Marijuana coconut oil is the ultimate base for making some of the best weed-infused products, from cooking oils and edibles to cosmetics.
If you’ve ever stumbled upon medicated sipping cocoa, revitalizing skin balm, or THC-infused massage oil, chances are they were all made with marijuana coconut oil.
In this article, we’ll focus on:
- The benefits of marijuana coconut oil
- How to make marijuana coconut oil at home
- Different ways of using cannabis coconut oil as a base for weed products
Anybody in love with the coco(nut) out there?
Why Do People Infuse Marijuana Into Oils?
Because cannabis is better absorbed when contained in fats.
Cannabinoids are fat-soluble, so if you try to eat sheer decarbed bud, you won’t experience any psychoactive effects — or they will be very, very weak at best.
Hence the need to use cooking oils for edibles.
If you want to create a DIY organic solution that will get you medicated, coconut oil will be the best for the job.
The Science Behind Infusing Marijuana Into Coconut Oil
Marijuana and coconut oil both have lots of well-backed health benefits on their own. But when you mix these two in an infusion, you can have the best of both worlds.
The best part about combining marijuana with coconut oil is that it will give you a more potent high than other infusions.
Because marijuana is fat-soluble, it must be suspended in a high-fat substance for maximum potency.
In other words, the more fat in your fat, the better.
While butter contains about 60% of saturated fats, coconut oil wins by landslide with its 90% content.
Conclusions? Using marijuana coconut oil yields a stronger infusion.
Another benefit of infusing coconut oil with weed is the fact your mixture will remain solid at room temperature. It also has a high melting point, which makes it an invaluable ingredient in topical products — it’s smoother, less messy, and easier to apply on the skin.
Last but not least, marijuana coconut oil is the best infusion for cooking and baking, as it has a higher burning point than canola oil, olive oil, and butter.
How to Prepare for Making Marijuana Coconut Oil
Before you make your first marijuana infusion, you’ll need to gather a few basic kitchen tools and decarboxylate your weed.
Let’s start with decarboxylation.
Decarbing Marijuana: This is How You Activate THC
The process of decarboxylation simply means turning the acidic THCA into THC, its psychoactive form. Without decarbing your marijuana, you can forget about getting high from your coconut oil.
Here’s how to decarboxylate weed step-by-step:
- Preheat your oven to 240 F
- Grind your cannabis coarsely and spread it evenly on a baking tray lined with parchment paper
- Bake the weed for about 30-40 minutes, stirring it halfway.
Make sure to monitor the temperature in your oven — anything above 250 F will destroy the cannabinoids and terpenes.
Measuring Your Marijuana Ratios
Dosing marijuana coconut oil in edibles depends on a variety of factors, including your tolerance to THC and what effects you want to achieve through using this infusion.
Despite a slower onset, edibles provide longer-lasting relief and the high is more potent than those experienced by smokers, so we recommend staying on the cautious side during your first attempt to making edibles. Overdosing on edibles is the most common reason for emergency room visits linked to weed.
Another thing you want to consider is what strain you will use to make marijuana coconut oil. If you want something to add to your morning coffee as a not-so-guilty treat, opt for energizing strains with distinct citrus notes. If, on the other hand, you want to use edibles in the evening, opt for indicas with fragrances of berries, diesel, and lavender.
How to Make Marijuana Coconut Oil
This is the time to show you’ve been a diligent student. Below we share our perfect recipe for marijuana coconut oil that will make your next batch of edibles an absolute wonder.
Here’s what you need:
Ingredients & Equipment:
- 1 cup of ground decarboxylated weed
- 1 cup of coconut oil
- A large container (a glass bowl, for example)
- A thermometer
- A metal strainer
- A saucepan or slow cooker
Instructions for Infusing Coconut Oil with Marijuana:
In this section, you’ll learn how to make marijuana coconut oil two ways, using a saucepan or your slow cooker.
1. The Saucepan Method
- Combine coconut oil with weed in the saucepan over very low heat.
- Bring the mixture to a light simmer.
- Once there, let it simmer for 2-3 hours, stirring every 30 minutes. Make sure the temperature doesn’t exceed 240 F.
- Line a strainer with cheesecloth or a coffee filter and place it over a large bowl.
- Pour your mixture over the strainer, letting you marijuana coconut oil drip slowly.
- Cool the oil to room temperature and store it in the fridge.
2. The Slow Cooker Method
- Mix your weed with coconut oil in the slow cooker and set the temperature to “LOW.”
- Cover the slow cooker with the lid. Keep it working for 4-6 hours, stirring from time to time. Similar to the saucepan method, keep the temperature below 240 F.
- Prepare your strainer with cheesecloth.
- Pour the marijuana coconut oil mixture over it, letting it drip for about an hour.
- Squeeze the remaining liquid out by hand.
- Cool your marijuana coconut oil to room temperature and store it in the fridge.
Key Takeaways on Making Marijuana Coconut Oil
- Always keep the temperature of your oil below 250 F. Most cannabinoids and terpenes begin to burn at this temperature, lowering the potency of your infusion.
- If you fail to keep the oil below the smoking point, remove it from the heat immediately and let it sit in room temperature for a while before you bring it back to the stove. Keep an eye over the heat to avoid scorching the oil.
- Don’t grind your weed too finely. Instead, aim at a coarse consistency for the most efficient decarboxylation.
- Don’t judge the potency of the oil by its color. The green color only indicates how much chlorophyll is in the end product, not how potent the oil is.
Do you use marijuana coconut oil for making edibles or skincare products? What are your favorite weed recipes with this infusion?