You're probably staring at a jar of flower and wondering, "How do I make THC oil without blowing up my kitchen or ruining expensive weed?" It’s a fair question. Honestly, the internet is cluttered with overly clinical guides that make it sound like you need a chemistry degree, or conversely, "hacks" that result in a sludge that tastes like a lawnmower bag.
Making a potent, clean-burning, and shelf-stable oil is about two things: temperature control and patience. If you rush the heat, you burn off the terpenes and turn your THC into CBN, which just makes you sleepy. If you skip the prep, you’re just eating oily grass. We're going to break down the actual physics of infusion so you can stop guessing.
The Science of Why Raw Weed Won't Get You High
Before you even touch a bottle of carrier oil, you have to deal with decarboxylation. Raw cannabis contains THCA. It's non-psychoactive. You could eat a pound of it and you’d just get a stomach ache and maybe some extra fiber. To turn that THCA into the THC that people actually want, you have to remove a carboxyl group through heat.
Most people mess this up by cranking the oven to 300°F. Don't do that. You’ll vaporize the very compounds you're trying to activate. A steady 240°F (115°C) for about 40 minutes is the sweet spot. You'll see the color shift from a vibrant green to a toasted, brownish hue. That's the visual cue that the molecular shift has happened.
Choosing Your Carrier Oil
Not all fats are created equal. Since cannabinoids are lipophilic—meaning they love fat—the type of oil you choose dictates how well your body absorbs the finished product.
- MCT Oil (Medium-Chain Triglycerides): This is the gold standard for tinctures. It’s liquid at room temperature, virtually tasteless, and your liver processes it rapidly. This means the onset is usually faster.
- Coconut Oil: Great for baking. It has a high saturated fat content, which provides a sturdy "hook" for the THC molecules. However, it solidifies below 76°F, which makes it annoying for dropper bottles.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: A solid choice if you’re making a savory infusion for pasta or salad dressing, but the strong flavor can clash with the "earthy" notes of the cannabis.
The Step-by-Step Reality of Making THC Oil
Start by grinding your flower. You don't want powder; you want a coarse consistency, similar to dried oregano. If it’s too fine, it’ll pass through your strainer and leave you with gritty oil.
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After you’ve decarbed your herb in the oven on a parchment-lined baking sheet, it’s time for the infusion.
The Slow Cooker Method
This is the most "set it and forget it" way to handle how do i make THC oil at home.
- Combine your decarbed cannabis and your oil in the slow cooker. A common ratio is 1 cup of oil to 7-10 grams of flower, but you can adjust based on how much of a "heavy hitter" you want.
- Add a small amount of water (about half a cup). This helps prevent the oil from scorching and absorbs some of the chlorophyll, which improves the taste.
- Set it to "Low." You want the mixture to stay between 160°F and 180°F.
- Let it simmer for 4 to 6 hours. Stir it occasionally. Your house is going to smell. There is no way around this.
The Double Boiler Method
If you're in a rush, use a double boiler. It gives you better temperature control than a direct flame, which is vital because direct heat will create "hot spots" that destroy potency.
Simmer for 2 to 3 hours. Keep a thermometer handy. If the oil starts bubbling aggressively, it’s too hot. You're looking for a gentle, lazy simmer.
Straining and Storage: The Final Hurdle
Once the time is up, let the oil cool slightly. If you try to strain it while it's boiling, you'll melt your cheesecloth or burn your hands.
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Line a fine-mesh strainer with several layers of cheesecloth. Pour the mixture through. Now, here is the part where everyone disagrees: Should you squeeze the cheesecloth? Purists say no. Squeezing forces more chlorophyll and bitter plant matter into the oil. However, if you're like me and you don't want to waste a single drop of that "liquid gold," give it a gentle squeeze. Just know it might taste a bit more "grassy."
Store the finished oil in a dark glass bottle. Light and heat are the enemies of potency. In a cool, dark cupboard, your oil should stay potent for at least six months to a year.
The Math of Potency (Don't Skip This)
You need to know what you're consuming. Let’s say you used 10 grams of flower with 20% THC.
- 10 grams = 10,000mg of flower.
- 20% of 10,000mg = 2,000mg of THCA.
- After decarb and infusion, you typically lose about 10-15% of that. Let's be conservative and say you have 1,700mg of THC in your total batch.
- If you made 1 cup (approx. 240ml) of oil, then 1 teaspoon (5ml) contains roughly 35mg of THC.
For many people, 35mg is a very high dose. Always test a small amount (a quarter teaspoon) and wait at least two hours before taking more. Edibles are notorious for a "creeper" effect.
Common Pitfalls and Misunderstandings
One of the biggest myths is that you can just throw raw weed into a pan of brownies and it'll work. It won't. Or, at least, it’ll be about 10% as effective as it could be.
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Another mistake? Using "AVB" (Already Vaped Bud) without adjusting your expectations. You can absolutely make oil with vaped bud—it's already decarbed, so you save a step—but it will be significantly weaker and taste like burnt popcorn. Use about twice as much AVB as you would fresh flower to get a similar effect.
Also, lecithin. You’ll see "bro-science" forums swearing by sunflower or soy lecithin. They claim it increases bioavailability. While the science is a bit mixed, adding a tablespoon of liquid lecithin during the infusion process can help the oil and water-based components in your body interact more smoothly, potentially leading to a "cleaner" high.
Immediate Next Steps for Your Batch
If you’re ready to start right now, go preheat your oven to 240°F. While that’s warming up, find a glass Mason jar. You can actually do the entire infusion inside the jar (the "Mason Jar Method") placed in a water bath to keep the smell contained.
- Audit your gear: Do you have a meat thermometer? If not, buy one. Guessing the temperature is the number one cause of failed batches.
- Check your herb: Make sure it’s dry. Moist flower can lead to mold growth in your oil later on.
- Select your vessel: Use dark amber glass for storage. Clear glass allows UV rays to degrade the THC into CBN over time.
Stop overthinking the complexity and focus on the temperature. Keep it low, keep it slow, and you'll end up with a versatile THC oil that actually does what it's supposed to do.