How to Make Cannabis Coconut Oil? (Easy Recipe)

CBD products became more and more common after being officially struck off from the prohibited category under the federal Controlled Substances Act in 2018. So it’s not surprising for someone to include them in their food or skincare or enjoy them raw. 

CBD edibles and oil infusions are popular formats that people try, especially when they learn of their potential health benefits for anxiety and the immune system. Cannabis coconut oil is particularly searched for in both the online and offline space.

It has many uses and variants, including edibles with coconut oil and topicals. If you’re interested in trying cannabis infused coconut oil, read on to learn the materials and ingredients you need to prepare, how to make it, and the best way to store it once you’re done. 

What Is Cannabis Coconut Oil?

Source: Unsplash

From its name alone, it’s easy to tell that weed coconut oil is just an infusion of cannabis to the said vegan fat. The cannabinoids inside a cannabis or hemp plant are fat-soluble, which means they bind well with oil. But why exactly use oil from a coconut, given the many alternatives around, like olive oil and butter? 

Coconut oil is preferred when it comes to saturated fat content. It contains over 80% to 90% saturated fat, far higher than the 60% content in butter and 20% in olive oil. Therefore, weed infusions work most effectively when cannabis is used with high-fat substances. In addition, coconut oil can hold more cannabinoids, which is perfect if you want high-potency cannabis oils. 

In terms of fitness benefits, coconut oil is known to have healthy fats, unlike other bases like canola oil and butter. It’s also easy to store and use, given that it solidifies at room temperature. You can use it easily for topical applications and even control your dosage without much difficulty when taking it orally. 

On the other hand, butter also makes a good alternative to coconut oil but might be less potent if you’re fine with consuming non-vegan food. Plus, it suits people who can’t consume coconut-derived products due to tree nut allergy.

Choosing the Right Coconut Oil for Weed Infusion

Source: Unsplash

While there are a couple of coconut oil variants on the market, you can use any type when making your THC infused coconut oil at home, depending on your preferences. However, each kind does have its advantages over the other. 

Best for Cannabis Coconut Oil Topicals

Virgin coconut oil, also known as unrefined coconut oil, is sought-after for its retained coconut flavor and aroma. The low level of processing it undergoes also helps preserve the antioxidants present in coconuts, which is a good ingredient used to reduce free radicals in your body. 

While it’s good for topicals, you can also use it to make edibles if you’re fine with the flavor. 

Best Coconut Oil for Edibles

Refined coconut oil is unlike virgin coconut oil, as it is deodorized and bleached in its processing. Such steps help remove unwanted odor and reduce its flavor. It’s also made more stable, which raises its smoking point to a level suitable for cannabis oil infusions and baking. 

Another option is MCT oil, formally known as medium-chain triglyceride oil. It’s also derived from coconuts, as with the other two options, but what makes it different is that it’s great for people who want to lose weight. This reason makes it one of the best coconut oil for edibles. It also has smaller molecules, making it easier to digest. 

List of Supplies Needed to Make Cannabis Coconut Oil 

Source: Unsplash

It’s pretty easy to make cannabis infused coconut oil in your kitchen. Below is the complete set of equipment and ingredients that you may need, plus a few alternatives you can get if the main options are unavailable.

Materials & Equipment

• Parchment paper. Also called a baking sheet, this one is used to prevent your cannabis flowers from sticking to your baking pan during decarboxylation, which we’ll discuss later. 





• Oven, used for decarbing your cannabis flowers





• Saucepan or any similar equipment that you can use to cook weed coconut oil





• Mesh strainer. If unavailable, you can also use a fine mesh bag, cheesecloth, or any similar object to help separate the cannabis flowers from the oil.





• Container for your THC infused coconut oil





• Weed odor-eliminating spray or candle. While this is optional, it can play a good role if you want to reduce or remove the smell of cooking cannabis coconut oil.

Ingredients

• Lightly ground cannabis flower





• CBD tincture or oil (if preferred)





• Coconut oil of your choice

It’s no secret that people have unique preferences when it comes to their cannabis dosage. So, experimenting with the weed to coconut oil ratio is up to you. The usual ratio is 1:1, which means you can use one cup of cannabis flowers with one cup of coconut oil. Then, you can either use more or less weed to adjust the potency. 

Can I Use Any Form of Cannabis? 

While cannabis flowers are the typical ingredient used in cannabis coconut oil, using distillate and concentrate tinctures and oils is also okay. The oil-based nature of these products will bind well with the coconut oil’s fats. You can also try using different cannabis strains that vary in potency. 

Do remember that you will be using a more potent ingredient in the case of concentrates and distillates. This is because they retain a few of their natural terpenes and flavonoids and may have a higher THC content. 

Always start from small doses before adjusting to larger ones to find your preferred kick. Ensure to control your dosage and weed to coconut oil ratio to prevent marijuana addiction and suffering from withdrawal symptoms.

How To Make Cannabis Infused Coconut Oil

Source: Unsplash

After preparing your materials and equipment, you can now start making your cannabis coconut oil. An optional step that you can do before starting the fire is to light up a weed odor-eliminating candle to reduce the smell in the following steps.

