By @medsforheads

Frequent dabbers are generally after three things: flavor, potency, and cleanliness. In pursuit of these parameters over the years, the concentrate-loving community has turned its sights increasingly to live extracts, especially those produced without solvents. I’ve never been one to knock concentrates made from cured material, especially since some of my favorite traditional hash falls under that category, but in recognition of technical advancements in the field, I maintain the caveats that they must hit hard, be made cleanly, and yield a tasty vapor to merit the choice.

Picked up from Consume Chicago, I hoped the Progressive Treatment Solutions’ Xerxes delivered in all three categories. The wax resembled raw piecrust, crumbly in texture with a rusty brown color. A cross between Ghost Train Haze and Mag Landrace, Xerxes’ cool, piney scent was slightly muddled by the presence of extra plant constituents in the extract.

ILNJ photo

This gram tested at 77.90% total cannabinoids, including just over 5% CBGa and 5.53% total terpenes. Terpinolene, b-caryophyllene and a-humulene topped the list of terpenes analyzed and accounted for the majority of the overall content.

Not wanting to accidentally stain my banger, I opted for a cold start when sampling the Xerxes crumble wax. Holding the flame underneath a pea-sized morsel of wax for six seconds gave me three solid, moderately terpy rips that pulled my eyelids closer together and felt heavy on my lungs despite leaving a large amber puddle. The taste of my low-temp hit was sweetly woodsy yet medicinal, similar to a slippery elm lozenge.

ILNJ photo

The cranial pressure brought on by the dab trod the line between pleasant massage and mild headache. With thoughts a little frantic initially, the hybrid extract did not serve the productive purpose I had intended for it, but instead induced a state of attentive near-paralysis. Muscle and joint pain fell back into check after about twenty minutes.

In my opinion, the Xerxes crumble could have been stripped of some impurities before release to make it more palatable and less harsh for those of us with respiratory sensitivities who still enjoy inhaling our medicine. Still, it wasn’t entirely without merit and, as mentioned in my previous PTS wax review, the handling logistics of its consistency can be an advantage in certain cases.

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FDA Disclaimer: The statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The efficacy of these products has not been confirmed by FDA-approved research. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All information presented here is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from healthcare practitioners. Please consult your healthcare professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product.

Effects & Medical Attributes are based on anecdotal evidence. Individual experiences can be varied.