How to Make Homemade Cannabis Oil

Step 1

If your cannabis is not yet decarboxylated, grind or tear it up into fairly small pieces. Spread evenly on a baking sheet, and heat it in the oven on 250°F for 25 to 30 minutes.

Step 2

Add water to the bottom pan of your double-boiler. Now add 1 cup of coconut oil to the top section of the double-boiler. Heat until it melts. (OR, on the low/warm setting in a crock pot)

Step 3

Stir in 7-10 grams of decarboxylated cannabis into the melted oil. Feel free to also include an optional few grams of raw ground cannabis if you desire.

Step 4

Continue to heat the cannabis and oil over a low heat for 30 to 60 minutes, stirring occasionally. Use a probe thermometer to check the temperature. Adjust the heat as needed to maintain the oil below 200°F. (We aim for 130 to 150°F, and infuse for one hour)

Step 5

When the time is up, line a strainer with cheesecloth and position it over a glass bowl. Pour the cannabis and oil mixture through the strainer. Gather the cheesecloth and gently squeeze out the excess oil from the cannabis. Warning: the oil will be hot, and your hands will get greasy! You may want to wear food-grade gloves.

Step 6

Transfer the strained cannabis-infused oil into a glass storage container with a tight-fitting lid. Store the finished oil in a cool dark location.

Step 7

Ideally, use your cannabis oil within 6 months to 1 year. As long as it doesn’t mold, the oil doesn’t “go bad” over time – though the potency can decrease as some THC will naturally convert to a more sleepy cannabinoid called CBN.

Step 8

Enjoy your cannabis oil in body care recipes, meals, or medicated edible recipes. Going forward, try to use as low of heat and cooking time as possible to preserve cannabinoids and terpenes. For example, look for “no bake” cookie or chocolate recipes, or ones that you can only lightly heat the oil again in a double-boiler. Add oil to warm tea with honey. Spread on toast or add to cooked pasta, like butter.

Step 9

See dosing notes below.