How to Make CBD Oil at Home

Trying to find a high-quality full-spectrum CBD oil that doesn’t break the bank can be a challenging task. Prices can range anywhere from $150 to $500 per bottle, and depending on how much you need to take, it may not last long.

So, what’s the solution? Follow our guide and become a cannabis cooking aficionado and make it yourself!

It might sound daunting to make cannabis oil at home, but it isn’t that complicated, especially when there’s a machine that will do it for you with minimal effort.

The MagicalButter Machine is a countertop botanical extractor that takes the guesswork out of making CBD oil and is by far the easiest and most convenient option. It consistently produces perfect infusions in as little as 1 hour, instead of the usual 6-8 hours of traditional methods.

This revolutionary device is an excellent investment if you’re a regular CBD oil user or want to create cannabis-based edibles, and over time will pay for itself.

Click here to access the Magical Butter MB2E Machine.

If you’d like more information on accessing this machine at a discounted rate, please leave your email below 👉

Now, let’s get into the good stuff and learn how to make cannabis oil. If you’re more of a visual learner you can check out our video and follow along as we guide you through the process step-by-step.

How to extract CBD oil: 3 different methods

Many people are turning to the medicinal power of CBD and THC oil to help reduce inflammation and pain, alleviate anxiety and depression and get a better night’s sleep.

But how exactly are CBD and THC extracted from the cannabis plant?

There are three CBD extraction methods to make CBD oil:

• MagicalButter oil method (which we’ll discuss in greater detail below)
• CO2 extraction
• Ethanol method

MagicalButter oil method

Harnessing the medicinal properties of cannabis oil has never been easier, thanks to the power of the MagicalButter Machine. It’s the world’s first countertop botanical extractor that allows you to infuse the essence of plants into oil, butter, tinctures and more. The machine grinds, heats, stirs and steeps your infusion, all at the correct time intervals and temperature [1], saving time and the stress of having to constantly watch the stove for hours on end.

CO2 extraction method

Creating CBD oil through this extraction method is far more convenient and efficient than traditional oil methods, and you’ll save money in the long run. The process only takes a few hours from start to finish and is by far the best method if you’re planning to make weed oil or CBD Oil at home, as it eliminates any guesswork.

The CO2 extraction method produces the purest form of CBD, with high pressure being used to force carbon dioxide through the plant material at low temperatures. The process is called Supercritical Fluid Extraction. Unless you’re familiar with industrial chemistry and own a CO2 extraction machine worth over $100,000, this method probably isn’t the one for you.

CBD Ethanol extraction method

The ethanol method uses high-grade alcohol to extract the CBD. The cannabis plant is ground up, mixed with the alcohol, and heated gently over a couple of days to evaporate all of the alcohol, leaving behind the ‘FECO’ (Full Extract Cannabis Oil). You can do it at home, but it is both time-consuming and potentially dangerous, requiring safety equipment and care to avoid an explosion from the evaporating alcohol.

If you’re a visual learner, you can check out our video featuring our lovely local cannabis expert Jules, who will guide you through the entire process using the MagicalButter Machine.

What you’ll need to make CBD oil at home

Firstly you need some cannabis flower or trim. The strain of cannabis you use (hemp or marijuana) will determine the makeup and strength of your oil, including the proportion of CBD to THC.

Making CBD oil at home means you have more control over the quality of ingredients used to create the oil. For example, we’ve used high-CBD hemp flower in this recipe; using flower instead of trim creates a higher quality end product. If you’d prefer to make marijuana oil, you’ll need to source marijuana flower.

Ingredients

• Cannabis flower or trim – 7-14 grams per cup of oil
• Coconut ‘MCT’ oil – 2 cups
• Sunflower liquid lecithin – 1 teaspoon per cup of MCT oil

Coconut MCT oil has a very mild flavour and will allow the natural, earthy notes of the cannabis to shine through in your oil. It’s also great for making gummies or other edibles because it won’t overpower the other ingredients’ natural flavours. Also, MCT contains ‘medium-chain triglycerides’ hence its name; these compounds are easily and immediately metabolised by the body making CBD or THC absorption much faster [2].

Sunflower liquid lecithin is a viscous brown liquid naturally rich in essential fatty acids, and it’s an excellent natural fat emulsifier, meaning it binds better to the cannabinoids during the infusion process. In addition, sunflower liquid lecithin is usually cold-pressed and way less processed than alternatives such as dry soy lecithin.

Equipment

• MagicalButter Machine (includes 190-micron filter bag and silicone glove)
• MagicalButter DecarBox, or; Baking tray either lined or unlined with foil (this is an alternative to the above)
• Measuring cup
• Glass mixing bowl
• Spatula
• Teaspoon
• Grinder or scissors

Process

While we’ve used the MagicalButter Machine for our recipe, we’ve also included an alternative method that uses everyday kitchen items.

Step 1: Decarboxylate

Before you start, you need to decarboxylate your cannabis. This process involves applying heat to activate the cannabidiol (CBD) and other cannabinoids so that your body can use them. This recipe uses the MagicalButter DecarBox; it provides an accurate and consistent method to decarboxylate cannabis and also protects it against light and heat degradation throughout the process.

MagicalButter Machine Method

1. Add your whole cannabis flower to the MagicalButter DecarBox and close the lid.
2. Insert the temperature probe in about halfway, it should not touch the bottom of the box.
3. Using the external digital display, set the temperature to 135°C.
4. Set the oven to 135°C (275°F) and place the DecarBox inside, keeping the display outside.
5. When the oven reaches 135°C, the digital display will beep, set a timer for 60 minutes.
6. After 60 minutes, remove the DecarBox from the oven using the silicone glove and remove the lid. Let the cannabis cool down to room temperature for about 10 minutes.