1. Decarb your cannabis flowers. 

Grab a baking pan and line it with parchment paper. Then, split up your cannabis loosely and put the parts on your baking pan. Transfer it to your oven and heat it at 245° F for 30 to 40 minutes. 

You should know that THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) is the most abundant cannabinoid inside hemp. This won’t produce psychoactive effects, such as making you high, unless converted to THC. Decarbing, formally known as decarboxylation, converts THCA to THC, producing that familiar potency. 

2. Break down your weed into tiny pieces.

After decarbing your weed, break it down into tiny pieces either manually or with the help of a grinder. This step will help the substances in your weed to bind more thoroughly with coconut oil. Ensure that you don’t grind it too finely, though, so that you can still separate the plant part from the mixture with your strainer.

3. Heat up your cannabis and coconut oil.

Get your saucepan or any similar equipment you prepared and place it on your stove. Drop in your coconut oil and decarbed weed inside the saucepan and bring it to a simmer for two to three hours. Ensure that you only use low heat at a temperature range of 160° to 200° F. 

4. Separate the weed from the cannabis infused oil.

Prop up your container on your countertop or table and put your mesh strainer on its top. Slowly pour your cannabis coconut oil mixture and ensure that the plant part doesn’t go through the mesh. You can use a finer mesh material if necessary. Once done, dispose of the solid weed portion.

5. Store your oil inside a container.

You can now store your weed coconut oil in a container, preferably an airtight one. While the oil will remain good for two to three months, you can also refrigerate it for a longer shelf life. 

After making your cannabis coconut oil, you can also opt to use an odor-eliminating spray to ward off the smell. 

Best Way to Store Cannabis Coconut Oil

Source: Unsplash

The best way you can store your cannabis coconut oil is to put it inside an airtight container like a mason jar. This way, you can prevent insects and critters from targeting and infesting it. If longer shelf life is what you’re after, putting it inside your refrigerator is the way to go. 

Did you know that THC degrades and loses potency over time due to sunlight exposure? This is why storing your cannabis coconut oil in dark places is essential. If you’re not inclined to put it inside your fridge, you can just cover your container with foil to prevent sunlight. 

Are There Benefits of Taking Cannabis Coconut Oil?

Source: Unsplash

After concocting your own cannabis-infused coconut oil, it’s time to look at its uses and benefits. Although most people include weed coconut oil as a part of their food, teas, beverages, and other kinds of edibles, it is also useful for other purposes. 

Uses of Cannabis Coconut Oil

Pain relief and anxiety are two common scenarios where cannabis-derived products are used. Cannabis has been utilized for centuries as a potential remedy for local pain and anxiety, with some studies supporting its efficacy. Weed coconut oil is either taken orally or as a topical application, which is convenient with its solid state at room temperature. 

The antioxidants present in both cannabis and coconut oil also help fight free radicals, which is a huge plus for skincare enthusiasts. 

Research also finds that CBD can potentially be helpful for the immune system. It may also help combat muscle spasms. A great example of this is the only FDA-approved CBD prescription medicine, Epidiolex. 

While science backs the use of cannabis in some health applications, do keep in mind that its usage may come with side effects. For example, you may suffer from marijuana withdrawal symptoms in case you use high concentrations of THC excessively. Also, consulting your doctor would be ideal if you are taking prescribed medications. 

Recommended CBD Products

While cannabis isn’t legal on the federal level yet (only hemp and hemp-derived substances are allowed), there are states where you can buy cannabis flowers for recreational or medical use. Unfortunately, however, there’s nary a chance for that if you’re from Kansas, Idaho, or Nebraska. 

Fortunately, buying hemp-derived CBD products that contain less than 0.3% THC is still allowed in these states. Here are some alternatives to cannabis flowers that you can legally purchase.

CBD Tinctures

CBD tinctures are popular products aside from edibles, oils, and e-juice. It’s alcohol-based, either taken as is or added to food (in this case, to coconut oil). You can buy them at CBD Genesis at prices that go from US$ 29.99 to over US$ 100. Aside from our tinctures, our range also features those from other brands like Active and SoluWellness. 

Active CBD Oil CBD/MCT Tincture 300mg-2500mg

If you’re looking for a ready-to-consume product, this one from Active may be a great choice. It’s made from MCT oil and varies in terms of potency. This CBD oil/MCT tincture is available in 300 mg to 2500 mg types. It’s also odorless and flavorless, making it suitable for making edibles with coconut oil for those sensitive to smell. Prices start from US$29.99. 

Active CBD Oil - Green 17%

Another product from Active is its 17% CBD oil at US$ 34.99. It has 170 mg of cannabidiol per 1 gram mixture and is recommended to be taken twice up to 100 mg per day. It’s hemp-derived and in a full-spectrum form, which means that it also contains terpenes, flavonoids, and other cannabinoids that provide a more powerful effect than pure CBD. 

Final Thoughts

Cannabis is becoming more popular with it being legal on the state level and its hemp counterpart’s legalization on the federal level. One of the best ways to consume it is by making cannabis infused coconut oil. Aside from cannabis flowers, CBD products like oils and tinctures make for a great ingredient in your weed coconut oil. Check out our range at CBD Genesis and start your own concoction today!