The Best Way to Consume Cannabis: How to Make Cannabis-Infused Olive Oil
Edibles have come a long way from the days of crumbling poor-quality weed or hash into a brownie mix. This writer's friend once lumped about half a gram of green into a cheese pie, only to regret the harsh taste as soon as he had. Things have changed, and eating weed is tasty now. The days of wondering how to make cannabis cookies or spinning out from a neighbour's nasty hash brownie are gone. You can cook up gourmet edibles in your kitchen at home. It has never been so easy. The internet is awash with hints, tips, and tricks on how to make THC-infused food. But what is the best way to consume cannabis? It's hard to say as it's a personal preference, and everyone is different. I like to use infused olive oil. I'll explain why and how to make cannabis-infused olive oil so you can try it and see how good it is.
Like my friend and the cheese pie, people have made mistakes when making THC edibles. Thankfully, we've learned from them and can show you how to make a tasty cannabis olive oil you can drizzle on your salad, pour into your soup, add to a sauce, or pretty much anything you've got in the pan.
What is Cannabis Infused Olive Oil?
Cannabis-infused olive oil is made by submerging cannabis in cooking oil and is ideal for cooking, baking, and food dressing. Infused olive oil will keep for a long time and has multiple uses. It is easily one of the most versatile cannabis edibles you can make at home. And don't worry about making this. It might sound tricky to produce, but it doesn't have to be with this step-by-step guide on how to make cannabis-infused olive oil. Before we get into that, we want to convince you that THC olive oil is the best way to consume cannabis. Here are the pros and cons (mostly pros) of cannabis-infused cooking oil.
Pros
Economical: Now more than ever, we want to get more value from our cannabis, and infusing olive oil is one of the best ways to get more from your weed. It is economical for a few reasons. The product lasts for a long time; you can use as little or as much as you want, and you can use pretty much any part of the cannabis plant to make it. I have used everything I could get my hands on to make it, from stem and leaf to top-quality flower, and despite a few bumps in the road, I have managed a good product every time. However, the potency and quality will vary depending on the cannabis product you use. Leaf and stem will not be as strong as a high-grade flower or concentrate.
Healthy Option: The consensus is that cannabis is good for you and smoking is bad. This makes THC-infused olive oil a healthy option for consuming cannabis because you benefit from the entourage effect of the cannabinoids and get all the goodness of the olive oil, which is packed full of antioxidants.
Versatility: This is one of the best things about THC olive oil. It is so flexible, you can do what you want with it. Bake or cook, drizzle, dip, or do whatever you need to get that oil inside.
Different flavours: Your THC olive oil will taste different depending on which cannabis you use. Cannabis strains with earthy flavours complement olive oil, but there is no reason not to use sweet cannabis strains to infuse your oil.
Potency: Infused olive oil will get you stoned. How potent you make it depends on the ingredients you use. If you want to make a super strong olive oil, use a good quality flower or concentrate. Another good thing about olive oil is that you don't need to use loads of it. Add a little, test the potency, and increase the dosage if needed.
Simple to Make: You might not perfect this at the first attempt, but making THC-infused olive oil is easy and one of the best ways to consume cannabis.
Cons
Time: Making cannabis-infused olive oil will take time, but THC-infused food is worth the wait, though not as quick as rolling a joint or packing a vape.
How to Make Cannabis-Infused Olive Oil
Things you'll need
Olive Oil
Cannabis product
Saucepan
Small dish
Heat source (Induction hob, gas cooker, slow cooker, or thermal cooker)
Strainer or Cheesecloth
Wooden spoon
Funnel
Empty bottle (reuse the olive oil if from a bottle)
Step 1: Decarboxylate your weed
Like with any other edible-making process, you need to decarboxylate your cannabis. This process turns THC-A, a compound that doesn't get you high, into THC. The most common way is to put your weed in the oven. You don't 'cook' your weed, but activate the THC by heating it at a low temperature of between 80 - 100 degrees for 9 - 12 minutes. Ensure you don't burn the cannabis because it's useless if you do.
Another way is by steaming your weed. Take a pan half full of water and begin bringing it to a boil. Place your weed in a small bowl or dish and put it in the pan, drop the lid on and leave it for about the same time as the oven process. And be sure to decarb in a well-ventilated space because it stinks.
Step 2: Infuse oil and cannabis
Similarly to when making THC butter, your next step is to infuse the ingredients in a pan on low heat, and the best method is on an induction hob or a slow/thermal cooker for anywhere from 2-4 hours to as long as you want, so long as you don't burn it or allow it to boil.
Step 3: Strain and press
Once it is ready, let the oil cool down, then place a dish or pan under a strainer or cheesecloth and empty the contents of your pan into it. Press the weed against what you're using to strain with a wooden spoon to get all the juice and oil from it. Do this until you have extracted all the oil from the weed, and then you'll be ready to transfer what remains to a bottle or container.
Step 4: Transfer the Oil
Transferring the oil to a bottle or container can be the trickiest part of making THC olive oil, but using a funnel makes it easy. Take care when doing this, and place a funnel in the mouth of a bottle or a container and pour in the contents of your pan.
Step 5: Try and Get High
This step is by far the best. Your oil is ready to try, and if you've followed this step-by-step guide to make THC olive oil, you will get high. Best practice suggests starting with a small dose and increasing it as you see fit. The best thing about cannabis-infused olive oil is that you can add a little bit to every meal, from salads, soups, and sandwiches to curries, croissants, and calamari. Once you drop, you never stop. It might just be your favoured way of consuming cannabis.
