Easy DIY Cannabis-Infused Coconut Oil Recipe

If you’re looking for a way to experience the THC and CBD from cannabis without smoking, you can easily infuse it with some coconut oil. Cannabis-infused oil, also known as canna-oil, works great as a topical cream or to include in any recipe as a vegan alternative to butter. In this article, we consulted CBD and cannabis experts to show you how to decarboxylate your weed and infuse it with coconut oil, plus how to use it to take advantage of its soothing properties.

Ingredients

Make Cannabis Infused Coconut Oil Summary

½ cup (120 mL) of coconut oil
¹⁄₈ ounce (3.5 g) of cannabis
1 teaspoon (5 mL) of lecithin (optional)

Makes ½ cup (120 mL) of infused oil

Quick Cannabis Coconut Oil Recipe

CBD expert Tony Robinson says to decarboxylate your weed first by grinding or chopping it up and roasting it in the oven at 220°F (104°C) to 240°F (115°C) for 30-45 minutes. After that:

Add 1 tsp (5 mL) of lecithin per ½ cup (120 mL) of coconut oil (optional).
Scoop the coconut oil into a mason jar and stir in your cannabis.
Seal the jar and place it in a slow cooker lined with a towel.
Fill the slow cooker with water and set it to Low for 4-6 hours.
Strain the oil through a cheesecloth and let it cool to room temperature.

Section 1 of 5:

Decarboxylating Your Cannabis

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Preheat your oven to 240 °F (116 °C). Set one of the oven racks in the middle position inside your oven and start preheating. Avoid turning the temperature up any higher, or else you may burn your cannabis or make it less potent when you add it to your coconut oil.^{[1]
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Research source} Robinson recommends a temperature between 220°F (104°C) to 240°F (115°C).^{[2]
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Expert Source

Tony Robinson
CBD expert

Expert Interview}
- Raw cannabis won’t give you any of the effects when you put it in oil, so using it in coconut oil will only waste it. The low heat from your oven helps convert the THC and CBD acids directly into THC and CBD without removing them from the cannabis.
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Tony Robinson is a CBD expert with over 20 years of experience as a writer specializing in cannabis, CBD, and supplements.

Riley Kirk, PhD, is a cannabis research scientist who is passionate about cannabis education, sharing her research and insights on social media @cannabichem to a community of nearly 500K.

Aimée Shunney, ND, is a licensed naturopathic doctor who educates consumers, retailers, and healthcare providers about CBD oil through written articles, webinars, podcasts, and conferences nationwide.
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Grind your cannabis with a hand grinder. Try to avoid using an electric grinder since it may make too fine a powder that will get into the oil. Break apart about ¹⁄₈ ounce (3.5 g) of cannabis by hand and put it through a hand grinder so all of the pieces are the same size. That way, every piece will decarboxylate more evenly than if you leave it in whole pieces.^{[3]
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- Alternatively, if you don’t have a grinder, Robinson says you can “chop or grind up your flower finely. A grinder…might harm the trichomes, decreasing the potency of the bud.”^{[4]
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  Tony Robinson
  CBD expert
  
  Expert Interview}
- You can use your leftover stems and seeds if you want, but you’ll get a stronger infusion if you just use the flower.
- You can use any strain of cannabis depending on the type of feeling you want. An indica strain will make you feel more relaxed, while a sativa strain will make you feel more active.
- You can always use more cannabis if you want to make a more potent oil.
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Spread the cannabis in a single layer on a lined baking tray. Put a layer of parchment paper on your baking sheet so your cannabis doesn’t burn or get stuck to the tray. Then, Robinson says to “Sprinkle it on a cookie sheet” and space it out so there aren’t any large, deep piles.^{[5]
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Tony Robinson
CBD expert

Expert Interview}
- Decarboxylating cannabis could stink up your kitchen. If you want to prevent strong odors, put your cannabis in an oven-safe jar. Put a piece of aluminum foil over the jar or put the lid on upside-down to prevent it from sealing completely, or else gas could build up inside. Set a damp towel on the tray before putting your jar on top to prevent it from rolling around.^{[6]
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Put your cannabis in the oven for 40 minutes until it’s slightly brown. Licensed naturopathic doctor Aimée Shunney, ND, explains that low heat will slowly draw out the THC and CBD from the cannabis so it properly infuses with your oil.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Aimée Shunney, ND
Licensed Naturopathic Doctor

Expert Interview} After about 15 minutes, take the cannabis out of your oven and stir it around. Put your cannabis back in the oven for the remaining time. If your cannabis starts to turn dark brown or burn, remove it from your oven immediately.^{[8]
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Research source}
- If you’re using a mason jar, hold onto the jar with oven mitts and give it a good shake to stir the cannabis.
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Tony Robinson
CBD expert
Tony Robinson is a CBD Expert & Content Writer at King Buddha. He has over 20 years of experience as a writer specializing in cannabis, CBD, and supplements. He is an expert in sharing well-researched information on the ways that CBD can improve well-being and the growing legality and accessibility of CBD products. Tony has a Master's in Creative Writing from New York University.

