How to Make Cannabis Oil: A Starter’s Handbook

How to make cannabis oil? Creating cannabis oil in the comfort of your home is a simple task requiring only a handful of basic tools. All you need are oil, cannabis, a pot, and a strainer. The procedure resembles the process of infusing any herb oil for culinary purposes. Once prepared, your homemade cannabis oil can be incorporated into various recipes such as baking, stir-fries, salad dressings, and beyond.

Cannabis oil stands out as a highly versatile substance for household use, suitable for a variety of cannabis-infused culinary creations, ranging from classic pot brownies to flavorful weed stir-fries. A properly formulated cannabis oil not only promises an enjoyable high but also potentially aids in addressing sleep issues, providing pain relief, and inducing relaxation.

How to make weed oil? Crafting homemade cannabis-infused oil, as detailed here, yields a product notably more potent than hemp oil or CBD-only alternatives, owing to its utilization of the entire cannabis plant—often referred to as full-spectrum. This comprehensive oil encompasses not only CBD but also a spectrum of other cannabinoids present in the plant, such as THC, CBN, among others. The synergistic interaction of these cannabinoids amplifies their effects, a phenomenon recognized as the “entourage effect.”

In terms of potency, even a small quantity of cannabis oil can deliver significant effects, with edibles proving to be approximately five times more potent than smoking an equivalent amount. This heightened potency is attributed to the digestion process, wherein THC undergoes a transformation into 11-hydroxy-THC upon passing through the liver, leading to a robust body high. Thus, precise dosing becomes paramount.

Mastering the process of crafting cannabis-infused oil at home is straightforward, requiring basic household items like a pot, a mason jar, and a strainer. However, it’s essential to consider factors such as the choice of oil and the cannabis strain best suited to your intended purpose.

Selecting the Ideal Carrier Oil: A Guide

Cannabis requires fat molecules for digestion, making fat-free edibles impossible. Olive oil, coconut oil, or avocado oil are ideal for making cannabis cooking oil. Christina Wong, formerly of Papa & Barkley, suggests considering the recipe and flavor compatibility when choosing the oil. While coconut oil efficiently infuses THC, its strong scent may not suit all dishes. Starting with olive oil, which offers added health benefits due to antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, is recommended by Felicity Chen, CEO of Potli. Chen highlights olive oil’s suitability as a carrier for cannabis, especially when sourced locally for infusions.

Selecting the Appropriate Cannabis Variety

How to make thc oil? When cooking, opt for a cannabis strain with a pleasant aroma, as it likely contains terpenes that will enhance the flavor of the cannabis oil. In my case, I utilized 7 grams of Grape Pie, a strain rich in my preferred terpenes, Limonene and Myrcene, imparting herbal, fruity, and sweet notes to the cannabis. Explore various strains you enjoy, whether high in CBD or simply ones you favor, to discover the ideal match for your preferences.

Creating Cannabis Oil: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to make cannaoil? You should select the proportion of cannabis to oil that suits your preferences. A common starting point is a 1-to-1 volume ratio, such as 1 cup of olive oil to 7 grams of ground cannabis, which equals roughly 1 cup when measured. For a milder batch, you can use 3.5 grams of cannabis (an eighth) with 1 cup of oil. If you wish to make a larger batch, ensure that you maintain the same ratio when increasing the quantities of both ingredients.

Ingredients:

• 3.5 to 7 grams of cannabis buds
• 8 ounces (1 cup) of premium cooking oil
• A cannabis grinder
• Nonstick baking sheet
• Stovetop pot and heat-resistant bowl (or double-boiler)
• Thermometer (optional)
• Cheesecloth or strainer
• Airtight glass container

Step 1 – Remove Carboxyl Group from Cannabis

Activating cannabis through decarboxylation, or “decarbing,” is a crucial stage in preparing edibles or topicals to make weed oil. This process involves heating the cannabis to activate its cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD, making them more effective in the body.

• Preheat your oven to 240 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Grind your cannabis into small pieces using a grinder.
• Spread the ground cannabis evenly on a baking tray.
• Bake for 30 minutes, ensuring not to exceed 40 minutes to preserve terpenes while activating cannabinoids.

Quick tip: Alternatively, consider using an at-home infusion machine like the Levo, which streamlines the decarboxylation process and minimizes odor. If an infusion machine isn’t accessible, the oven method remains effective.

Step 2 – Boil on the Stove

Prepare a makeshift double boiler if you don’t have one. To do this, fill a pot halfway with water and place a heat-safe bowl on top, ensuring it fits without touching the water. This setup prevents the oil from burning during the infusion process.

• Warm the double boiler over low heat on your stove.
• Pour oil into the top part of the double boiler. Once the water in the pot is simmering, add 1 cup of oil to the bowl. Make sure the water and oil remain separate throughout the infusion.
• Heat the oil to a temperature between 160 and 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Introduce the decarboxylated cannabis into the oil and mix well.
• Allow the mixture to steep at a temperature range of 160 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 to 4 hours, stirring occasionally. 
• Adjust the stove heat to maintain a steady temperature throughout. 
• You may need to add water to the bottom pot or double boiler to prevent evaporation during the infusion process.

