How To Make Cannabis Oil At Home?

Are you captivated by the prospect of crafting your cannabis-infused oil? You're not alone!

The process of making homemade cannabis oil is an excellent method for producing a potent, therapeutic, and adaptable cannabis-based product.

This oil is not only versatile but also incredibly user-friendly, ready to be incorporated into a variety of applications such as edible recipes, topical applications, or even savored on its own.

The delightful news is that crafting cannabis oil at home is remarkably straightforward!

What is cannabis oil?

Cannabis oil is a sophisticated concentrate, the result of blending cannabis's dynamic ingredients—cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and more—into a carrier oil such as coconut or olive oil.

The psychoactive cannabinoids present in cannabis, like THC and CBD, possess lipophilic properties, making them readily soluble in fats and particularly compatible with the lipids found in oils.

When these cannabinoids are ingested alongside fats, our bodies are better equipped to absorb and metabolize them, leading to an invigorating and potentially therapeutic encounter.

Infused oils can be expertly created using hemp, cannabis, or a harmonious blend of both, capturing the distinct cannabinoid and terpene profile of the initial plant material.

Contrary to the immediate effects of inhalation, consuming cannabis oil results in a more gradual onset but offers a more prolonged experience.

The initiation of effects can range from one to three hours, contingent upon your metabolic rate and physiological state on any given day, with the overall effects typically enduring for approximately eight hours.

How to use cannabis oil?

Cannabis oil is extremely versatile.

Once crafted, it opens a world of possibilities for culinary and medicinal applications.

It can be seamlessly integrated into the preparation of homemade edibles, medicinal meals, infused drinks, and soothing topical salves.

Additionally, it can be relished on its own, offering a direct and potent experience.

The good news is that most cannabis-infused oils boast a long shelf life, making them a practical choice for storage and use over weeks to months.

Here are a few easy ways you can use cannabis oil:

1. Prepare homemade edibles and medicated meals. 

Make edibles or prepare a delicious dish with your cannabis cooking oil.

A popular alternative to cannabutter, weed oil is one of the most reliable methods of making edibles.

Cannabis cooking oil can be used instead of butter or oil in nearly any recipe — it's up to you how creative you want to get with it.

Tip: When cooking or baking with infused oil, try to avoid recipes that require high temperatures or lengthy heating times since both can degrade the terpenes and cannabinoids in the oil.

You want to avoid further decarboxylating the cannabinoids, which could impact potency.

2. Make an infused beverage. 

Just as you can eat weed oil, you can drink it, too.

Add a dose of cannabis coconut oil to a coffee, tea, or smoothie.

3. Make your topical salve.

Combine your weed oil with beeswax or similar ingredients to make a soothing cannabis topical or self-care product.

You can also apply the oil directly onto your skin.

Topicals can potentially be used to help combat skin irritation, general inflammation, muscle and joint soreness, and more.

4. Enjoy weed oil on its own. 

Cannabis oil can be ingested or administered sublingually, meaning under the tongue, completely on its own, like a tincture.

Many tinctures are simply cannabis-infused oils, after all.

Depending on the carrier oil you use, the consistency of the final product will determine the best way to dose it on its own.

For instance, some oils maintain a more solid texture and can be ingested by a spoonful or spread on toast, while others remain in liquid forms and may be administered in drops.

Keep in mind sublingual dosing offers a potentially quicker onset and shorter duration of effects.

CBD Extraction Methods

CBD can be extracted from both marijuana and hemp.

While hemp plants generally contain higher than average CBD, that isn't the case for marijuana which is often bred for higher THC levels.

There are many ways to extract CDB from the plant material, while industrial CBD producers use solvent extraction methods with pressurized CO2, ethanol, butane, propane, etc.

These methods require expensive equipment, a good amount of room, and scientific knowledge to do safely, so they are not suitable for home conditions.

Alcohol extraction, where the hemp plant is soaked in alcohol to extract the cannabinoids, is more straightforward than most industrial extraction methods, but the high-proof alcohol used can be highly volatile.

Without decent ventilation and careful monitoring, the vapor can pose a severe risk of fire or explosion.

The simplest and safest method for home CBD oil extraction is to use a carrier oil. 

Hemp seed, coconut oil, avocado oil, or olive oil can all be used for this.

This article will describe this method step by step in this article so you can make a high-quality CBD oil at home.

CBD Extraction using Carrier Oil

This method of CBD extraction is for making a canna oil that can be used in your CBD recipes, whether that's cookies, brownies, or whatever else you wish to make.

It will work equally well with high CBD hemp or high THC marijuana.   

Ingredients:

• 1/4 Oz of high-CBD hemp flower
• 8 Oz carrier oil (we will use olive oil)
• Ice cubes

Equipment:

• Salad Spinner
• Large pot to boil water
• French Coffee Press
• Mason jar or similar glass jar with lid (to store your oil)
• Large tea strainer
• Pyrex Dish
• Tin Foil

How to make cannabis oil？

The 1:1 ratio of ground cannabis to carrier oil is often recommended, but it's highly customizable.

