market, including THC-free hemp varieties high in CBD. Some brands mimic the moon rock experience by drizzling concentrates over a finished pre-roll and rolling it in kief. These infused pre-rolls can deliver the moon rocks experience without dealing with the sticky mess.
Pros and cons of moon rocks
Moon rocks are a potent cannabis product that can provide a unique experience but may not be suitable for everyone. Consider the pros and cons to decide if moon rocks are right for you:
Pros
- Potency: Moon rocks are highly potent due to the combination of cannabis flower, concentrate, and kief, which leads to a strong, long-lasting high.
- Flavor and aroma: Moon rocks can produce a rich, complex flavor and aroma that many cannabis enthusiasts appreciate. However, this tends to be true only for homemade moon rocks, as the packaging and storage of the product from dispensaries can vary with quality.
- Efficient use of kief: Moon rocks are a great way to use the kief collected in your grinder.
Cons
- Potency: A pro for some may be a con for others. The high potency of moon rocks can overwhelm inexperienced consumers or those with a low THC tolerance, potentially leading to adverse side effects such as anxiety, paranoia, or dizziness.
- Price: Moon rocks are typically more expensive than regular cannabis due to the combination of flower, concentrate, and kief.
- Preparation and consumption: Smoking or vaporizing moon rocks requires extra care, as they can be difficult to break apart, may not burn evenly, and can clog smoking devices.
- Inconsistency: The potency of moon rocks can vary depending on the quality and proportions of the cannabis flower, concentrate, and kief you use, making it harder to predict the effects.
How to smoke moon rocks in a pipe or bong bowl
Smoking moon rocks is simple but requires a little more effort than smoking flower.
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Materials
- Moon rocks
- Regular ground cannabis
- Glass pipe or bong
- Lighter or hemp wick
- Gloves
- Scissors
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Cotton ball
Instructions
Step 1: Break moon rocks
Use gloves and clean scissors to break off a small piece of the moon rock.
Step 2: Line smoking device with flower
Place a base layer of regular ground cannabis at the bottom of your pipe or bong bowl. This will help create an even burn and prevent the sticky moon rock from clogging your device.
Step 3: Add moon rocks
Place the small piece of moon rock on top of the ground cannabis. Be mindful not to pack the bowl too tightly, as this can restrict airflow and make it difficult to smoke.
Step 4: Light up
Use a lighter or hemp wick to ignite the moon rocks. Hold the flame slightly above the bowl and inhale slowly. Moon rocks can be difficult to keep lit, so you may need to relight them several times throughout the smoking session.
Step 5: Clean scissors
Douse a cotton ball with isopropyl alcohol. Use it to wipe any residue off your scissors so they'll be ready for your next smoke session.
Tips for smoking moon rocks
A few simple tips can make smoking moon rocks a more seamless experience.
- Use scissors. Use scissors to break the moon rocks into small pieces instead of a grinder to avoid gumming up your grinder and losing most of the moon rocks' kief coating.
- Use glass smoking gear. Smoke moon rocks out of a glass pipe, bong, or bubbler instead of rolling papers since they're too sticky to roll into a joint. Avoid using glass joints or blunts, as the moon rocks may get stuck, not burn evenly, and be difficult to keep lit.
- Use a hemp wick. The dense texture of moon rocks makes it necessary to hold a flame to your bowl for longer than you would with regular flower. Using hemp wick will spare you from inhaling the butane from a lighter.
- Avoid sharing moon rocks with new consumers. Moon rocks are highly potent and best shared with people with high tolerances.
- Store moon rocks in a cool, dark place. When moon rocks get too hot, they can become melty, gummy, and sticky, so keep them somewhere with a consistently cool temperature.
How to make moon rocks at home
Should you decide to try your hand at making moon rocks at home, you'll need a few items.
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Materials
- Cannabis buds: Choose high-quality buds as the base for your moon rocks.
- Cannabis concentrate: You'll need a sticky concentrate, such as hash oil, BHO (butane hash oil), or CO2 oil. The concentrate should have a thick, syrup-like consistency. To make solventless moon rocks, add rosin jam.
- Kief: These are the resinous trichomes of the cannabis plant. Collect it from your grinder, purchase kief at a dispensary, or use whatever quality hash you have in powder form.
