NO LOVE FOR OIL (1988–2008)
From the late 1980s through the 2000s, High Times Cup categories only recognized solventless hash—ice water, dry sift, and pressed bricks. Butane oil, often called “honey oil” or “earwax,” was circulating in underground forums like Overgrow but was dismissed in competitions. The lack of testing, safety standards, and dedicated categories kept BHO out of official recognition.
AMSTERDAM SHAKE-UP
In 2009, the High Times Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam awarded “Best Product” to the Vaporswing—the first titanium swing-arm nail designed specifically for BHO consumption. This was the moment solvent-based hash oil crossed from underground circles into mainstream cannabis recognition.
JUDGES’ LOUNGE DEMOS
Although not entered officially, Top Shelf Extracts brought live demos into the judges’ lounge, dabbing their “earwax” BHO for attendees. Founder Daniel de Sailles later recalled that this won over critics in real time, turning skeptics into believers. These sessions are remembered as pivotal to BHO’s cultural breakthrough.
CATEGORY CREATED (2010)
By June 2010, High Times added a formal “Best Concentrate” category at the San Francisco Medical Cup. For the first time, solvent-based extracts were judged separately. BHO swept the podium, taking both 1st and 2nd place, establishing itself as a legitimate class of competition hash.
COLORADO MARKET SURGE
In 2009, concentrates accounted for less than 10% of cannabis sales. By 2014, they surpassed 25%. High Times recognition fueled hype, and hype drove innovation: closed-loop extraction systems became the new standard, while dab bars began appearing in dispensaries across Colorado and beyond.
MAINSTREAM SPOTLIGHT
After 2009, High Times regularly featured BHO in full spreads. New terms like “earwax,” “shatter,” and “dab” entered everyday cannabis vocabulary. What was once considered risky or fringe became aspirational, particularly along the West Coast.
YOUTUBE VIDEO
— Nugg Notes
SOURCES:
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Hanna, Ab. “What Is BHO? Butane Hash Oil.” High Times, 17 Apr. 2018, hightimes.com/guides/bho-butane-hash-oil/. Accessed 16 Sept. 2025.
Covers the basics of BHO: what it is, how it is made, its varieties, extraction methods, and how its perception has changed over time.
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“Concentrated Cannabis, Pt. I: Extractions 101.” High Times, 10 May 2018, hightimes.com/grow/concentrated-cannabis-part-i-extractions-101/. Accessed 16 Sept. 2025.
Details the emergence of solvent-based concentrates into public awareness, noting how they were mostly underground before ~2009.
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“History of the High Times Cannabis Cup.” CannabisCupWinners.com, 18 Nov. 2024, cannabiscupwinners.com/blog/2024/11/18/history-of-the-high-times-cannabis-cup/. Accessed 16 Sept. 2025.
Gives context about the founding of the Cup, its categories, and how the event has evolved, which helps situate when new types of products got recognition.
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“Cannabis Cup.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, last updated 2025, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_Cup. Accessed 16 Sept. 2025.
*Provides dates, category winners (including “Product Cup” in 2009 where “Vapor Swing” won), and structural history of the Cannabis Cup. Useful for verifying that 2009 was a turning point. *
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Butane Hash Oil and Dabbing: Insights into Use, Amateur Production, and Health Risks. PMC, 2 Nov. 2018, National Library of Medicine, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6220730/. Accessed 16 Sept. 2025.
Analyzes extraction techniques, usage trends among amateurs, and the rise in visibility of BHO/dabs in scientific/public health literature.
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“Decades of Dabs: 710 in High Times History.” High Times, 14 July 2025, hightimes.com/dabs/decades-of-dabs-710-in-high-times-history/. Accessed 16 Sept. 2025.
Explores how concentrate culture has evolved, especially in High Times’ own coverage, helping illustrate the cultural shift that made BHO more mainstream.
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“The History of Dabs: How Concentrates Shaped Cannabis Culture.” E10 Labs Blog, E10 Labs, published recently (2024–25), e10-labs.com/blogs/news/the-history-of-dabs-how-concentrates-shaped-cannabis-culture. Accessed 16 Sept. 2025.
Focuses on concentrate culture, terminology, and how consumer practices and tools (nails, rigs, swing-arms) developed.
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“Butane hash oil — Alcohol and Drug Foundation.” ADF.org.au, 6 June 2025, adf.org.au/drug-facts/butane-hash-oil/. Accessed 16 Sept. 2025.
Provides a more neutral/public health view, including how BHO/dabs are defined, their potency, how usage has increased, and some of the risks.
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