We’re sure you’ve heard much about cannabutter, cannabis budder, and the other ways to enjoy cannabis, but that’s not all. There’s another tasty side of cannabis – cannaoil.
In case you’re wondering, cannabutter and cannaoil are not the same. So, what is cannaoil, what are its benefits, and how can you make it?
To answer those salient questions, we’ll discuss how to make cannabis-infused oil, exciting cannaoil recipes, and briefly look at the cannabutter vs. cannaoil debate.
Let’s get right to it.
What is Cannaoil?
Now that we’ve teased this tasty cannabis product, we’ve probably piqued your curiosity, and you want to know, “What is cannaoil?”
Cannaoil is a cannabis-infused oil. It is made from cannabis and contains all the cannabinoids of the flower, including THC and CBD. The type of oil you can use to make cannaoil varies, but common choices include olive, coconut, and avocado.
Coconut oil works great because it is versatile and will work well in baking or cooking, but the scent can be overpowering. Olive oil, on the other hand, brings added health benefits to your cannabis-infused oil.
Whichever oil you choose, the main ingredient is cannabis, so you’ll still get the same rich result.
Benefits of Cannaoil
Cannabis-infused oil has all the therapeutic benefits of cannabis, and these include the following:
- Acne treatment
- Anxiety relief
- Depression relief
- Eczema treatment
- Inflammation reduction
- Nausea relief
- Pain relief
- Seizure control
- Sleep improvement
However, it is essential to note that if you’re a newbie or consume too much cannaoil, you might experience mild side effects ranging from drowsiness to red eyes. But don’t worry; they’ll wear off in no time.
Cannabutter vs. Cannaoil
Cannabutter and cannaoil are both cannabis-infused products, but they’re still different. The main difference when discussing cannabutter vs. cannaoil is the fat used.
Cannabutter is made with butter, a dairy product, while cannabis-infused oil is made with any type of oil, such as olive oil, coconut oil, or avocado oil.
Other notable differences in the cannabutter vs. cannaoil discussion include the following:
- Flavor: Cannabutter has a stronger butter flavor than cannabis oil. This may be a factor if you make edibles meant to taste like butter, such as cookies or brownies.
- Potency: Cannaoil packs a punch; it is more potent than cannabutter because it can dissolve more THC; THC dissolves better in oil. This means that you can use less cannaoil to achieve the desired effects.
- Accessibility: Cannaoil is more accessible than cannabutter because it is easier to find in stores. Sometimes, the best way to access cannabutter is to make it yourself.
How to Make Cannaoil: The Tips
Like most DIYs, making your cannaoil at home can be fun, so we’ll teach you how to make cannaoil in simple steps with delicious outcomes. But before we delve into the steps, here are some tips to note:
- Use high-quality cannabis: Your output is only as good as your input, so select the best cannabis. The quality of the cannabis you use will affect the potency and overall quality of your cannabis oil. You can experiment with different cannabis strains to determine which works best.
- Decarboxylate your cannabis: You can’t use raw cannabis to make cannaoil without decarboxylating it first. Decarboxylation activates THC and other cannabinoids in cannabis so that the cannaoil can absorb them.
- Cook slowly and steadily: Don’t be too eager to get it done; you must be patient and cook your mixture over low heat for a long time to get the best results and extract the maximum amount of THC from the cannabis. Too much heat and not enough cooking time will produce low-quality cannaoil.
- Strain cannaoil properly: You must strain your cannabis oil after cooking to remove the weed and do it properly. Weed can give cannaoil an unpleasant bitter taste.
- Reduce odor: It takes two to three hours to cook cannaoil, and that much cook time means your kitchen and maybe even the whole house will have a weed odor. Weed is great, but you may find a buildup of weed odor unpleasant. Turn on a vent or fan or open the windows to let the smell out while cooking cannabis-infused oil.
How to Make Cannaoil: Ingredients, Tools, and Steps
So far, we’ve answered the “What is cannaoil?” question, briefly discussed cannabutter vs. cannaoil, and highlighted the tips for making cannaoil. Now, let’s get cooking!
Ingredients and Tools
- 7 grams of cannabis. (You can use 3.5 grams if you want less potent cannabis oil.)
- One cup of cooking oil
- Cheesecloth or strainer
- Glass jar
- Cannabis grinder
- Parchment paper
Step 1: Decarboxylate Your Cannabis
Remember we said decarboxylation would activate the THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids in cannabis flower? Well, it’s the first step on the checklist of how to make cannaoil.
