It's easy to make your own hemp flower infused CBD oil. Use this detailed, but easy DIY recipe to guide you through the process of infusing any oil with medicinal hemp flowers, including how to calculate the final CBD potency in your oil.
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CBD oil has become increasingly popular for its potential health benefits, including reducing anxiety, alleviating pain, and promoting relaxation and general wellness.
Making your own CBD rich hemp infused oil at home can seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be. With the right tools and ingredients, anyone can create their own high-quality CBD oil and use it in a variety of ways including tinctures, food recipes and topicals. Making your own CBD oil can save you money and allows you to control the quality and potency of your final product.
DIY Hemp Flower Infused CBD Oil Recipe
Ingredients:
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1 ounce (28 grams) of CBD hemp flower (you can also use CBG hemp flower or a combination of both CBD and CBG)
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2 cups of carrier oil (such as Hemp Seed Oil, Olive Oil or MCT Oil)
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Cheesecloth or fine strainer
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Mason jar
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Bottle with measured dropper (optional)
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Double Boiler (Optional method)
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Baking sheet
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Oven
Calculate the Total CBD Content of Your Hemp Flower
It's important to calculate the total CBD content of your hemp flower in order to know the final oil potency. To calculate CBD potency in any hemp flower simply multiply the weight of the flower by the percentage of CBD in the flower. In this recipe we use 28 grams of Special Sauce which has 16% CBD. So 28 grams of hemp flower x 16% = 4.48 grams or 4480 mg of CBD. Apply this calculation to any amount and potency of hemp flower to get an approximate range of final potency.
Step 1: Decarboxylate the Hemp Flower
Decarboxylation is the process of heating the hemp flower to activate the CBD compounds. To do this, preheat your oven to 240°F and place the hemp flower on a baking sheet. Bake the hemp flower for 30-40 minutes, or until it is slightly browned and fragrant. Allow flowers to cool.
Step 2: Grind Your Hemp Flowers
After your hemp flowers have cooled down, grind them using a grinder or food processor until they are finely ground. This will help to increase the surface area of the flowers, which will allow for better extraction of the cannabinoids. If you don't have a grinder you can use your hands to crush the flowers.
Step 3: Infuse the Carrier Oil
Next, it's time to infuse the flowers into the carrier oil. We recommend using organic MCT oil (refined coconut). MCT oil contains Medium-Chain Triglycerides (MCTs). This oil type is a favorite because it can enhance the bioavailability of CBD and it has a longer shelf life than other oils. Choose from 2 methods to infuse your carrier oils. There’s a fast method that involves heat and a slow method without heat.
Slow Method #1 Place your ground hemp flowers and carrier oil in a mason jar, making sure that the hemp flowers are completely covered by the oil. Seal the jar and let it sit in a cool, dark place for at least 48 hours, shaking the jar occasionally to help extract the CBD rich resin from the surface of the hemp flowers and into the carrier oil.
Fast Method #2
Place your ground hemp flowers and carrier oil in a double boiler or a heat-safe bowl over a pot of boiling water. Heat the mixture for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally. Be sure to keep the heat medium low and steady (check the water level during this process and add more if needed). Do not allow the water to over bubble. You do not want water getting into your oil/flower mixture. This process can also be done in a slow cooker. If using a slow cooker, simply add oil and flower to the slow cooker and set to medium high for 3 hours.
Step 4: Strain the Oil
Slow method: After 48 hours, strain the oil through a cheesecloth into your final container. Squeeze the cheesecloth to extract as much oil as possible.
Fast Method: After 2-3 hours, turn off heat and remove oil from the double boiler (or turn off slow cooker). Allow infused oil to cool completely. Once cooled, strain mixture through cheesecloth into your final container. Be sure to remove any plant matter from your infused oil. If you choose 1 ounce dropper bottles as your final container, this recipe will yield (15) 1 ounce bottles.
Step 5: Calculate the CBD Content of Your Finished Oil
Remember the calculation from the beginning of this article? Now it’s time to apply that to the finished oil. Hemp flower should come with a lab test that provides the percentage of cannabinoids in that flower. To calculate the percentage of CBD in 28 grams of flower (1 ounce) in a final oil infusion of 2 cups, simply apply the amount of CBD present in the flower and the amount of oil used for infusion.
Let’s use the example of 16% Special Sauce CBD flower infused into 2 cups of carrier oil (473.17 ml).
First, we calculate the total amount of CBD in 28 grams of flower by multiplying the weight of the flower (28 grams) by the percentage of CBD in the flower. 16% CBD in 28 grams of flower = 28 grams x 16% = 4480 mg CBD in 1 ounce of flower.
Next, we calculate the concentration of CBD in the final oil infusion by dividing the total amount of CBD (4480 mg) by the volume of oil used for infusion (2 cups or 473.17 ml):
CBD concentration in 2 cups of oil = 4480 mg of CBD divided by 473 ml of oil = 9 mg of CBD per ml of infused oil.
To make it easier, we convert to teaspoons.
1 teaspoon = 5 ml
CBD content per ml of oil = 9 mg/ml
CBD content per teaspoon of oil = 9 mg/ml x 5 ml/teaspoon = 45 mg/teaspoon
Therefore, each teaspoon of the finished infused CBD oil will yield approximately 45 mg of CBD. It’s important to note that 100% of the CBD content will likely not be extracted into the oil. So use the calculations as an approximate guide.
How much should I use? 1/2 -1 teaspoon per ingested serving is a good dose for most adults, but everyone has different needs, so adjust the dose to achieve best results. This oil can also be used for cats and dogs. Just makes sure the carrier oil you choose is pet safe and adjust the dosage to 0.2-0.5mg CBD per pound of your pet's weight.
Step 6: Store and Enjoy
Store your homemade CBD oil in a dark glass bottle in a cool, dry place. It can also be stored in a clear glass bottle, but remember light can degrade the oil over time. You can use your CBD oil as desired, whether it be for cooking, adding to topical recipes, or taking it sublingually. 1/2 -1 teaspoon per ingested serving is a good dose.
Tips for Making the Best CBD Oil:
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Use high-quality hemp flower: The quality of your hemp flower will directly impact the quality and potency of your CBD oil. Make sure to choose a reputable source of organically grown hemp flower with CBD percentages above 10%.
White CBG | Organic CBG Hemp Flower
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White CBG hemp flower is a botanical treasure and a coveted strain within the hemp community. Most hemp strains only contain trace amounts of CBG. Our Certified Organic flowers contain 15% CBGa and a small amount of the rare 'BLISS'… read more
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Use a carrier oil that you like: Different carrier oils will have different flavors and textures, so choose one that you enjoy using in your cooking or as taking as a supplement. If you're using it for topicals, coconut oil is a good choice since its a great skin conditioner and contains MCT's.
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Don't skip the decarboxylation step: This step is crucial for activating the CBD compounds in the hemp flower and ensuring the potency of your CBD oil.
ENJOY!
If you have any questions feel free to reach out at contact@organicgreenroots.com