How to Make Cannabis-Infused Coconut Oil & Capsules

Whether you prefer cannabis-infused coconut oil or capsules, the good news is, you won't have to go far to get hold of them. You can easily make both at home with a few pieces of equipment and a little know-how.

In just a few hours, you can create potent infusions (up to four times stronger than smoking) that'll keep for months, while remaining convenient, straightforward, and, most importantly, discreet! There's also the value of highly nutritious coconut oil to consider.

Packed full of healthy fatty acids and antioxidants, it's the ideal complement to a heavy indica or uplifting sativa. In fact, cannabis-infused coconut oil and capsules work with any strain, so as long as you've got roughly 1.8 oz of dried bud to spare, it's time to get started.

First Things First: Decarboxylation

Before you even consider infusing your coconut oil with cannabis flower, there's one crucial step—decarboxylation.

In its natural form, THC is actually THCA, a compound that won't get you high. To convert it, we need to subject our buds to sufficient heat. By heating plant material in the oven, we remove the A (carboxylic acid) from THCA. After decarboxylation, the THC is psychotropic and ready for use.

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 110°C. Use a grinder and grind your material up finely. Then, spread the ground buds evenly across a baking sheet and place in the oven on top of a baking tray.
2. Bake the plant material for about 30–45 minutes. This should be sufficient for proper decarboxylation. Afterwards, pull the tray from the oven, and wait for your buds to cool. You're now ready to start infusing the coconut oil.

How to Make Cannabis-Infused Coconut Oil

Creating cannabis coconut oil takes 2–3 hours for a decent infusion, but the longer you leave it, the stronger the oil or capsules become. With that in mind, make sure you leave yourself enough time to complete the recipe from start to finish.

Ingredients

• 1.25l distilled water (reverse osmosis water is even better)
• 1.8 oz finely ground cannabis buds (strain of your choice)
• 250ml organic coconut oil

Hardware

• Cooking pot (medium to large size)
• Cheesecloth
• Plastic or glass container with lid
• Rubber bands

Directions

1. Combine the distilled water, coconut oil, and 1.8 oz of finely ground cannabis buds in a large cooking pot (don't worry if it seems like a lot of bud, it'll be worth it in the end!).

2. Heat the mixture, bringing it to a low, consistent simmer for at least 2–3 hours. You can heat the mixture for longer, but be aware you'll occasionally need to stir, and top up water to avoid scorching.

TIP: Anything over 150°C will destroy the active cannabinoids in your buds, so beware! 110–120°C is a good temperature range.

3. Set up your glass container with the cheesecloth over the top (either ask a friend to help you, or secure with elastic bands). Pour the mixture over the cheesecloth to filter out large chunks of plant matter.

4. Discard the plant material and leave the mixture to cool. Once it's thoroughly cooled, put the lid on the container and place it in the fridge.

5. After roughly 12 hours, separate the coconut oil from the surface and pour any remaining liquid down the drain. You'll want to keep your infusion well-protected when not in use, avoiding exposure to direct sunlight.

How to Use Cannabis-Infused Coconut Oil

With your cannabis-infused coconut oil in hand, there are a ton of possibilities. To help you put the oil to good use, let's quickly run through some of your options.

• Try it “neat”: After warming it up a bit, your cannabis-infused coconut oil is ready for use—whether you drop it directly on your tongue or drizzle it over a salad. Sometimes, the simplest approach is the best way to enjoy oil infusions.
• Add a dose to tea or coffee: If you want to change up your morning buzz, try adding a teaspoon of coconut oil to your favorite hot drinks. For a more enjoyable experience, add cream, or full-fat milk to help make your brew more palatable.
• Get frisky: Cannabis-infused coconut oil makes for an exciting lubricant, but it can damage condoms and other latex items, so use with caution. If the idea of cannabis and sex has grabbed your attention, there's plenty of ways to experiment.
• Make canna-caps: Straightforward to make, canna-caps are small softgel capsules that hold a predetermined amount of cannabis-infused coconut oil. Not only are they convenient, but they're potent too.

How to Make Coconut Oil Canna-Caps

Filled with potent cannabis-infused coconut oil, canna-caps are a convenient and discreet way to enjoy your infusion. While they may be a bit fiddly to begin with, the consistent dose makes them worth the effort.

Hardware

• Gelatine capsules, size 00
• Capsule filling machine (optional, but recommended)
• Syringe or oral irrigator with tapered deep reach tip

Size 00 empty gelatine capsules are best for canna-caps. While you don't necessarily have to use a capsule filling machine, the process can be tedious and slow without it.

If you need to fill capsules by hand, you will have to think about a way to hold them in place for filling. A filling machine will cost about €15, making it worth the expense, and you can familiarise yourself with the machine while your oil is infusing.

Directions

1. Take your cannabis-infused coconut oil out of the fridge. Coconut oil melts at around 25ºC (78ºF), so you can heat it up at the lowest setting to achieve a more pourable consistency. Gelatine capsules can melt if the oil is too hot, so make sure to keep the temperature at a minimum. If the oil is too cool, on the other hand, it'll be challenging to properly fill the syringe. Once it is liquid, you can proceed.
2. Fill each gelatine capsule, one at a time, using the oil-filled syringe. If you use an oral irrigator with a tapered deep reach tip, filling the capsules is much easier.
3. Once you're finished filling all the capsules, close them according to the capsule machine's instructions.

It is best if you store your cannabis-infused capsules in the refrigerator, but any dark and cool place will do.

There you have it; no-nonsense cannabis-infused coconut oil and canna-caps! Enjoy your natural cannabis infusion, but, remember, the coconut oil is now technically a cannabis concentrate, and accordingly potent, so dose responsibly!