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Home›Guides›What is shatter? How it's made and how it differs from wax and live resin
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What is shatter? How it's made and how it differs from wax and live resin

Shatter is a glassy, translucent cannabis concentrate made by dissolving resin out of the plant with butane and then removing the solvent. It is sold in Canada as a cannabis extract, with a cap of 1,000 mg of THC per container.

Amber slabs of cannabis shatter on parchment beside jars of other concentrates

5 min read · Updated October 20, 2026 · WeedDB editors

Shatter is a hard, amber sheet of concentrated cannabis that breaks like glass, which is where the name comes from. It is a butane hash oil, one of several solvent-made concentrates, and it is easy to confuse with wax, budder and live resin. This guide explains how it is made, how the textures differ, what the Canadian rules say, and why making it at home is both illegal and dangerous.

What is shatter?How is shatter made?What is the difference between shatter, wax, budder and live resin?How is shatter used?What are the Canadian rules on shatter and extracts?Why is making shatter at home illegal and dangerous?How do you buy shatter safely in Canada?

What is shatter?

Shatter is a cannabis concentrate with a translucent, glass-like look. The Ontario Cannabis Store classes it as a butane hash oil, meaning cannabis is processed with butane and the leftover solvent is then evaporated away. The result cools into a hard, thin sheet that snaps or shatters when broken.

Like other concentrates, it is much higher in THC than dried flower, because the plant material has been removed and mostly the cannabinoids and terpenes are left. The exact number varies by product, so the Total THC on the label is the figure to read.

For the wider family of concentrates, see the rosin, live resin and distillate guide.

How is shatter made?

Commercial shatter is made by running a hydrocarbon solvent, usually butane, through cannabis in a closed system. The solvent dissolves the resin, the liquid is collected, and then the solvent is removed by heat and vacuum (a step called purging) until only a very small amount remains.

How the extract is handled afterward decides the texture. Shatter is the version that sets hard and clear, usually because it is left undisturbed as it cools. Whipping or agitating it introduces air and produces a creamy, opaque result instead.

Producers who make extracts for the legal market work under licences and in controlled facilities. The solvent is flammable, so extraction is done in equipment built for it. That is the part that cannot be replicated safely at home.

What is the difference between shatter, wax, budder and live resin?

Wax, budder and badder are shatter-type extracts that were whipped so air is worked in, which makes them opaque and creamy. The labels overlap, and stores and producers use the words loosely, so the product description and label matter more than the name.

Live resin also uses a solvent, but it starts from fresh-frozen plants that skipped the drying and curing steps. The Ontario Cannabis Store describes it as golden with a consistency from saucy to syrupy. The difference from shatter is the starting plant and often the texture, not the basic idea of using a solvent.

Rosin is different in kind. It is pressed with heat and no solvent, so it belongs with hash rather than with shatter. The what is hash guide covers the solventless side.

NameTextureHow it differs
ShatterHard, translucent, glassyLeft undisturbed so it sets clear
WaxCrumbly to waxy, opaqueWhipped so air gets in
Budder, badderSoft, creamy, opaqueWhipped to a smooth, spreadable texture
Live resinSaucy to syrupy, goldenMade from fresh-frozen plant instead of dried, and often a solvent-based extract
RosinSap-likeSolventless, made with heat and pressure
Common concentrate textures compared.

How is shatter used?

Shatter is usually vaporized, not eaten raw. Common methods are heating a small piece on a heated surface and inhaling the vapour, or using concentrate cartridges. Because it is so concentrated, even a small piece holds a lot of THC.

Many cartridge products are filled with extracts too. The vape pens explained guide covers how those devices work and what to look for.

Health Canada's guidance on lowering the risks of cannabis use says effects depend on dose and that higher-THC products carry higher risks. Start with a very small amount, wait and do not repeat quickly. If you feel unwell, see greening out for what that means.

What are the Canadian rules on shatter and extracts?

In Canada, shatter is a cannabis extract. The Cannabis Regulations define an extract as a substance produced by extraction processing of cannabis material, or a synthesized substance identical to a plant cannabinoid. Extracts were legalized in October 2019, along with edibles and topicals.