Alternative method

1. Spread the whole flower or trim on the baking tray, and place it in your oven at 135°C for 60 minutes. When you remove it, it should be dry and slightly crisp but not scorched.
2. If you don’t have the MagicalButter Machine, you can break up your cannabis using a grinder or scissors.

Notes

You don’t need to cut your cannabis before adding it to the DecarBox; the MagicalButter machine will grind it for you during the infusion process. Keeping it as a whole flower while decarboxylating helps retain the phytonutrients, cannabinoids and terpenes.

If you’re using the alternative method, it’s best to grind the cannabis up because it exposes more of the plant’s surface area, revealing more trichomes (resin gland of the cannabis plant). Most cannabinoids reside in the plant’s trichomes, and exposing them means more will be absorbed into the oil during the infusion process [3].

If you didn’t dry and cure your cannabis before putting it into the oven, it will take about 90 minutes to decarboxylate.

If you plan to use marijuana and are wondering how to make THC oil, the only difference you’ll need to keep in mind is the cooking temperature and time; cook it at 120°C (248°F) for 30-40 minutes to activate the THC cannabinoid.

Step 2: Infusion

The MagicalButter Machine achieves consistent results with every infusion due to the advanced technology that maintains a constant temperature throughout the process.

You can make CBD oil with coconut oil or MCT oil to create a beautiful infusion.

MagicalButter Machine Infusion

1. Add the decarboxylated cannabis flower into the machine, 2 cups of MCT oil and two teaspoons of sunflower liquid lecithin.
2. Set the temperature to 71°C (150°F) and hit the one-hour oil option. Once the machine finishes infusing the cannabis into the MCT oil, it will beep and be ready for filtering.
3. Carefully remove the MagicalButter machine’s head and use the silicone glove to hold the 190-micron filter over a large glass mixing bowl.
4. Carefully pour the cannabis infusion into the filter. If there’s any plant matter left in the machine, you can use the spatula to scrape it out. Then give the filter a gentle squeeze to remove any excess oil into the bowl.
5. Allow to cool down before storing the oil.

Viola! You have a beautiful medicinal herbal infusion ready to use.

Alternative method

1. Mix your cooled, decarboxylated cannabis with the MCT oil and liquid lecithin, and stir well to make sure the ingredients are combined.
2. Pour the mixture into a bowl and set it over a pot of simmering water. Alternatively, you can put your mixture in a glass jar sitting on a cloth in a slow cooker or crockpot on a low setting.
3. Cook it for 6-8 hours, ensuring the temperature never exceeds 118°C (245°F) [4]. Finally, turn off the heat and let the infusion cool down.
4. Strain your mixture through a piece of cheesecloth, squeezing out the excess oil. Or push it through a sieve or coffee filter. Just remember, if you grind up your cannabis too finely, particles can get through your filter and into the oil.

Storing your CBD oil

This recipe produces roughly 2 cups of CBD oil, so you can easily pour the oil back into the original MCT bottle for storage. Or, if you have glass dropper bottles available, you can divide the oil up and store it in these; this is an excellent option as having the dropper makes dosing easy and convenient.

Storing your oil in a cool, dark location will help prolong its shelf life. While it’s okay to keep it on the bench out of direct light, a better option is in the fridge. Both CBD and THC cannabinoids have been found to decline over time with exposure to light and heat, rendering your precious oil less effective [5].

How to use your CBD oil

You can use your oil by applying drops sublingually (under your tongue) and holding for up to one minute, absorbing CBD via the tongue’s capillaries and mucous membranes allows the cannabinoid to enter the bloodstream at a much quicker rate than if you simply swallowed the oil [6].

Figuring out the correct CBD oil dosage can be tricky.

Start by taking between one to five drops daily to understand how it makes you feel. Once you become familiar with the effects of your CBD oil, you can increase the dosage by a few drops until you find the sweet spot for your unique requirements.

If you want to take CBD oil for sleep, we’d suggest consuming the oil about one hour before bedtime. You can spend this time winding down for the night with a good book or other mindful practices.

Alternatively, if you’re taking CBD or THC oil for a pain condition, it’s best to try and get ahead of the pain by taking the oil before you become uncomfortable. Take the oil and check in with yourself in about 30 minutes and then 60 minutes and see how you feel. Remember, if you’re taking cannabis oil that contains THC, it has the potential to impair you. It’s important to factor this into your daily routine.

Final Musings

There’s something innately satisfying about connecting with nature and creating your own medicine from plants, especially when the effects can be so profound.

As is the case with many things in life, making your own CBD or weed oil has its pros and cons. You are likely to save a heap of money and have greater control over the ingredients going into your oil. The trade-off (especially in Australia) is difficulty obtaining cannabis flower and knowing the exact percentages of CBD vs THC and other cannabinoids.

Some medicinal and green market CBD oils will have third-party lab reports available to find out the concentration of CBD, THC and other cannabinoids, which is helpful when it comes to dosing. However, when you make your oil, you’ll need to judge how much is suitable to consume.

When you first start on this journey, it’s important to go low and slow with dosing and monitor your results.

If you have any further questions or just want to have a chat, feel free to give us a shout.

Happy cooking, folks!

Disclaimer. While we strive to relay the most factual education available, this shouldn’t replace official medical or legal consultation and recommendation. This is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Happy days.