How to Make CBD Oil at Home? [Step by Step + Video]

This video is amazing (this teaches you how to make CBD oil at home step by step)

Cannabis Sativa species of plants have some very amazing therapeutic properties. But simply eating, smoking or vaporizing the flowers of these plants comes with many adverse effects on the human body due to the presence of hallucinatory properties of certain components of the plant. That is why cannabidiol (CBD) oil manufacturing is such a booming industry these days.

Cannabinoids are mostly concentrated in the resin glands (also known as trichomes) of the female flowers of cannabis plants. Trichomes, which basically defend the plant from winged predators and aides in pollination, can contain different levels of cannabinoids. Their content may vary from one strain to another, from one plant to another of the same strain, and even from one trichome to another of the same plant. So, extracting CBD oil ensures you get the most of what you need.

Besides, the extraction process increases the potency of the substance. That way, you can reduce the dosage and get the desired effect at a much less cost.

CBD in the oil form also has other benefits. Smoke and presence of ground buds make its use conspicuous. With this form, you can make sure you never miss a dose and do it discretely too!

Besides, CBD oil extracted from hemp plants is safer than those from other strains of cannabis due to two reasons:

CBD oil is produced in much the same way as THC oil, except for the fact that the ingredients in the case of CBD oil include only those strains of cannabis that do not have THC but are rich in CBD.

While both CBD and THC, individually, have quite a few health benefits, and they have been used in 1:1 combination in some medications and clinical trials with good results, using CBD oil that does not have any more than 0.3% (by weight) THC content has been found to have safer with adequate therapeutic benefits.

Conventional Methods of CBD Oil Extractions

The CBD oil extraction process influences the quality and taste of the substance to a great extent. But make sure you select the right strain to achieve the desired benefit.

Using carrier oil

Oil-based extraction for manufacturing CBD oil products is currently the safest and the most popular one known to us. Besides, it also offers a healthy dose of Omega acids if hemp seed oil is used as the carrier.

But, it is olive and coconut oils that are commonly used. The purpose of emulsifying cannabis flower buds in oil is that the oil-filled trichomes are only soluble in other oils or fats. So, natural oils are the most effective solvents to extract the cannabinoid-filled resin. Besides, with oil, you aren’t left with any potentially poisonous chemical residue in the extract.

Flipside: All of these edible carrier oils have a short shelf life. You can’t make huge batches of CBD product in this method. While this is a good method of using CBD oil for personal use, storage is a major concern. Besides, CBD oil extracted in this method is only good as tinctures and sprays to be consumed, sprayed under tongue or applied topically, not to be vaped or smoked.

Using alcohol-based solvents

This method is usually the most-commonly deployed approach by small-scale CBD oil producers. It’s a relatively cheap and simple process, and the equipment required for it is readily available too.

Flipside: This method doesn’t produce the purest or the safest to consume CBD oil. The process itself is also quite dangerous. The solvents usually used for this technique of CBD extraction are butane, rice alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, hexane or ethanol.

There are several reasons why this method is unsuitable. For one, the use of alcohol-based solvents carries the potential risk of explosions.

For two, you will almost never get pure CBD oil. It will usually contain traces of the solvent, making it unsafe for human consumption; even worse than simply smoking pot.

All the benefits of CBD are almost gone; countered by the unhealthy components now added by the presence of solvents. Besides, the other impurities present in cannabis aren’t entirely cleansed either.

Thirdly, not only does this method counter the intended effects of CBD, but this method also destroys the therapeutic plant fats, terpenes and other components that give the medicinal and recreational quality to the oil.

Besides, the taste of the resultant oil is awful, due to the presence of the alcohol-based solvents and chlorophyll in the resultant product. The better option for industrial production is CO2 extraction method.

Using Super- or Sub-Critical CO2

This technique is the safest and the cleanest of all methods of extraction. This method is more scientific, and a lot of care is taken to ensure a protective environment for the cannabinoids. This method uses extremely high or low temperatures and highly controlled environment to preserve and isolate the cannabinoids. This way, the integrity and the purity of the cannabinoids are duly maintained. Besides, no trace of the green chlorophyll remains in the end product, giving you more clean- and pure-tasting CBD oil. It basically provides you with the highest amount of pure and potent CBD.

Flipside: Yes, this method also has a few drawbacks. This approach isn’t suitable for most small-scale producers. It is an expensive and complicated technique and requires more technically-complicated equipment. The process takes quite a bit of time for technicians to perfect. On the very onset, a huge investment, both financial and of time, need to be made on experiments before a technician can find the perfect process.

There is another major flipside. Remember, we mentioned high temperatures being used in this process. Such high temperatures can completely destroy the terpenes in the cannabis plants. Each strain of cannabis has its own unique flavor and aroma because of these terpenes.

Destroying the terpenes means that the end result loses not only its special taste but also their unique therapeutic benefits (during the decarboxylation process). Besides, terpenes also play the role of enhancing the effects of the cannabinoids present in the CBD oil.

Making CBD Oil at Home

From the above descriptions of the conventional methods of CBD extraction, you must have figured out that you can use the oil-based process to produce CBD oil.

