So, you’re looking into making your own edibles. It can feel like an intimidating endeavor, but a great place to start is by making a cannabis-infused coconut oil. Not only is it simple, but the plant-based alternative offers the same potency, if not higher, of cannabutter, with abundant fatty acids and saturated fats to bind to the
like CBD and THC in cannabis.Sure, you could go with other options like olive oil, though the flavor is often a bit more pronounced and its saturated fat content, generally less than 20 percent, pales in comparison to the coconut oil’s often more than 80 percent saturated fat content. If that isn’t enough, the fatty acids in coconut oil also make it one of the healthier options, compared to butter, canola or olive oil.
Coconut oil also remains solid at room temperature, so it’s easy to store, easier to work with and dose and can even make a great topical medium.
Not convinced? Hear us out.
Why edibles, and why make infused coconut oil?
Before going through the trouble of creating a cannabis-infused coconut oil, many may question if it’s worth the hassle. We’re here to tell you it sure is. Not only do the effects of edibles typically last longer than those of smoking and vaping, but depending on the person, a smaller amount of flower will go a bit further in edible form, meaning you’ll use less flower for more pronounced effects. How can you argue with that?
What are the benefits of making edibles at home? Plenty! Store-bought edibles can sometimes be pricey, and baking at home offers for better control of dosage and ingredients. You might love getting high and crank up the THC, or you might prefer the healing, non-psychoactive benefits of CBD and go with an infusion embracing those effects.
Cannabis-infused coconut oil is essential to make your own edibles and can be used in the place of butter or other vegetable oils in most
. Even if you aren’t looking to cook a full meal or treat, it can be added to beverages, eaten straight, mixed into a spread or sauce and used to cook veggies or meat.So, if you’re ready to take the plunge into the world of at-home edible making, dive in with High There and craft up some of your own coconut CBD oil!
How do I figure out my dosage?
The typical, California state-recommended single dose for edibles is 10mg of THC, and some folks even start at 5mg. Since CBD is non-psychoactive, in general terms, people usually will embrace higher doses. A lower CBD dose for treating mild symptoms is generally 10-25mg; a medium dose for moderate symptoms is generally 30-60mg, and a heavy dose for severe symptoms could be anywhere from 60-150mg or more.
Straight CBD flower with little to no THC is available for those looking to avoid a psychoactive high, along with strains boasting lower percentages of CBD and embracing highly sought after ratios often seen in edibles. For example, using a strain with 20 percent CBD and 10 percent THC in a coconut oil infusion would promote a 2:1 CBD:THC ratio.
It’s fortunately fairly simple to calculate the approximate dose of your coconut oil before getting too carried away. And, don’t forget, you can always weaken the dose by adding more coconut oil — it’s much harder to strengthen it.
You’ll want to take it slow no matter what, but to get an idea of your edible and infusion dosage, you’ll need the CBD percentage of the flower (typically found on
), along with the percentage of any other cannabinoids you’re looking to calculate. If it’s homegrown, you might find an estimate online. Keep in mind that one gram of cannabis is 1,000 milligrams.If flower has 15 percent CBD, a good benchmark or average for a high-CBD strain, then a maximum of 150mg of one gram, 15 percent of 1,000mg, is CBD. There is some loss of absorption as well, though if they are done correctly, there shouldn’t be more than 20 percent loss. Heat is the main culprit.
So, if we use 10 grams of cannabis in our infusion at 15 percent CBD, our maximum 1,500mg of CBD multiplied by 0.8 to accommodate for CBD loss would make this recipe of about a cup of oil (there may be some oil loss) 1,200mg. If that sounds too hefty, or not hefty enough, use this info and the CBD percentage of your flower to figure out what’s best for you.
In practice, say we use one-third cup of infused coconut oil in a recipe for some
; one-third cup of this recipe would be 400mg of CBD. If we have a 50-count gummy mold, each gummy is approximately 8mg, and you still have more infused oil to spare!For the math impaired, there are also plenty of plug-and-play tools online to help with these calculations.
How to Make CBD Coconut Oil
Set yourself up for success and ensure you have the following supplies before getting going. Then in four easy steps, you’ll be the proud new owner of CBD coconut oil.
Supplies You’ll Need:
- Baking sheet
- Tinfoil/aluminum foil
- Saucepan, crockpot or slow cooker
- Mesh strainer
- Cheesecloth
- Mason jar/container for cannabis oil
Ingredients You’ll Need:
- Coconut oil (1 cup)
- 7-10 grams of cannabis flower (about 1 cup)
A 1:1 ratio of coconut oil and cannabis is a good place to start, but use less if you’re seeking out lighter effects. Conversely, use up to 14 grams if you’re looking for a stronger infusion.
Instructions:
Step 1: Decarboxylate Cannabis
Decarboxylation is the process of activating the cannabinoids in cannabis to unlock their effects, namely turning the plant’s CBDA into CBD, THCA into THC and the like. Essentially, eating a piece of flower isn’t going to get you high, but igniting and smoking it activates the CBD and THC in the same way. Decarboxylating, or decarbing, the flower just ensures your body feels the effects of the cannabinoids when you consume it as part of the coconut oil, or in another confection.
To do this, loosely break up the cannabis with your fingers and place it on parchment paper on a baking sheet. Heat your flower for 30-40 minutes in the over at 245ºF.
Step 2: Break Down Your Cannabis
After your cannabis is finished in the oven, let the flower cool to room temperature. Then, break it down even further using a
, a knife and cutting board or your hands. Just ensure you aren’t making the flower too powdery, as anything that fits through a strainer is going to end up in your final mixture. Think of the texture of coffee, not espresso.Step 3: Heat Oil and Mix with Decarbed Cannabis
Using your vessel of choice on low heat, add coconut oil and decarbed cannabis to your slow cooker, saucepan or crockpot and let it simmer for at least two hours and up to six. Note that the longer you infuse your coconut oil, the more likely it is going to taste like cannabis. So, if you aren’t a fan of that flavor, you might try out a shorter infusion time.
Check to ensure that the temperature of the oil stays between 160-200ºF. Stir occasionally.
Step 4: Strain the Oil
Once you’re satisfied with your infusion time, make sure the container has cooled down enough to handle. The next step is removing the plant matter from the cannabis. A mesh strainer on its own will do, but for extra measure, line it with cheesecloth and pour the oil through into a mason jar or another storage container.
Make sure the oil has fully drained into your container. If you used a cheesecloth, gently squeeze it to ensure all of the oil has been released. Ensure your container is sealed tightly and stored in the fridge. Your coconut oil is ready to use immediately, and be mindful — you’ll have up to about a month of fridge storage before it begins to go rancid.
Enjoy Your New Canna-concoction
And there you have it! Most cannabis consumers, newbies and pros alike, find themselves shocked to learn just how easy it is to create your own cannabis-infused ingredients to
.Creating an infused oil is just the first step in embracing a world of canna-concoctions, and there’s endless options to explore. Enjoy the ride!