The Cannabis Regulations cap THC in a cannabis extract at 1,000 mg per immediate container, counting the THC that THCA could become. A container of shatter therefore cannot hold more than that total, however strong it is per gram. A 1 g container at 800 mg/g holds 800 mg of THC, which is under the cap.

Extracts intended to be swallowed or used nasally, rectally or vaginally face a much lower cap of 10 mg of THC per unit. Legal products also carry a standard label with the Total THC and the cannabis symbol. The reading cannabis labels guide explains each part.

The cap that matters

The Cannabis Regulations limit a cannabis extract to 1,000 mg of THC per immediate container, counting the THC that THCA could become.

Why is making shatter at home illegal and dangerous?

Butane is highly flammable, and it is heavier than air, so vapour pools at floor level and can be set off by a pilot light, a spark or static. Extraction creates large amounts of vapour in a small space, which is how home extraction has caused explosions and fires.

It is also illegal. Health Canada states that making cannabis products at home using organic solvents, such as butane, is prohibited. Individuals may only use non-solvent methods for personal production, and licensed extractors operate under federal licences and strict facility rules.

There is a quality risk as well. Incomplete purging can leave butane in the finished product, which is another reason to buy from licensed retailers. Legal products are tested and labelled.

If you want to work with cannabis at home, safer options exist. The how to make cannabutter and how long do edibles take guides cover edibles, and the how to decarb weed guide explains the chemistry that cooking relies on. Check the Cannabis Act and your province's rules for what is allowed.

How do you buy shatter safely in Canada?

Buy from a licensed provincial retailer or authorized store. Legal packages carry the cannabis symbol, the Total THC, a lot number and a health warning, and the product has been tested.

Compare Total THC per gram, not only the product name. Two shatters from different producers can differ widely in strength. The guide on THCA vs THC explains why Total THC is the number to use.

Strains people look up most
Maui Wowie strainSativaMaui WowieTHC 16–28% · MyrceneBlue Dream strainHybridBlue DreamTHC 17–24% · MyrceneSour Diesel strainSativaSour DieselTHC 18–24% · CaryophylleneApples and Bananas strainHybridApples and BananasTHC 20–30% · CaryophylleneLemon Cherry Gelato strainHybridLemon Cherry GelatoTHC 19–29% · CaryophylleneOG Kush strainHybridOG KushTHC 19–26% · MyrceneGorilla Glue strainHybridGorilla GlueTHC 18–30% · CaryophylleneSuper Boof strainHybridSuper BoofTHC 26–32% · MyrceneGMO strainHybridGMOTHC 22–28% · CaryophylleneRuntz strainHybridRuntzTHC 19–30% · CaryophylleneJack Herer strainSativaJack HererTHC 15–22% · TerpinoleneGelato strainHybridGelatoTHC 18–26% · Caryophyllene

Sources: ocs.ca, laws-lois.justice.gc.ca, laws-lois.justice.gc.ca, laws-lois.justice.gc.ca, canada.ca

Common questions

What is shatter?

Shatter is a hard, glassy, translucent cannabis concentrate made with butane. The solvent dissolves resin out of the plant and is then removed, leaving a thin sheet that breaks like glass.

What is the difference between shatter and wax?

Both are made the same basic way. Shatter sets hard and clear, while wax is whipped so air gets in, giving it an opaque, crumbly or creamy texture. Stores use the names loosely.

What is the difference between shatter and live resin?

Live resin is made from fresh-frozen plants that skipped drying and curing, and is usually saucy or syrupy. Shatter is a hard, glassy sheet. Both are typically solvent-based extracts.

Is shatter legal in Canada?

Yes, when it is a licensed extract sold by a legal retailer. The Cannabis Regulations cap THC in an extract at 1,000 mg per immediate container.

Is it legal to make shatter at home in Canada?

No. Health Canada says making cannabis products at home with organic solvents such as butane is prohibited. It is also very dangerous because butane vapour is flammable and can explode.

Is shatter stronger than flower?

Per gram, generally yes, because the plant material is removed. Check the Total THC on the label and start with a very small amount.

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