Beginner’s Guide: How To Make CBD at Home
CBD prices can be inordinately high. It’s no surprise, given the high demand for oils. Thankfully, there are ways to circumnavigate the cost without sacrificing the quality of the product you use. The simplest solution: make your own.
This may seem like a near-impossible proposition but learning how to make CBD at home is far simpler than one would think.
Ingredients
Industrial Hemp
Industrial hemp is a plant from the cannabis plant, and unlike its cousin marijuana, it only contains trace amounts of the high-producing compound THC. Many companies that sell CBD also sell hemp flowers and at lower prices than the oils themselves. Just be sure to check the certificate of analysis for information about the strain and cannabinoids.
Note on Bud Preparation
Before you extract oils from hemp, the bud itself needs to be prepared through a process called decarboxylation. This process converts the cannabidiolic acid into cannabidiol, allowing you to experience CBD’s benefits.
Fortunately, you can accomplish this by distributing your buds into pea-sized pieces on a foil or paper-lined baking sheet, then baking it in a conventional oven at 230 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 minutes.
Carrier Oils
When you buy a tincture, you are buying CBD diluted in another oil or solvent. A few common carrier oils include:
Coconut oil
Extra-Virgin olive oil
Food-grade ethanol
Palm kernel oil
Different extraction methods will often require a particular type of carrier oil over another.
How To Extract With Olive Oil
This method is popular for those learning how to make CBD at home because of its low cost and simplicity. To do it, follow these steps:
Put a cup of oil in a saucepan along with 5 to 25 grams of your buds, depending on how potent you want it.
Heat the mixture on the stove at medium-low heat, stirring gently until it reaches 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
At 200 degrees, reduce the heat and let the mixture simmer for three hours, stirring occasionally.
Take the oil off the heat until it has returned to room temperature. Then place the oil in a sealed jar and put it into the refrigerator until it coagulates.
Remove the oil from the refrigerator and allow it to sit out until it liquifies again.
Put the oil through a strainer covered with cheesecloth to remove oils.
The one caveat with this method is that the oils are often more perishable and have a more bitter taste than other methods.
How To Extract With Ethanol
Ethanol extraction is one of the more preferred extraction methods in the CBD world. When you invest in home extraction equipment, the process is simple as well.
First, take prepared flowers and allow them to soak in food-grade ethanol for at least 10 minutes.
Strain the liquid into your ethanol extraction machine.
If you don’t have an ethanol extraction machine, put the solution into a double boiler or rice cooker and heat at a low temperature until the alcohol evaporates and you’re left with a thick substance.
Although tricky, alcohol extraction provides a longer-lasting oil with a milder taste than olive oil extraction.