- Tongs: Either tongs or tweezers will help you separate sticky ingredients.
- Liquid dropper: For coating the buds with oil thoroughly.
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare buds
Select dense, well-formed cannabis buds that are dry but not overly so. You want them to hold the concentrate and kief without crumbling.
Step 2: Apply concentrate
Using your dropper, carefully drizzle or dab the cannabis concentrate onto the buds. Some extracts may need to be heated to reach a consistency that will better adhere to the flower. Be sure to coat the entire surface of the bud evenly. You can also use a pair of tweezers to dip the bud into the concentrate if it's easier.
Step 3: Let first layer permeate
Once it's had a chance to soak through the nug, repeat the oil coating step — some canna-crafters also inject warm oil into the center of the buds.
Step 4: Roll in kief
Place the coated bud into a container with kief. Roll it around gently, ensuring that the entire surface of the bud is coated with a layer of kief.
Step 5: Let dry
Allow the moon rock to dry and set in a cool, dark place for a few hours or overnight. This will help the layers adhere to the bud and make it easier to handle.
Step 6: Store or enjoy
Once your moon rocks are dry, store them in an airtight container away from direct sunlight. They can be highly potent, so start with a small amount and use caution when consuming.
FAQ
How potent are moon rocks?
Since moon rocks combine flower and two types of concentrates, most moon rocks contain more than 50% THC, and CBD moon rock varieties will be equally high in CBD.
There's high variability in potency from product to product since the flower, concentrate, and kief all have their own potency levels. Check the label for a potency breakdown and buy legal moon rocks to rest assured that those numbers are accurate.
What does one gram of moon rocks cost?
The price depends on the quality of the flower, concentrate, and kief, but you can generally expect moon rocks to cost more than an equal amount of un-infused bud — upwards of $30 a gram.
That said, they include three ingredients and are significantly more potent than flower alone so you may get more bang for your buck in terms of potency. Find deals at retailers near you to reduce the cost of moon rocks.
What's the difference between moon rocks and cannabis caviar?
Some cannabis consumers use “moon rocks" and “cannabis caviar" interchangeably, but these descriptors initially designated two distinct products.
Cannabis caviar may refer to moon rocks, or it may refer to nugs dipped in cannabis oil. If you're shopping for moon rocks at a dispensary and you hear your budtender talking about caviar, double-check and ensure those nugs are also covered in kief.
Where did moon rocks come from?
Moon rocks materialized from the longstanding, intimate relationship between cannabis culture and hip-hop. More precisely, they're the product of a mixtape project between former Death Row Records executive vice-president-turned-cannabis-mogul Kurupt (Ricardo E. Brown) and musical artist Dr. Zodiak (Daniel Laughlin).
Kurupt and Dr. Zodiak met in 2013 and quickly went from collaborating on a mixtape to launching their first line of branded moon rocks. Since the advent of Kurupt and Dr. Zodiak's Moonrocks, other brands and dispensaries have breached the stratosphere and launched their lunar concoctions. Many moon rocks were originally made with GSC nugs.
Are moon rocks legal?
The legality of moon rocks depends on your location and local cannabis laws. In places where recreational or medical cannabis is legal, moon rocks may be available for purchase from licensed dispensaries. Be sure to follow all local laws and regulations regarding cannabis and possession.
How do I store moon rocks?
Store moon rocks in an airtight container away from direct sunlight and heat to preserve their potency and freshness. Like other cannabis products, proper storage can help maintain the quality of the moon rocks over time.
How long do moon rocks keep you high?
The duration of the high from moon rocks depends on several factors, including your tolerance, metabolism, and the potency of the moon rocks. Generally, when you smoke cannabis, the effects can last anywhere from 2 to 6 hours, with the peak effects occurring within the first 30 minutes to an hour after consumption.
However, since moon rocks are more potent than regular cannabis, the high might be more intense and last longer. Some report feeling the effects for several hours, potentially extending beyond the 6-hour mark.
Remember that experiences may vary, and the duration of the high can be influenced by factors such as the method of consumption, the amount consumed, and your unique physiology. If you're trying moon rocks for the first time, start with a small amount and be prepared for a potentially stronger and longer-lasting high than you would experience with regular cannabis.
Featured image by Gina Coleman/Weedmaps
