Do you want to laern how to make cannabis oil? It used to be the Holy Grail of concentrates. As cannabis use increases so do the ways in which it can be used. Long gone are the days when weed was simply smoked in a spliff or bong.

That means cannabis creativity can be yours in a variety of ways. The one we will look at below is: How to make cannabis oil.

Before getting into the kitchen equipment you need and the process of making cannabis oil let’s take a look at what cannabis oil is and the variety of ways in which it can be used:

Cannabis Oil is…

A refined extract that is produced when the active ingredients in cannabis are infused into a carrier oil. These active ingredients include cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and more.

As for carrier oils, these are wide and varied but probably the most common are coconut or olive oil. However, many go for canola, sunflower, vegetable, peanut, sesame, avocado, or sunflower oils. When choosing a carrier oil, think about what works best for your intended use.

A major reason why the psychoactive cannabinoids in cannabis (think THC and CBD) have a high affinity for fat in oils is that they are fat-soluble (lipophilic).

It is also the case that when consumed with fat our bodies can more readily absorb and digest these potent cannabinoids. As many will already know, the result is a uniquely elevating experience that often has potential therapeutic benefits. These are massive benefits of learning how to make cannabis oil.

A Longer Lasting Experience

When comparing the different methods of cannabis oil consumption with inhalation of cannabis (i.e. smoking a blunt, spliff, or using a pipe or a bong) there are noticeable differences.

The main two are: In the first instance, consumption of cannabis oil takes longer to set in. Secondly, it provides a longer-lasting experience.

Factors such as your metabolism, how you are feeling on that day, and the strength of your oil will affect these differences. However, as a rough guide on how to make cannabis oil, users can expect the onset of effects to take between 1 and 3 hours with the required effects lasting as long as 8 hours.

4 Ways to Use Cannabis Oil

The versatility of cannabis oil opens it up for lots of uses. Another benefit of learning how to make cannabis oil comes from the fact that when infused oils are stored correctly they can be kept for weeks and even months.

Here are 4 of the most common cannabis oil uses:

Homemade edibles and a way to spice up your meals

You can make homemade edibles such as cookies, brownies, or gummies and consume them to your heart’s content. On top of that, cannabis oil is a popular alternative to cannabutter. This makes it a reliable alternative to butter or oil in just about any food dish recipe you choose.

Just one word of caution: If you are baking or cooking with cannabis-infused oil avoid recipes that require either lengthy heating times or high temperatures.

The reason for this is that both can degrade the cannabinoids and the terpenes present in the oil. If that is the case they will further impact decarboxylating the cannabinoids and that will likely impact potency.

Infused beverages

Learning how to make cannabis oil is not just for eating! You can add it to your beverages. When using weed-infused coconut oil, for example, you can add a dose (or two!) to tea, coffee, a smoothie, or any other drink that takes your fancy.

A homemade topical salve

Combining your cannabis oil with beeswax or something similar will mean you can make your own soothing cannabis self-care or topical product.

It is also possible to apply the oil directly onto your skin. Applying this method can help stop or prevent such things as skin irritation, muscle/joint soreness, and it can even be used to quell general inflammation. Learning how to make cannabis oil is great for your health. 

Your very own tincture

The commercially available cannabis-infused tinctures that many people purchase are simply cannabis-infused oils. That means you can ingest them or sublingually administer them (i.e. put them under your tongue).

How you use these tinctures will depend on the carrier oil you have used. The consistency of your final product will determine how best to take it. If your finished cannabis oil is thick in texture then you can take it by the spoonful or spread it on your toast or cracker. If it is of a more runny texture then your best bet is to administer it in drops.

How to Make Cannabis Oil

To get started you will need the following materials to put into practise how to make cannabis oil:

• About 1/8 to 1/4 of cannabis – The larger your cannabis quantity the stronger the oil!

• 1 cup of your carrier oil.

• Baking Sheet, parchment paper, and foil (foil is optional).

• A double-boiler (or a saucepan and a heatproof bowl).

• Mesh strainer and a cheesecloth or paper coffee filter.

• Spatula and a medium-sized bowl.

• Storage container (if possible use a dark glass container).

• Optional but recommended: A probe or cooking thermometer.

Time: Plan on around 3 hours but if patience and time are on your side stretch things up to 7 hours.

The Process

Here’s a straightforward 6-step process on how to make cannabis oil:

Step #1 – Decarb your cannabis buds

Think of decarboxylating (or decarbing) your cannabis as the process that activates cannabinoids. That activation is what gives you the intoxicating effects of THC (or the mildly psychoactive effects of CBD) which we all love so much.

Preheat your oven to 240°F. Gently break/grind your cannabis and space it evenly onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Cover that with a piece of foil (optional).

Bake for 30-40 minutes. During that time remove the baking tray and move the cannabis around before replacing it. Doing so will ensure even cannabis heating/decarbing. While decarbing your cannabis it will smell. If you prefer the kitchen not to have that delicious aroma, open a window!

Once your baking time is up, remove the baking tray from the oven and allow your cannabis to cool at room temperature. Who knew that learning how to make cannabis oil could be so interesting?

Step #2 – Load your double boiler

Combine your decarbed cannabis with your chosen carrier oil and place it into the top of the double boiler. If you do not have a double boiler, create a makeshift one using a saucepan and heat-proof bowl.

Add water to the bottom pan of your double boiler and then place the container with cannabis and oil on the top.

Step #3 – Allow the weed and oil to simmer

On a low heat setting allow your weed and oil mixture to simmer for a minimum of 1 hour and up to 6 hours. You should regularly stir the mixture. It will also be necessary to replenish the water during the simmering process.

In terms of temperature, it is recommended to keep the infusion temperature below 200°F. Go for anywhere between 160°F – 200°F. This is where the optional probe/cooking thermometer comes in as very useful.

Step #4 – Strain the oil

Once the cooking process is complete, take the pan off the oil and allow it to cool at room temperature. From there, use a mesh strainer and cheesecloth (or paper coffee filter) over a glass bowl to press the oil into the bowl.

The benefit of using cheesecloth is that you can wrap and squeeze the contents to extract more oil. Failing that, use the spatula to push down on the flower in the strainer.

Once you have extracted the oil, discard the remaining plant material.

Step #5 – Almost there! – Store and label your cannabis oil

Take your airtight glass container and tip the cannabis oil into it. This should be kept in a cool, dark place. It will pay to label and date your container.

If you intend on trying different cannabis quantities and carrier oils (plus the amount of ‘cooking’ times) for future batches, put relevant info on each labeled batch. Doing so will help you find the ‘recipe’ that is right for your needs and how to make cannabis oil that suits you.

Step #6 – You are there!

Depending upon how you intend to use the oil, give it a go to see just how effective your efforts have been.

Cannabis Oil Has Many Benefits

Learning how to make cannabis oil has many benefits. As can be seen from the above, patience and the right materials are all you need to make some yummy cannabis oil. There will be a certain amount of trial and error involved, but in many cases, that is half the fun!

Just remember, when ingesting cannabis oil either in edible form or directly, it is best to start low and go slow. Doing so will help you achieve the high you have been searching for!

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