If you have a medical marijuana card California, making cannabis oil at home is easy-peasy!
Cannabis oil is a potent substance that can be eaten, inhaled, or rubbed on topically. It is the foundation to many tasty edible marijuana recipes. The THC content in the oil brings on an enjoyable psychoactive effect when ingested, so it’s a great base for chocolate brownies!
Cannabis oil is also a potent medicine containing large amounts of healthy cannabinoids. The two cannabinoids with the strongest medicinal value are THC and CBD. Both are present in a well made cannabis oil. The oil can be used to treat a whole host of physiological and psychological conditions, including headache, insomnia, muscle pain, inflammation, arthritis, glaucoma, anxiety and depression. Cannabis oil can even have anti-cancer effects. Studies are suggesting that cannabinoids can inhibit tumor growth by disrupting the formation of new blood vessels that the tumors need to grow. Cannabinoids even seem to attack cancerous cells while leaving healthy cells intact. Go cannabinoids!
Using cannabis oil is a very effective way to get a high dose of health-promoting cannabinoids, because the refining process removes all of the plant material and leaves only pure oil behind. This oil contains high levels of THC and CBD, so it’s possible to consume higher doses of the healthy cannabinoids than if you smoke your medical cannabis.
It is definitely advisable to choose a high-quality strain of medical marijuana to make your cannabis oil with. If you have a cannabis card you can ask at your local dispensary which strain they recommend for making a nice and pure oil, or you can grow your own weed at home and use that. It is good to use an organic strain because otherwise the unpleasant chemical fertilizers and pesticides that are used in the growing process in some 420 card states will end up in your oil in concentrated levels. The purer the strain, the better.
It is important that you choose the right location to make your oil. You will need to find a well-ventilated and open space with windows and a gas or electric stove.
Step 1: Assemble the ingredients and tools you will need
You will be using are 1 ounce of medical marijuana, available with a California medical marijuana card, and 1 gallon of high proof alcohol, such as Everclear. Be certain to use alcohol that is intended for human consumption, do not use rubbing alcohol.
The tools you will need are 1 medium glass or ceramic mixing bowl, a wooden spoon, a straining device such as a muslin bag, cheesecloth or coffee filter paired with a mesh strainer, a container to catch liquid, a silicon spatula, a double boiler, a plastic syringe, and glass jars.
At various stages in the process you will need to wear a respirator mask, non-latex gloves, safety glasses and oven mitts.
Step 2: Extract the cannabinoids from the cannabis
Soak the cannabis buds in the alcohol by putting the MMJ into the ceramic bowl and submerging it in the pure alcohol. Stir and mash the mixture with the wooden spoon for about 3 minutes. Strain the mixture, letting the dark green cannabis infused alcohol pour into the second container while trapping the solid mash in the strainer.
Step 3: Do a second strain
Put the mashed up contents of the strainer back into the first bowl, submerge in fresh alcohol and mix and mash for another 3 minutes. Then strain the new mixture and add the remaining green liquid to the green liquid from the first strain.
Why not invite your friends round to help you make the cannabis oil?
Step 4: Boil off the alcohol from the green liquid in a double boiler
Fill the bottom half of the double boiler with water, and pour the dark green liquid into the top section. Put the double boiler on the stove and bring the water in the bottom section to the boil. Once the water is boiling it will begin to heat the green liquid. Once the green liquid is bubbling the alcohol will begin to evaporate. Let the contents bubble away at a low heat, occasionally scraping the sides and bottom of the top section with your spatula. When the liquid stops bubbling and becomes a thick, dark green syrup, all the alcohol has evaporated and your cannabis oil is ready! Remove the top section of the double boiler and allow the oil to cool.
Step 4: Fill glass jars or syringes with cannabis oil
Draw the cannabis oil into the plastic syringe by pulling on the plunger. Transfer the oil from the syringe into a clean glass jar with an airtight lid.
Step 5: Store in a cool, dark place
Keep the oil in the airtight glass jars in a cool, dark cabinet. The oil gets hard in cool temperatures, so gently warm the oil to turn it back into liquid before use.
Enjoy!