How To Make CBD Oil At Home

Jessica McKeil December 27, 2019 3 comments

Making your own CBD oil gives you total control over the ratios and quality of the final product.

For many patients, price is a top concern, considering most bottles cost at least $50, if not much more. As most CBD dosing regimes are daily, this can become expensive month after month. Many wonder how to make CBD oil at home as a way to make cannabis medicine more affordable.

The good news? Making CBD oil at home is straightforward and doesn’t require any technical know-how or expensive kitchen equipment. As long as you can source high quality (but affordable) CBD-rich cannabis, it’s easy to make your own CBD oils.

Patients Say CBD Oil is Too Expensive?

According to Business Wire, the CBD consumer market is set to reach $1.8 billion by 2022. With more people trying CBD for the medicinal value, more producers are betting on CBD as a profitable product. The demand for CBD is exploding, and the market cannot keep up.

CBD is expensive these days because of this frenzy of demand and market predictions. The current supply is not entirely meeting demand. Although supply and demand will eventually even out, today, it means a basic bottle of CBD oil runs for well over $50 a bottle. Higher potencies and better quality products can rise from there.

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Although this price tag is often much more affordable than pharmaceuticals, it doesn’t necessarily make it an easy investment for patients. Cannabis is also not covered by most drug plans. Spending $50 to $200 a month on cannabidiol (CBD) oils is a significant cost burden for many.

The financial burden is why patients have begun making CBD oil at home. Pure flower is much more affordable than processed CBD oil. Patients can make CBD oil at home, with no experience and no additional kitchen equipment.

how to make cannabis oil concept represented by hands holding bud and oil

How to Make CBD Oil at Home

If you have made other cannabis infusions at home, like cannabutter or cannabis olive oil, home-made CBD oil is very similar. You can geek out with technical cannabis-kitchen gadgets, but these are not required. A large pot, a piece of cheesecloth, and a stovetop are the only requirements.

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First – Decarb Your Bud

As with cannabis edibles and infusions, cannabidiol oil starts with a proper decarbing session.

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What You’ll Need: 

  • ½ quart mason jar and lid
  • Large pot
  • Water
  • ½ oz CBD-rich flower

Directions:

  1. Pour the ground fresh CBD-rich cannabis flower into the mason jar and seal with the lid.
  2. Place mason jar in a large pot on the stovetop, and fill the pot halfway with water.
  3. Slowly bring the water to a simmer.
  4. Simmer for 90 minutes, replacing water as it evaporates.
  5. Remove from heat and allow to cool before use.

how to make cannabis oil concept represented by hands pouring oil into container

Making CBD Oil at Home

Once fully decarbed, it’s time to infuse your oil of choice with the cannabidiol-rich flower. Olive oil is a healthy choice, but you can also choose a cooking oil in your pantry to keep this infusion affordable.

What You’ll Need:

  • ½ oz decarbed CBD-rich flower
  • 1 cup olive oil (or neutral oil)
  • A large mason jar
  • A large pot
  • Water
  • Cheesecloth

Directions:

  1. Place CBD and oil in the mason jar, stir to combine. Seal the jar with a loose lid.
  2. Place the mason jar in a large pot and fill the pot halfway with water.
  3. Slowly bring the water to a simmer.
  4. Simmer for up to three hours, replacing any water as it evaporates.
  5. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
  6. Using a cheesecloth, strain the plant material out of the liquid. Do not squeeze the cheesecloth, as this may impact the aroma, color, and flavor of the cannabidiol oil.
  7. Dispose of the flower, and store the oil in a cool, dark place in an airtight container.

two bottles next to some ground cannabis

Common Questions About CBD Oil

  • What Does CBD Feel Like?

One of the most frequently asked questions about CBD oil is about the experience. What does CBD feel like, compared to the better-known cannabinoid: THC?

Cannabis contains hundreds of different natural chemical compounds, over 100 of which are cannabinoids. While structurally similar, cannabinoids all have significant molecular differences. Thanks to these differences, each cannabinoid has a unique impact on your endocannabinoid. For example, THC is the only known intoxicating cannabinoid. All other cannabinoids, including CBD, do not trigger a ‘high’ or an intoxication.[1]Aizpurua-Olaizola, O., Soydaner, U., Öztürk, E., Schibano, D., Simsir, Y., Navarro, P., … Usobiaga, A. (2016). Evolution of the Cannabinoid and Terpene Content during the Growth of Cannabis … Continue reading

CBD is a gentle cannabinoid in low to medium doses, and it often doesn’t ‘feel’ like much at all. It’s not really an ‘experience,’ because it lacks the intoxication. Patients describe CBD as calming and soothing, but not intoxicating or noticeably stimulating.

  • How Long Does CBD Oil Stay in Your System?

Another frequently asked question is about drug testing. Can drug tests detect CBD, and how long does cannabidiol oil stay in your system? Due to the current regulations around cannabis use, many patients are worried about if CBD oil, a cannabis-derived product, could test positive.

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At the time of writing, all known drug tests administered by law enforcement and employers tested only for THC or a THC-metabolite.

There are no known CBD test kits because it is not the cannabinoid of concern among regulators. It is non-intoxicating, and now tentatively legal across the US thanks to changes in hemp legislation. Pure CBD oil (from extract) is undetectable by standard drug tests. Theoretically, the minimal levels of THC reported in some full-spectrum products could trip a drug test.

But how long does CBD stay in your system? Because standard drug tests do not measure CBD, experts can only make educated guesses at this point. Very likely, cannabidiol metabolites stick around just as long as the THC molecules, but again this is only a guess. The medicinal effects will last four to six hours, but the metabolites could stick around for much longer.

According to the Mayo Clinic, many factors influence how long cannabinoids remain detectable. A casual consumer may expect THC to linger for up to two weeks after cessation. Stronger daily doses may last a month or more after abstinence.

  • How Long Does CBD Oil Take to Work?

A final frequently asked question about CBD oil is, “How long does CBD oil take to work?” Unlike smoking or vaping CBD-rich flower, the therapeutic benefits of cannabidiol oil may take longer to appear. Depending on how you choose to deliver the CBD oil (sublingually or as an edible), the onset may be within 30 minutes or upwards of two hours later. There are many other factors that can influence the timing, including metabolism, body mass index, gender, and other medications.

hand putting oil in coffee

Making CBD Oil Affordable by Making it at Home

With a simple CBD oil recipe in hand, you can make your daily dose of CBD much more affordable. Additionally, you’ll have control over the process from start to finish, including the choice to use better quality source material than what is typically used by cannabidiol oil manufacturers. You can also control the potency of THC by choosing different strains.

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The price of cannabidiol oil is only going to get more expensive as it becomes more popular. With international brands adding CBD into every conceivable consumer product, the global hunger for cannabidiol is insatiable, and it will be a long time before the price begins to fall.

Take back control of your medicine by making it yourself. Choose your favorite cannabidiol-rich strain, like AC-DC or Charlotte’s Web, and infuse into oil for a perfect remedy to the astronomical prices of commercial CBD oil.

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Author avatar

Jessica McKeil

Jessica McKeil is a freelance writer focused on the medical marijuana industry, from production methods to medicinal applications. She is lucky enough to live in beautiful British Columbia, Canada where the cannabis industry is exploding. When not writing, she spends much of her time exploring in the coastal forests.

3 comments

  1. bob loblaw

    very helpful article, I followed the steps and ended up with an CBD oil to aid with my inflammation issues at very little cost using flower I grew myself. thanks for the info!

  2. Karen

    What volume do these recipes make?