Can You Make CBD Oil Using Just Marijuana Leaves and Stems?

While it is technically possible to make CBD oil using just marijuana leaves and stems, the resulting oil may not be as potent as when using flower material, which typically contains higher concentrations of CBD. However, if you are interested in attempting this method, here's a detailed guide to help you through the process.

Decarboxylation and Extraction Process

To begin making CBD oil from marijuana leaves and stems, the first step is to decarboxylate the plant material. This involves heating the plant material in an oven to activate the CBD, the active compound in marijuana. The process of decarboxylation is crucial for releasing the necessary cannabinoids. Set your oven to approximately 220°F and bake the marijuana leaves and stems for about 90 to 100 minutes to ensure complete activation.

Preparing the Plant Material

Once your plant material has been decarboxylated, the next step is to prepare it for extraction. For beginners, the alcohol method is a great choice due to its simplicity and lack of need for specialized equipment. Ethanol is a preferred solvent as it does not leave behind an unpleasant taste or odor, unlike some other solvents.

Step-by-Step Extraction Process

1. **Choose Your High-Quality Cannabis Plant**: Select buds, leaves, and stems from a high-quality cannabis plant. This ensures a better extraction rate for cannabinoids.

2. **Decarboxylation**: Place the chosen plant material in a mason jar and bake it at 220°F for 90 to 100 minutes to activate the cannabinoids.

3. **Prepare the Carrier Oil**: Select a carrier oil that suits your preference. Common choices include coconut oil, olive oil, or hemp oil. Ground up the decarboxylated marijuana plant material and mix it with the carrier oil, ensuring thorough saturation.

4. **Create the Infusion**: Place the mason jar with the oil and plant material on a pan filled with water. The water should be heated to at least 200°F, and a thermometer is recommended to monitor the temperature.

5. **Simmer the Mixture**: Cover the mason jar tightly to prevent any steam or water from entering the oil mixture. Let the mixture simmer for three hours. Regularly check the water level to ensure it does not evaporate. Once the three-hour mark is reached, remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture sit for another three hours.

6. **Second Round of Simmering**: Repeat the simmering process for another three hours and then leave it to sit overnight.

7. **Strain and Store**: The next morning, strain the mixture through cheesecloth to remove any solid residues. Store the resulting CBD oil in a cool, dark, and dry place to keep it fresh and potent.

Considerations and Benefits

The benefits of using this method include its simplicity and the lack of specialized equipment. However, the downside is that the resulting CBD oil will be less potent compared to oil extracted from the flowers of the plant. Additionally, if you are looking for high levels of CBD, using a larger quantity of plant material might be needed.

Conclusion

While it is possible to make CBD oil using just marijuana leaves and stems, it requires a meticulous process and may not yield as high doses of CBD as using flower material. Nonetheless, for those interested in experimenting with CBD extraction, starting with leaves and stems can be a rewarding process that leads to a good understanding of the entire extraction method.