What is hash oil? It's a cannabis concentrate made by dissolving the plant's resin in a solvent, then removing the solvent to leave a sticky oil or solid far stronger than flower. It also goes by honey oil, BHO or simply oil. Here's how it's made, how it's used and where Michigan law stands.
What is hash oil, and what else is it called?
Hash oil is a broad name for solvent-made cannabis extracts. A common version, butane hash oil or BHO, also goes by amber, dab, glass, honey, shatter or wax, names that mostly describe texture. Despite the name, it's extracted straight from plant material, not from hash, and it sits with the cannabis concentrates on a menu.
How it's made: solvent extraction in licensed labs
A solvent such as butane, propane, ethanol or carbon dioxide dissolves the plant's cannabinoids and terpenes and is then removed; heating, stirring or cooling afterward sets the texture. Butane is highly volatile, so this work calls for sealed professional equipment, and in Michigan the concentrates in licensed stores come from businesses the state licenses and regulates. Our guide to types of cannabis extraction compares the methods.
Hash versus hash oil
Hash is made without solvents: resin glands are collected by sifting, shaking or ice water and pressed into a block. Hash oil pulls the resin out with a solvent instead. Both concentrate the same compounds. The resin dust from a grinder, called kief, is the raw material for traditional hash.
Hash oil versus other cannabis oils: CBD oil, THC tinctures and RSO
| Product | How it's made | How it's used |
|---|---|---|
| Hash oil (BHO and similar) | Solvent extraction | Dabbed or vaporized |
| CBD oil | CBD extract, usually hemp, in a carrier oil | By mouth |
| THC tincture | Extract diluted in alcohol or oil | By mouth, by the dropper |
| RSO (Rick Simpson Oil) | Whole-plant extract, typically alcohol-based | Usually by mouth |
Our guide to RSO covers that product in depth.
Potency ranges
Hash oil is among the strongest products on a menu. Butane extracts can reach 90% THC, and in a 2025 study of Colorado dispensary products, concentrates averaged about 71% THC versus about 21% for flower. Federal researchers note that dabbing delivers a lot of THC very quickly, raising the risk of negative side effects. Start with a portion no bigger than a grain of rice, and wait before taking more.
How people use hash oil: dabbing, vapes and infusions
- Dabbing: a small amount goes onto a hot surface, such as a dab rig's nail or a dab pen's coil, and the vapor is inhaled.
- Vapes: many cartridges hold cannabis oil that a battery heats.
- Infusions: some people stir activated oil into food, though even dosing is hard.
July 10 is a nod to cannabis oils, since 710 flipped upside down reads "OIL"; our guide to 710 Day explains.
Legal status in Michigan and federally
In Michigan, adults 21 and older may carry up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis, and no more than 15 grams of that can be concentrate. At home, an adult may keep up to 10 ounces, with anything over 2.5 ounces locked up. At High Society, bring a valid ID that shows you're at least 21; medical patients 18 and older with a card can buy too.
Federal law differs: as of October 2026, adult-use marijuana remains a Schedule I controlled substance, and crossing state lines with cannabis is a federal offense, so keep your purchase in Michigan. Our Michigan cannabis law guide has the details.
Safety: never make solvent extracts at home
Butane vapor can build up and ignite, which makes home extraction dangerous. One Colorado burn center admitted 29 people with butane hash oil burns between 2008 and 2014, most needing skin grafts. Another cared for 101 such patients over a seven-year span, and three died. Leave extraction to licensed labs, and store concentrates in their original packaging, away from children and pets. Hash oil is for adults 21 and older; please consume responsibly.