Preheat your oven to 245OF. Grind your cannabis but don’t grind it into a fine powder so it won’t pass through the cheesecloth or strainer. Lay your baking pan with parchment paper and spread the cannabis on it, then heat in the oven for 30 – 40 minutes.
Step 2: Cook Oil with Cannabis
Put the oil and decarbed cannabis in a slow cooker or saucepan and cook on low heat for two to three hours, keeping the temperature between 160OF-200OF. Make sure it’s low heat; if you rush it and use high heat, you’ll ruin the cannabis oil.
Step 3: Strain the Cooked Oil
Let the cannaoil cool after cooking. Place a cheesecloth or strainer on your glass jar and pour the cannabis-infused oil in. Don’t squeeze it; just let it drip through completely. For best results, strain it twice.
Step 4: Store Cannaoil
Yes, storing is an important step, so store it in a cool, dark place.
Your cannabis-infused oil can last for up to six months, and you can freeze it if you want it to last longer than that.
Note that over time, THC will convert to a cannabinoid known as cannabinol (CBN), so the longer you store it, the less potent it may become. That’s not bad, though, because CBN has its benefits.
Popular Cannaoil Recipes
If you’re thinking of what to make with cannaoil, worry not, as it is a versatile ingredient that allows you to explore several cannaoil recipes, replacing your plain oil.
One of the most popular uses of cannabis oil is baking. You can make potent brownies, biscuits, and cakes. However, don’t use high heat if you’re baking with cannaoil, or you’ll burn off the terpenes and cannabinoids. We recommend slow and steady baking to preserve the quality of the cannaoil in your recipe.
Besides baking, you can also use cannaoil to make stir fries and sauces, drizzle it on pasta, or eat it with bread.
If you don’t feel like doing any kitchen work, you can consume your cannaoil orally by placing a few drops under the tongue.
How to Store Cannaoil
After making your cannabis oil, you need to store it properly to preserve quality. Don’t let your efforts waste because of poor storage.
Below are some tips on how to store cannaoil:
- Store in a cool, dark place: Pick a spot away from sunlight, humidity, and heat; your kitchen cabinet will do. The ideal temperature for storing your cannaoil is between 60 and 70OF. Also, you need to use an airtight container; your cannaoil will go rancid if air gets into it.
- Avoid storing in plastic: Plastic can leach chemicals into your cannabis oil, which can alter the flavor and potency. Glass containers will do just fine.
- Freeze it: If you’re storing your cannabis-infused oil for a long time, you can freeze it. This will extend its shelf life considerably. When you’re ready to use the oil, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight.
If you follow these tips, you can store cannaoil for several months without losing its potency or flavor.
How to Dose Cannaoil
Dosing is important when consuming cannabis because you’ll know the amount of THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids you consume and what effects to expect. That said, you can’t know the exact level of potency in your cannabis, but you can make estimates based on THC content.
Basically, pay attention to the amount of THC in the cannabis you use to make cannaoil. The higher the THC content, the stronger the potency of the cannaoil.
For instance, a strain like OG Kush contains 20% THC so that’s a potential cannabis oil potency of 1400mg. You’ll lose some of that potency during the infusion process but still get potent cannaoil—about 70% to 95% of the THC will remain after the infusion.
To be safe, you can dilute your cannaoil with plain cooking oil so that you consume a low dose and watch how your body reacts to it before you consume more.
It’s always best to start with a low dose because you risk unpleasant side effects if it’s too high.
Can You Buy Cannaiol Already Made?
Yes, you can. Licensed dispensaries sell cannaoil!
Note that you’re looking for cannaoil, not CBD oil. Cannaoil is more potent because it contains cannabinoids from the whole plant, including THC, CBD, and terpenes, which work together to produce an entourage effect. CBD oil contains only CBD. So, don’t mix them up when you visit your local dispensary.
Getting the Best Canna-Ingredients With An MMJ Card
Need access to excellent cannabis products in order to make your edibles at home? Then you need an MMJ card.
With your MMJ card, you can legally purchase tested and verified cannabis products from licensed dispensaries, giving you access to various high-quality ingredients, including flower and concentrates.
Your MMJ card also gives you privileged access to discounts and promotions from licensed dispensaries.
Click here or the link below to book a call. Let’s help you get your card and get on the cannabis wellness train.
