Cannabis 101
How To Make Cannabis Oil: A Stepwise Guide
Nov
Cannabis oil can be a valuable addition to your pot-loving lifestyle. Whether you use marijuana for recreational purposes or medical reasons, oil is an easy way to get all the benefits of this fantastic plant. However, it’s not always easy to find the right oil for you. Perhaps your local cannabis dispensary doesn’t offer your preferred strength, or maybe you can’t get to the shops very often. That’s why we believe everyone should learn how to make cannabis oil for themselves.
Our simple guide will walk you through the entire process of how to make weed oil. Keep reading to learn more about this cannabis product, including how to make cannabis coconut oil, cannabis olive oil, and more.
What Is Cannabis Oil?
The term cannabis oil usually describes THC oil, but sometimes this label is also applied to cannabidiol (CBD) oil. THC is the psychoactive compound in cannabis that makes users feel high, while CBD is a potent natural remedy that offers many therapeutic benefits. Both CBD and THC work best in oil, not in water. This is why learning how to make marijuana oil is a valuable skill for pot lovers.
People use cannabis oil for several different reasons. If you want to learn how to make THC oil, we assume you’re hoping to get high. However, THC is well-known as a recreational drug, so you’re not alone if this is your motivation! Other people learn how to make canabis oil for medical purposes, such as relieving discomfort, nausea, anxiety, poor appetite, and more. You might even need to learn how to make cannabis oil for cancer treatment side effects if you or a loved one are struggling with this severe illness.
Why Should You Make Your Own Cannabis Oil?
If you can source top-quality cannabis buds, you’re a good candidate for learning how to make cannabis oil. This process does have a learning curve, but once you master the method, it’ll be the most cost-effective way to use THC. Once you know how to make weed oil, you can also customize your blends. Homemade oil can offer the exact dosage you need.
What Do You Need To Make Cannabis Oil?
Most people who are curious about how to make marijuana oil are interested in the THC content. In this case, you should use cannabis buds from a THC-heavy strain. If you don’t want to learn how to make THC oil and are more interested in a CBD blend, you can use hemp flowers or a CBD-dominant cannabis strain. The other materials will depend on which method you’re using.
When you’re choosing your flowers, you should also keep in mind the laws where you live. Sadly, cannabis isn’t legal in every area. If your local authorities have restrictions on the amount of THC you can consume, it’s best to stick with hemp.
How Do You Make Cannabis Oil?
There are several different methods of how to make cannabis oil. We’ll be discussing the oil method and alcohol solvent methods in this article. These two methods are relatively easy and affordable, making them accessible for beginners. When you’re researching how to make weed oil, you can find a range of other methods online. Some, like CO2 extraction, are best left to professionals with industrial-grade equipment.
Whichever method you choose, it’s essential to prepare carefully. Read the full instructions for how to make marijuana oil before you get started. You can think of learning how to make cannabis oil like you’re trying to cook a particularly tricky recipe for the first time. You’ll have the best results when you gather all your ingredients and supplies ahead of time.
Any time you make a cannabis product at home, try to source the best buds you can. Top-quality flowers will give you the best results. After all, there’s no sense in taking all the effort of learning how to make THC oil if you’re not investing in the best weed!
Making Cannabis Oil With The Oil Method
We love the oil method because it’s safe and easy. All you need is a carrier oil, which is the substance that cannabis infuses into. For example, if you’re learning how to make cannabis coconut oil, you’ll use coconut oil. You can use any food-grade, plant-based oil you prefer. Olive oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, and other cooking oils will work.
Supplies
- Baking sheet
- Cooking pot
- Mason jar
- Cooking thermometer
- Cheesecloth
- Strainer
- Storage bottles
Ingredients
- 1 cup oil
- 10 grams cannabis buds
Steps
- Before you learn how to make cannabis oil, you need to active your chemicals by decarboxylating your weed. Then, bake your buds on your baking sheet for thirty minutes to one hour at 220 °F – 250 °F.
- Combine your decarbed buds and your carrier oil in the Mason jar. Allow the mix to sit for a few hours to saturate.
- Tightly seal the Mason jar with its lid, then place it in the cooking pot and cover with water. Heat the pot on the stove until boiling. Keep the temperature under 200 °F and allow it to boil for two hours.
- Remove the pot from the heat and let it cool before boiling it again.
- Line the strainer with cheesecloth and carefully pour the oil and cannabis through to strain it. Be very careful not to burn yourself on the hot oil or steam. When you’re learning how to make cannabis coconut oil or another blend of your choice, we recommend letting it cool overnight before straining.
- Once strained, pour the oil into storage bottles or another sealable container. You can even use the same Mason jar. Store your oil in a cool, dark, and dry location.
Making Cannabis Oil With The Alcohol Method
The alcohol or ethanol method is excellent for beginners because it doesn’t require professional tools or skills.
Supplies
- Ceramic or glass dish
- Wooden or non-reactive (non-metal) spoon
- Strainer
- Double boiler or two pots, one that fits inside the other
- Storage bottles
Ingredients
- Alcohol
- Cannabis buds
- Carrier oil of your choice
Steps
- Cover the cannabis buds with alcohol in your ceramic or glass dish. Stir constantly for five minutes.
- Remove the resin from the mixture with a wooden spoon.
- Filter the remaining alcohol mix through a strainer. You can pass it through a few times if you think you’re still getting THC extracts.
- Move the filtered oil extract into your double boiler and heat it until it bubbles. Use low heat because you only need to evaporate the alcohol when learning how to make cannabis oil.
- Simmer for half an hour, then stir and remove from heat.
- Allow the oil to cool before pouring it into storage bottles. Then, keep it in a safe, dark place.
Alcohol is flammable, so keep an eye on your process when you’re near a heat source.
Interesting Reads
How to Make Hash, Fall Cannabis Guide, Ways You Can Benefit From Taking Cannabis
Sources
- Andre, C. M., Hausman, J. F., & Guerriero, G. (2016). Cannabis sativa: The Plant of the Thousand and One Molecules. Frontiers in plant science, 7, 19. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2016.00019
- Cash, M. C., Cunnane, K., Fan, C., & Romero-Sandoval, E. A. (2020). Mapping cannabis potency in medical and recreational programs in the United States. PloS one, 15(3), e0230167. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0230167
- HealthLink BC. (2018, October 10). Medical Cannabis. Available at: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/medications/medical-cannabis
- Get Kush. (2021, September 6). Best Online Dispensary Canada | Buy Weed Online. Available at: https://getkush.io/
- LaRoche, K. (2021, May 19). How to Make CBD Oil at Home. American Marijuana. Available at: https://americanmarijuana.org/how-to-make-cbd-oil-at-home/