Cannabis oil is oil that has been infused with THC and other cannabinoids. The oil can be consumed orally, sublingually or made up into edibles!
Is cannabis oil the same thing as a cannabis tincture?
They’re very similar, and sometimes people speak about them interchangeably. They say tincture and oil and they mean the same product. It can be confusing if you’re a person that needs to buy one or the other. The answer is no, they are not the same thing. The tincture has just the THC and/or CBD mixed with alcohol. Just like the alcohol that you buy at the liquor store.
The reason that you might pick the tincture over the oil is maybe you don’t like coconut oil, maybe you’re allergic to coconut oil, whatever. Some folks like to stay away from alcohol entirely. They don’t buy cough syrup with alcohol. They don’t buy vitamins with alcohol. Some people are alcoholics and a taste might put them over the edge. So just be aware of it.
What type of oil is cannabis oil usually made with?
For the oil it’s in coconut oil. Why coconut oil? Number one, it’s one of those pleasant tasting oils. With the THC being in the oil, it helps with the dissolution and the solubility of the THC going into your body. The alcohol in tinctures doesn’t help with solubility as much as the oil. So that’s one reason why you might enjoy having the oil, besides the flavour.
How should I consume cannabis oil?
Coconut oil has medium chain triglycerides which help with absorption into the body. If you put the dose under your tongue, it helps to absorb better. When you have the cannabis oil in your mouth and hold it for several seconds it will absorb quickly directly into the bloodstream. That’s one good thing about the oils.
If you swallow it, then it has to go through your stomach. It has to go through your liver, it has to be processed whereas sitting in your mouth under your tongue or in the pocket of your cheek it’ll just go right into your bloodstream.
What type of oil should I use to make cannabis oil at home?
The method of creating cannabis oil outlined in this article uses MCT oil. MCT oil is refined from coconut oil, so it has some added health benefits. THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids are carried into the bloodstream much faster through oil, meaning you can reap the benefits of cannabis more efficiently. With that being said you can use a variety of other options with this recipe such as olive oil, butter, avocado, oil, and more.
What supplies do I need to make cannabis oil at home?
Every potent infusion revolves around using a high quality flower or trim. You need to use a fine mesh strainer to further remove any pollutants and if you want to be very thorough you can also use fine cheese cloth as well. To promote an even decarb and infusion you should use a herb grinder to break up the flower. Last but not least, a standard double boiler. If you don’t have a double boiler, you can achieve a similar result by placing a large glass bowl on top of the pot or by placing glass mason jars inside of a pot with boiling water. An elevated chamber as found in a double boiler creates more consistent temperature distribution.
How do I start to make cannabis oil at home?
The first step to the infusion process is to grind up the cannabis. The next step is unnecessary to make cannabis oil, however, it makes a huge difference when it comes to a proper infusion and achieving a potent result. That process is called decarboxylation. The word might sound a little intimidating but in simple terms it means to pre-activate the cannabis prior to infusing the process uses heat and time to convert THCA and CBDA into THC and CBD which, in turn, makes the compounds psychoactive.
How do I decarboxylate cannabis to make cannabis oil?
This process is pretty straightforward. To start, just preheat your oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. While the oven warms up, lay down some parchment paper on an oven safe tray and then evenly spread out the cannabis. Once the oven comes to temp, carefully place the tray on the middle rack because you don’t want the flower sitting too close to the heating elements. Using a timer, decarb the flower for 27 minutes.
Just so you know, this process will create quite an aroma. If keeping the smell to a minimum is a priority for you, you can skip the decarb process but keep in mind the overall potency of the final result might be less effective.
How can I use a double boiler to make cannabis oil?
Fill the bottom chamber of the double boiler with some warm water, then turn the stove on high and set down the bottom chamber while waiting for the water to boil.
Prep the top chamber by using a measuring cup to pour the MCT oil into the top chamber of the double boiler. For a basic recipe, use three cups of MCT for one ounce of ground flower. Next carefully put the ground flower into the oil. Using a spoon, gently agitate the oil mix. At this point the pot of water should have come to a boil. Before placing the top chamber on the bottom, reduce the heat of the burner to low. Try to keep the temperature of the mix below 175 degrees. Cover the top chamber and let it infuse for two hours, checking periodically to make sure the water hasn’t evaporated. Gently stir the mixture every now and again.
How do I strain cannabis from MCT oil after infusing?
After two hours the infusion process is completed. Proceed to filter the mix through the mesh strainer. You should do two passes through the strainer. Before doing the second pass using a spoon, gently press down on the flower to further extract any standing oil. Lastly, give the oil its final pass through the mesh strainer again but this time use some cheesecloth to further remove any pollutants. And there you have it, homemade infused cannabis oil!