Adjust measurements based on your tolerance and preference.

If you're new to cannabis edibles and ingestion, you may want to start with an even smaller ratio.

Speaking of dosing, it's best to sit down and do a little math so you know exactly how much THC, CBD, or other cannabinoids will be in your final oil.

Step 1: Decarb your flower.

The first step in making homemade cannabis oil is decarboxylating, or "decarbing", your ground flower with a weed grinder ground cannabis.

Decarboxylation is a chemical process that converts the acidic form of cannabinoids naturally produced by the plants (THCA, CBDA, etc.) into the neutral form we associate with the intoxicating or mildly psychoactive experience we all know and love (THC, CBD, etc).

Decarboxylation can be thought of as "activating" cannabinoids before infusing them into the carrier oil.

Start by preheating your oven to 240°F.

Next, spread your ground cannabis evenly onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Cover the sheet with a piece of foil.

Place the baking sheet onto the center rack and bake for 30-40 minutes, rotating the sheet after 20 minutes for even heating.

For cultivars high in CBD, it's recommended to leave it in the oven closer for 50-60 minutes since CBD does not decarb as quickly as THC does.

Once the time is up, allow your weed to cool at room temperature.

It should appear slightly darker in color.

Note that this process will smell.

It's best to open up a window or turn on a vent or fan while decarboxylating your cannabis if a strong weed smell is a concern.

Step 2: Prepare a double broiler.

Combine the decarboxylated cannabis with carrier oil in a double boiler or makeshift double boiler, like a heatproof bowl and a saucepot, for example.

Add water to the bottom pan of your double boiler, and add the container with the cannabis and oil to the top.

Step 3: Let the weed and oil simmer.

Heat your weed and oil mixture on low for at least 60 minutes and up to six hours, stirring regularly.

It is generally recommended to ensure the infusion's temperature does not exceed 200°F. 

Shoot for around 180°F, or ideally anywhere between 160°F - 200°F works.

Monitor the oil's temperature with a probe or candy thermometer for best results.

Stir occasionally and replenish the water as needed.

Step 4: Strain the oil.

Once the oil has cooled to room temperature, strain the oil using a mesh strainer and cheesecloth or paper coffee filter over a glass bowl.

If using cheesecloth you can wrap up and squeeze the flower to extract more oil, or you can use a plastic spatula to push down on the flower in a strainer.

Afterward, discard the plant material.

Step 5: Store and label your weed oil properly.

Store your cannabis oil in an airtight, glass container in a cool, dark place.

Label and date your oil's storage container.

If you've done the math in figuring out the oil's cannabinoid content, you can include this information on the label and break it down by cup, tablespoon, and teaspoon for easy reference.

Avoid exposing cannabis oil to light, air, and heat to preserve its potency for as long as possible.

You can store your infused oil at room temperature for at least two to three months and longer in your fridge.

It's often recommended that cannabis oil be used within six months to one year, although if stored properly, it can retain potency for even longer.

The potency will naturally decrease over time, but as long as it is properly stored and no mold is present, your cannabis oil is safe to consume.

Of course, always keep infused oil out of reach of children and pets.

CBD Extraction using Dry Ice Extraction 

Dry ice extraction, also known as dry ice hash, is a method that uses dry ice to extract CBD from the cannabis plant. 

Dry ice is just CO2 in a frozen state, so this is a popular DIY method; dry ice is easy to obtain and cheap to buy. 

Here’s how CBD is extracted using dry ice: 

Step 1: The cannabis flowers must be completely dried and cured. 

Then, they are ground into fine dust to increase the surface area for extraction. 

Step 2: The ground plant is evenly mixed with the dry ice in a large container. 

Step 3: The mixture sits for a few minutes. 

The freezing temperature of the dry ice causes the cannabinoids to become brittle and easily break away from the rest of the plant. 

Step 4: The mixture needs to be shaken aggressively to fully separate the compounds from the plant. 

Step 5: The mixture is then poured through a series of screens or fine mesh filters to isolate the compounds from the plant. 

Step 6: The separated compounds are collected in the form of a powder.

Conclusion

Making cannabis oil at home is a simple and enjoyable process that opens up a world of culinary possibilities.

By infusing your favorite dishes with your preferred strain of cannabis, you can elevate your cooking and enjoy the benefits of this versatile ingredient.

If you prefer not to make your cannabis oil, you can always find it or pre-made marijuana edibles at your local dispensary.

Don't want to wait to start trying cannabis cooking oil in your recipes?

Chat with your budtender to learn more and find the best cannabis oil for you.

Why not give it a try and enjoy the flavors and benefits that cannabis oil has to offer?