How is Cannabis Oil Made?

Over the last couple of years, cannabis oil has taken the health and self-care industry by storm. Having made its way into everything from cooking ingredients to skin care, cannabis oil is quickly becoming a staple product in households across the country. As the mysteriousness of cannabis subsides and its benefits are welcomed, sales have skyrocketed. And it’s undoubtedly a lucrative business; manufacturers of cannabis have raked in the benefits, with the UK’s cannabis industry estimated to be worth more than £1 billion by 2026. 

But have you ever wondered how the humble cannabis plant is transformed into a concentrated oil? Large-scale manufacturers dedicate a considerable amount of time and money to extracting cannabinoids, from using solvents to the purity of carbon dioxide. However, you can do it from home too, either by infusing oils or using the simple technology of the rosin press. Let’s dive in!

What is cannabis oil?

Before we look at how cannabis oil is made, let’s first understand exactly what it is. Simply put, cannabis oils are concentrated extracts taken from the cannabis plant. Cannabis plants are made up of nearly 100 different chemical compounds called cannabinoids, and two of these you will probably have heard of before: THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (Cannabidiol). Both affect our bodies in different ways; THC has a psychoactive element causing you to feel ‘high’ and reach for the midnight munchies, and CBD is considered non-euphoric. CBD is also currently legal in the UK. In fact, you will have found that CBD is readily available from almost any shop as it is considered safer to use and non-addictive.

Research into the benefits of cannabis oil is still in its infancy, but several studies have shown that cannabis oil can help treat:

• Epilepsy
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Parkinson’s disease
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Insomnia

More recently, there have been a number of small studies funded by cancer charities looking at whether cannabis oil can treat the disease. A recent study by MGC Pharmaceuticals fascinatedly completed a pre-trial in using cannabinoids to treat Glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Although there is not yet any conclusive evidence to support cancer treatment with cannabis oil, research is continuing to develop.

What’s the difference between hemp, CBD and marijuana oil?

Have you seen the list of different types of cannabis oil? Choosing a cannabis oil is enough to make your head spin. Do you opt for CBD, hemp, isolate or full spectrum? If you aren’t sure where to start, here’s a quick breakdown of what each oil is:

• Hemp seed oils

Hemp seed oil derives from the seeds of the cannabis plant, and it does not contain any cannabinoids; therefore, neither THC nor CBD is present. Rich in antioxidants, amino acids and omega fatty acids, hemp seed oil is often used in cooking or combined with essential oils for skin care or aromatherapy. 

• CBD oil

CBD oils are extracted from plants which contain high levels of CBD and less than 0.2% THC. It is widely used for its anti-inflammatory and pain relief properties and is sometimes referred to as hemp oil.

There are three types of CBD products:

• CBD broad spectrum oil

This contains the plant’s cannabinoids along with other beneficial compounds (cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids) and is typically free from THC.

• CBD full spectrum oil

This contains a mixture of the plant’s naturally occurring compounds (cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids) and has a THC content of 0.2% or less.

• Isolates

These purely contain CBD with all THC, terpenes and flavonoids removed.

• Marijuana oil

Marijuana oil contains over 2% THC and may include all or some of the plant’s components.

How do you use cannabis oil?

Part of cannabis oil’s appeal is its versatility. You can either place a few drops under your tongue, add to food or apply topically. Mixed with the correctly ingredients, cannabis oil can be used in a vaporizer.

Besides vaping, the most effective way of taking cannabis oil is to place 1-2 drops of oil under your tongue. It is then instantly absorbed by the mucous membranes, which leads to the bloodstream, delivering its effects quickly. This is far swifter than ingesting edibles, and effects are generally felt within 15-20 minutes. Adding to food is another way of using cannabis oil, although the results are usually felt later, peaking around 2 hours after consumption.

The trend in beauty and skin products has also taken off in the UK recently. Many topicals are combined with other nourishing ingredients to produce cannabis oil-based products which can be directly applied to the skin. Topical oils do not enter the digestive system or reach the bloodstream; instead, they target the localised area they are applied to, and the effects are felt reasonably quickly.

How is cannabis oil made?

The manufacturing process of cannabis oil follows several steps before it is complete:

Step 1: Cultivating the seeds

First, the cannabis seeds are sown. UK Regulations state that cannabis can only be grown to contain less than 0.2% of THC. These plants are often grown closely together, creating large yields and using less land.

Step 2: Drying the plant

Once harvested, the fresh cannabis is dried for around three to four weeks. This drying-out phase prevents mould contamination and produces a higher quality product.