While using hemp seed oil has its advantages, using MCT oil (also known as liquid fractionated coconut oil) as carrier oil is an excellent alternative, as it increases the bioavailability of the CBD oil. Olive oil and butter can also be used as the carrier. The choice of oil really depends on your preference for the finished product’s taste.

Things you’ll need:

How to Make CBD oil

Step 1: Choose the carrier oil

Any edible plant-based oil will suffice. But the best options are hemp seed oil or fractionated coconut oil (MCT oil). The advantage of using olive oil is that it has a mild taste and can be easily available in your kitchen.

Step 2: Prep the hemp flowers

Choose a good strain of hemp or marijuana (this is essential to ensure the purity of your end product). Now, grind the hemp flowers into a fine mass (not dust) in a grinder. You can use a knife too, as long as you can make the pieces very small. The point is to get an even mass to ensure maximum CBD extraction from cannabis.

Step 3: Decarb the ground hemp mass

Decarboxylation of the hemp will transform the inactive CBD-A (acidic) into CBD – its active form. Large-scale producers usually use high-tech CO2 equipment for this process. But with time and constant low heat, you can accomplish the same result and still retain all the terpenes. All you need is a bit of practice!

What you need to do is to spread the finely ground hemp flower parts onto a baking plate and bake it at 225°F for an hour. You need to make sure the baked cannabis should be a bit crisp and take on a light brown color.

Step 4: Mix in oil and extract the CBD

Now, you need to mix the decarboxylated hemp in the edible oil in a double boiler or a crock pot. Place it on a large container with water and turn on the heat. Note: The temperature should not reach 300°F unless you want to evaporate the terpenes too! Keep the heat on simmer and continue the extraction process for around 2 to 3 hours. Keep stirring now and then, and check the color every half an hour or so. The color must turn into a brownish-green color.

Step 5: Strain the oil

Remove the bowl containing the cannabis emulsified in oil and screen the oil with the help of cheesecloth (or strainer of choice) into a glass jar or bottle (depending on how you choose to store it; remember to make sure it is an air-tight container). Squeeze the cheesecloth well to ensure you get the maximum possible oil out of the hemp. Seal the glass container and throw away the strained hemp. Since, carrier oil-based extraction produces CBD oil that has a limited shelf life, storing the CBD container in a dry, cool, and dark space will add to its longevity.

In case you strain the oil in an open-mouthed jar, pour the oil into little dropper bottles for comfortable use as a tincture. If you want to use it as a topical, mix it with your lotion or cream, or infuse it in food items during the preparation stage if you prefer that method of administration more.

Extracting from Hemp vs. Marijuana

Depending on the intended result, you can choose the strain of cannabis. Although marijuana has high levels of THC, it can be quite beneficial. In fact, medical marijuana has high levels of THC.

Also, if medicinal marijuana is legal in your state, and there are no restrictions on its use, you can choose a marijuana strain to make your CBD oil. However, the most commonly used kind of cannabis is hemp.

But, both these sub-species of cannabis have many more varieties with differing proportions of CBD and THC content.

Nonetheless, CBD oil with THC levels higher than the federally legal point of 0.3% (by weight) can give you a high. THC is the cannabinoid in cannabis that possesses the psychotropic effects. However, CBD does not have the same effect on humans or animals. Instead, it is predominantly known for only its medical benefits.

However, it may interest you to know that the CBD in marijuana, which may be lower in proportion, is much more potent than what is found in hemp. The reason for that is in the way the two strains are grown.

Another interesting fact is that there are certain strains of marijuana that have higher concentrations of CBD and lower levels of THC. Some farmers have recently started experimenting with different strains and have arrived at this particular strain. It is not only a more potent strain, but it’s also considered the best for making CBD oil at home.

Choosing the Best Marijuana Strains

While we are on the topic of making CBD oil at home, we must talk a bit about how to ensure the quality of the final product. It is true that the extraction process matters, but so does the quality of the cannabis strain.

To make the most of this cannabinoid, select a CBD-rich strain that is low on THC. These are some of the best options:

Charlotte’s Web: This is the most popular strain of marijuana in the world. About 60% Indica, it contains around 20% CBD and almost negligible THC content.
ACDC: Another popular strain of marijuana, this has the reputation of leaving you thunderstruck. ACDC is mostly used for recreational purposes, as this strain offers a euphoric high immediately after use. However, it is excellent for the treatment of inflammation, migraines and anxiety-related disorders.
Harle Tsu: Endowed with powerful pain relief properties, Harle Tsu is a mild strain, known for its high CBD content (up to 22%) and low THC content (less than 1%). This makes this strain perfectly safe for first-time users of CBD oil.
Harlequin: Like ACDC, this has a high THC content. A Sativa-dominant strain, Harlequin still has a high CBD content. It is excellent for patients of mental disorders associated with anxiety. It effectively calms the nerves almost instantaneously.

Our Takeaway: How simple is it to make CBD oil at home?

Making CBD oil at home is actually quite simple, affordable and safe as long as you have the right ingredients and equipment, and ample time at hand.

Set at least 5-6 hours aside for this process to be carried out seamlessly. With a hurried job, you will end up with low-grade CBD oil that won’t be worth your money. But, if making CBD oil at home is too much for you, you can always choose from these reputed brands and order online with Coupon codes.

Table of Contents

1 Conventional Methods of CBD Oil Extractions
2 Making CBD Oil at Home