Step 3 – Filtering the Oil

• Prepare your straining setup by placing a dish towel on the counter and positioning your glass jar on top. Then cover the jar with cheesecloth or use a fine mesh strainer for a less clear mixture.
• Use an oven mitt to carefully take out the oil and weed mix from the double boiler.
• Pour the mixture over the cheesecloth or strainer into the jar, ensuring you pour away from yourself to prevent burns.
• Repeat the straining procedure two times for optimal outcomes.

Step 4 – Keeping the Oil Safe

Keep the oil in a sealed container, ideally made of glass. Glass preserves the oil’s freshness longer and doesn’t introduce any undesirable elements like potential microplastics. Store it in a cool, dark area at room temperature, such as a cupboard, as light can degrade its quality. Properly stored, it can remain fresh for up to six months.

How to Measure Your Cannabis Oil Dosage

Determining the appropriate dosage for edibles is crucial for a pleasant experience. Understanding the right amount for your desired effect enhances enjoyment. Each person reacts differently to edibles due to factors such as genetics, age, gender, weight, and tolerance. It’s essential to note that the impact of edibles is typically more potent than smoking due to the metabolic process.

When dosing cannabis oil for edibles, it’s best to start with a low dose and gradually increase. Our cannabis oil recipe follows a 1-to-1 ratio: 1 cup of oil to 7 grams (approximately 1 cup) of ground cannabis. This ratio estimates that each teaspoon of oil contains three to five milligrams of THC. To dose your edible cannabis oil, use a teaspoon for each serving and wait 30 minutes to an hour to gauge its effects.

Knowing the THC percentage of the cannabis you’re using is crucial for accurate dosing. In legal markets, this information is often listed on the product packaging. Cannabis typically contains anywhere from 20% to 35% THCA. Higher potency cannabis results in stronger cannabis oil.

Example of Edible Dosage Calculation

How to make oil from weed? Here’s a breakdown of THC dosage based on our previous recipe using 7 grams of cannabis with an estimated 25% THCA. You can use a THC calculator to simplify this calculation.

7 grams of cannabis containing 25% THCA: 0.25 x 7 g x 1000 = 1750 mg of THCA for the entire batch. During the decarb stage, some potency is lost as THCA converts into THC. The conversion rate from THCA to THC is about 88% due to 12% evaporation of THCA as carbon dioxide gas during decarboxylation. 1750 mg x 0.88 = 1540 mg of THC.

Experts suggest that approximately 70% to 95% of the remaining THC milligrams will be active in the final cannabis oil product. 1540 mg x 0.70 = 1078 mg of THC.

In the final 1-cup batch of oil, there are 1078 milligrams of THC. Since there are 48 teaspoons in one cup, the THC content per teaspoon of cannabis oil is calculated as 1078 mg ÷ 48 teaspoons = 22 mg THC per teaspoon.

This equates to a potent teaspoon. Considering a standard dose of 10 mg of THC, it’s advisable to use no more than half, approximately ½ teaspoon per dose. Assuming this dosage, there are 48 teaspoons x 2 = 84 total doses in the 1-cup batch.

Remember, despite the precise calculations, this dosing equation serves as an estimate. Each batch of cannabis oil may vary slightly, requiring experimentation to find the optimal dosage for individual preferences.

Getting Creative with Your Cannabis Oil

There exist numerous methods for utilizing cannabis oil.

When incorporating it into cooking, cannabis oil can be employed in both health-conscious and indulgent recipes. It can substitute for various cooking oils or ingredients in dishes ranging from savory stir-fries to sauces and beyond. “I enjoy using infused olive oils as a final touch over dishes like fish, chicken, or grilled vegetables, as well as in salad dressings, or drizzled over vanilla ice cream with a sprinkle of flaky salt,” suggests Wong.

For those using high-quality olive oil, blending it with balsamic vinegar to accompany bread is an option. “A straightforward focaccia and olive oil dip is truly delightful and flavorful. I also like drizzling it over pasta,” adds Chen.

A widely favored and effective method is baking with cannabis oil. Substituting regular oil in recipes with cannabis-infused oil creates potent edibles such as cakes, brownies, or biscuits. It’s important to adjust the baking temperature to preserve the terpenes and cannabinoids, not exceeding 340 degrees Fahrenheit. “This will prevent any loss of cannabinoids and terpenes due to overheating,” advises Chen.

Key Insights

Creating cannabis oil is straightforward. You can choose from various types of oil, as long as they are fat-soluble. Additionally, you can explore different cannabis strains to find your preferred effect and flavor. When consuming cannabis oil, begin with a small dose, around 5 milligrams, and gradually increase to gauge its effects on you. Discovering your ideal dosage may take time. As Wong suggests, “Cannabis oils offer great versatility. Once you understand how to infuse and cook with them, the possibilities are endless.”