Step 3: Extraction

Extraction is the process of removing the cannabinoids from the plant in order to turn it into useable oil. For large-scale manufacturers, there are many ways cannabis oil can be extracted from a plant, including:

• Ethanol extraction

This method involves soaking the plant in high-grade grain alcohol (ethanol) to extract the oil. The ethanol extraction method is a popular way of extracting oil as it is both simple and time efficient. Other liquid solvents such as butane or hexane can also be used in a similar process, although these are highly flammable and best left to the experts!

• Carbon dioxide (CO2) extraction

Solvent extraction can leave behind harmful chemicals. An increasingly popular extraction method involves using carbon dioxide in its standard and supercritical form in a closed-loop extractor. CO2 is compressed until it becomes liquid and is forced over the plant matter for extraction. This method is expensive and uses cutting-edge industrial equipment.

Step 4: Purification

Following extraction, cannabis oil often follows another step to ensure that all residual solvents are removed through a process called ‘winterization’. Winterization isolates the compounds in the mixture and produces a pure concentrated form of oil. The level of the refining process will result in a full spectrum CBD, broad-spectrum CBD or CBD isolate. The final product is often combined with a carrier oil, such as coconut oil, to enhance absorption.

Can you make cannabis oil at home?

Don’t panic; you don’t have to invest in industrial-sized equipment to make your own bottle of cannabis oil at home. There are some simple ways of infusing your plant, which are cost-effective and easy to do, whatever strain of cannabis oil you choose to make.

Cannabis oil recipe

What you need:

• 7-10g Cannabis

• Water

• A double boiler

• 250ml carrier oil (such as hemp oil or coconut oil)

• A strainer
• A muslin cloth

1. Firstly, decarboxylate your cannabis. Decarboxylating is simply the act of ‘activating’ the cannabis, where raw THCA and CBDA convert into active THC and CBD. The simplest way to do this is by breaking up and spreading the cannabis onto an oven tray and placing it in the oven for 30 minutes at around 250 degrees Fahrenheit. 
2. Add water to the bottom pan and 250ml of your choice of oil to the top pan of the double boiler.
3. Once the oil has liquified, stir in 7-10 grams of cannabis.
4. Heat the oil and cannabis over a low heat for 30-60 minutes, stirring frequently. 
5. Once the time is up, use a strainer lined with a muslin cloth to pour the cannabis mixture into a separate bowl, squeezing the cloth as you do so.
6. Transfer to a container and store in a cool, dark place. 

How to make CBD oil using a rosin press

A product which has begun to hit the mainstream is the rosin press. For those who want to make their own cannabis extraction from home, this device uses the simplicity of heat and pressure to form a solvent-free concentrate without any of the extensive safety measures other extraction methods involve. Click here to learn about the perks of making rosin in our blog, ‘Is It Worth Making Your Own Rosin?’ 

So, where do you begin? For personal use, we’d recommend the Pollen Puncher 5T. It is ideal for those who want the convenience of pressing with a lightweight and compact design. 

We have a range of rosin presses available. Consider how often you will use it, how much material you intend to press and whether it is for personal or commercial use. Click here to check out our selection, which all come with a 2-year guarantee. 

1. Before starting, consider pre-pressing your cannabis to get a higher yield by using a rectangle pre-press mould. Preheat your rosin press and prepare your plant by placing it between two pieces of parchment paper.
2. Once the plates are heated, place the plant between the plates and press until you see rosin emerge. 
3. Use a dabber tool to collect the rosin and leave it to cool

Once you have your concentrate, you will notice that the consistency is either crumbly, waxy or syrup-like. Now that you have your solvent-free concentrate, you need to turn it into oil. For this, you will need a carrier oil (coconut oil is a good choice due to its saturated fat content) and a saucepan. Begin with 1g of concentrate and 250ml of coconut oil.

4. Using a saucepan, gently heat 60ml water with the oil to prevent the oil from burning. 

5. Once the oil has liquified, add your cannabis wax to the oil, stirring frequently. Be careful that the mixture does not get too hot (above 240 degrees Fahrenheit), as this can burn off essential compounds.

6. Next, you need to decarboxylate your concentrate. Keep the oil heated for around 45 minutes.

7. Leave the oil to cool down and pour it into a container and keep in a fridge.

Transforming cannabis into a concentrated oil can take time and patience, but if you want to make your own, it is certainly possible. By investing in a solvent-free rosin press machine or by experimenting with infusing your plant, you can produce your own compact and convenient oil for whenever you need it.