Tony Robinson
CBD expert

Alternatively, use the sous vide method to decarboxylate. Chop or grind up your hemp flower finely and put it inside a zip-lock bag. Seal it as flat and tight as possible to minimize air pockets and maximize surface area, allowing for an even decarb. Place the sealed bag into a water bath at 203°F (95°C) for 2 hours.
5
Let your cannabis cool down to room temperature. Leave the tray or jar on your counter or a cooling rack until you can handle it safely. Now that your cannabis is decarboxylated, the oil can properly absorb the THC and CBD.
- If you’re using a mason jar, avoid putting the hot jar on a cold surface since the glass could shatter.
Robyn Griggs Lawrence, Award-Winning Cannabis Chef

When making your own infused coconut oil at home, quality ingredients are key. Seek out organic virgin coconut oil and use the freshest, most potent cannabis possible. Decarboxylate the cannabis properly to activate THC before infusing, and infuse on very low heat for at least 6 hours, stirring occasionally, to fully transfer cannabinoids into the oil.

Section 2 of 5:

Infusing the Oil

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Add lecithin to your coconut oil if you want to make it more potent (optional). You can use any refined or unrefined coconut oil for your infusion. “I always use coconut MCT oil,” says cannabis research scientist Riley Kirk, PhD. “It really solubilizes the cannabinoids really well, and you can add your flower right into that.”^{[9]
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Expert Source

Riley Kirk, PhD
Cannabis Research Scientist

Expert Interview} Lecithin is a type of fat that’s made from soy or sunflowers, and it can help your body absorb cannabidiols from your oil.^{[10]
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Research source} If you want to feel the effects of the oil even more, stir in about 1 teaspoon (5 mL) of lecithin per ½ cup (120 mL) of coconut oil before adding the cannabis.^{[11]
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- Lecithin is completely optional, and you can still make cannabis-infused coconut oil without it.
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Option 1: Use a slow cooker and mason jars for 4–6 hours. This is the easiest (and most odor-free) method. Scoop your coconut oil into a mason jar and stir in your decarboxylated cannabis. Cover the jar with aluminum foil before screwing on the metal ring of the lid. Put your jar in a slow cooker with a kitchen towel lining the bottom. Fill the slow cooker with water so that it’s higher than the oil level and set it to low. Leave the water to simmer and the oil to infuse for 4–6 hours.^{[12]
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- If all the water evaporates from the slow cooker, refill it. Try putting a lid on the slow cooker to help prevent evaporation.
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Option 2: Infuse the oil in a double boiler for 6–8 hours. This method guarantees your cannabis won’t burn. Fill a pot with water and bring it to a boil. Then, turn the heat down to a simmer. Set a double-boiler pot or heat-safe bowl on top of the pot. Scoop your coconut oil into the bowl and let it melt. Then add your decarboxylated cannabis. Leave the oil and cannabis to infuse for 6–8 hours, stirring every 10–15 minutes to prevent anything from burning.^{[13]
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- You can try putting a lid over the bowl or double boiler, but you still may smell the cannabis as you’re infusing the oil.
- You can wrap and tie your cannabis in cheesecloth before putting it with the oil. This might make straining the oil easier later on.
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Option 3: Simmer the oil and cannabis in a saucepan for 3 hours. Use this method if you have no other options available. Add a splash of water and your coconut oil into a saucepan and heat over low heat. Once the oil melts, add your cannabis and let it simmer over low heat. Stir the pan every few minutes to prevent your cannabis from burning. Keep simmering the oil for 3 hours to fully infuse the oil.
- You’re more likely to overheat or burn the cannabis when cooking it directly over heat.

Section 3 of 5:

Straining and Storing the Oil

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1
Strain the oil through a cheesecloth and into an airtight container. Double-layer a piece of cheesecloth inside a mesh strainer and set it on top of the container you want to use for your oil. Pour the oil and cannabis into the strainer while they’re still hot to remove any large residue. Let the oil drain into the container completely.^{[14]
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- Squeeze the cheesecloth tightly to force the rest of the oils out. You may want to use gloves or tongs so you don’t burn yourself.
- You can save the cannabis to make more oil, but it won’t be as potent as the first batch.
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Let the oil cool down to room temperature before using it. While the oil is ready to use right away, let it cool back down so you don’t hurt yourself when you use it. Since you used coconut oil, it will turn back into a cream as it cools down.^{[15]
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- Set the container in your fridge if you want it to cool faster.
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Calculate and label the container with its potency. Check the THC or CBD potency of the strain of cannabis you used for your oil. Multiply the amount of cannabis you used in grams by 1,000 to convert it to milligrams. Then, multiply that number by the potency percentage as a decimal. Multiply the result by 0.9 for a more accurate estimation of the total THC or CBD that’s in your oil. After that, you can divide the total THC or CBD in your oil by the number of servings listed on the coconut oil. Write the potency clearly on the container.^{[16]
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Research source} For example:
- If you used ¹⁄₈ ounce (3.5 g) of cannabis that was 10% THC or CBD, then you’d first convert 3.5 grams to milligrams: 3.5 x 1,000 = 3,500 mg.
- Then, you would multiply that number by 0.1 to find out the THC or CBD content: 3,500 x 0.1 = 350 mg.
- Next, you would multiply that by 0.9 for a final total estimation: 350 x 0.9 = 315 mg of THC.
- If you want 24 servings from the coconut oil, then you can divide that number by the total: 315 ÷ 24 = 13.125 mg per serving.
- If you don’t know the potency of your cannabis, you can usually look up the name of the strain online to find a general range.
- Warning: While this will give you an estimate of the oil’s THC content, it will never be completely accurate. Always sample small amounts from your batch before taking a full dosage so you can test out how it makes you feel.
4
Store the infused oil in a cool, dark place for up to 3 months. You can keep the oil at room temperature or in your fridge as long as you have an airtight lid. Make sure you clearly label that there’s cannabis infused with the oil so that no one accidentally uses it. After about 3 months, the quality of your oil will start to degrade.^{[17]
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- Keep the oil away from children so they don’t accidentally get into it.

Section 4 of 5:

Using Your Coconut Oil

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Start with smaller doses so you know how the oil will affect you. Even if you’ve used infused oil in the past, Dr. Shunney warns that it might feel a little stronger when you make it at home.^{[18]
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Expert Source

Aimée Shunney, ND
Licensed Naturopathic Doctor

Expert Interview} Only start with a single or partial serving, which is about 1 teaspoon (5 mL), when you first use it so that you can get an idea of how strong it feels. Use a teaspoon if your coconut oil is creamy or a dropper if you have liquid coconut oil. Avoid using any more for at least 2 hours since it can take a while to affect you.
- Taking too much oil at once could make you feel anxious when the THC or CBD kicks in.
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Try taking the oil directly to help with stress or anxiety. If you want to incorporate the oil into your regular routine, just take 1 teaspoon (5 mL) directly from the jar and swallow it. It may take up to a few hours to feel the effects of the oil, but the CBD from the oil can ease your mind and help you feel relaxed.^{[19]
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- The oil will work faster on an empty stomach.
- There’s only limited evidence that CBD works well for anxiety, so you may not feel full relief.
- Your coconut oil also contains THC, which may trigger your anxiety if you have too large a dose. However, it’s less likely since you have a mix of THC and CBD in the oil.^{[20]
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Add some oil to a recipe if you want to infuse your meal. Replace a portion of the oil or butter in a recipe with your infused oil if you want to. Brownies are a classic recipe to make with canna-oil, but you can use it in marinades, sauces, soups, desserts, or any other recipe that calls for coconut oil.^{[21]
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- Unrefined coconut oil will have a sweeter, more prominent flavor than refined oil.
- Dr. Shunney says that coconut oil makes a great vegan alternative to butter.^{[22]
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  Aimée Shunney, ND
  Licensed Naturopathic Doctor
  
  Expert Interview}
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Apply the oil topically to help with inflammation and pain. Dr. Shunney recommends taking a dab of the oil on your fingertip and gently massaging it into your skin or joints where you feel pain.^{[23]
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Expert Source

Aimée Shunney, ND
Licensed Naturopathic Doctor

Expert Interview} The cannabis from the oil will absorb into your skin and help relieve your pain and bring down the swelling.^{[24]
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- Since the oil has a high concentration, there’s a slight chance you could feel some of the THC effects after using it topically.

Section 5 of 5:

Is coconut oil or butter better for weed?

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Coconut oil can retain more cannabinoids than butter, making it a more potent option. Coconut oil has about 80% saturated fats, compared to 60% saturated fats in butter.^{[25]
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Trustworthy Source

Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public

Go to source} THC binds easily to fats, meaning coconut oil can be infused with a stronger dose than butter can. Coconut oil is also vegan and dairy-free, making it a versatile option for people with dietary restrictions.
- On the other hand, butter usually tastes better in baked goods and is a safe option for people with tree nut allergies.
- On the downside, coconut oil is more expensive, harder to find, and less flavorful than butter.^{[26]
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You can use the same process to infuse any oil that has a similarly high smoking point. If you use one with a lower smoking point, you’ll need to use lower temperatures or watch the oil more carefully.

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Even if you try to hide it, infusing oil with cannabis might have a strong smell. Check with the other people you live with before you start.

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Warnings

Always take it slow when you’re using your infused coconut oil. Having too much at once could make you “too high” and a little anxious. If this happens, try to relax and calm yourself down.

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Only make infused coconut oil if using cannabis is legal in your area and if you’re over the legal age. Otherwise, you could get into legal trouble.

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