phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES AUG 25TH–AUG 31ST, 2022 State Licensed Dispensaries & Doctor Certifications | CANNABIS | Baking Buds Four easy steps to making cannabis oil at home. BY KEVIN HANLON I t’s always a good idea to be thrifty and take care of yourself. One way to do both is by making your own cannabis oil. Cannabis oils, especially those made from flower high in CBD cannabi- noids, have various health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antioxi- dant effects. These oils provide users with relaxation and comfort that can be enjoyed in cooking or baked goods as well as topi- cally in balms or salves. Making your own oils for muscle rubs, salad dressings, and therapeutic uses is surprisingly simple to do at home. To get started, you’ll need one cup of your favorite strain of cannabis and one cup of your preferred carrier oil. Popular carrier oils include avocado oil, olive oil, and coconut oil. Each of these will allow you to create personalized cannabis oil to meet your edible and topical needs. How to Make Cannabis Oil Step 1: Pick Your Strain When it comes to picking your preferred strain for your oil, it’s all about considering your goals. Are you looking for therapeutic relief? Then consider strains that have high levels of CBD present in their cannabinoid profile. If it’s the psychoactive effects of cannabis you’re after, then you should select a THC-heavy strain for your cannabis oil. Step 2: Decarboxylation To properly activate the cannabinoids so Highsman from p 37 the NFL to avoid the humiliation of his marijuana use being made public. But that was then. In October 2015, Williams came full circle about his cannabis consumption during the heyday of his football career, when his former Saints teammate Kyle Turley invited him to speak about his marijuana experience at a conference in Phoenix. According to a Sports Illustrated article, “For the first time, Williams told his story to a group of strangers [in Phoenix]. He told them he wouldn’t have won the 1998 Heisman Trophy or played 11 NFL seasons without cannabis. They showered him with a standing ovation.” Molina recalled those “comeback” days. “It’s important for those with a VladK213 / IstockPhoto / Getty Images The final step in making your own cannabis oil is pouring the mixture through a cheesecloth. they can be absorbed by the carrier oil, you’ve got to decarboxylate the cannabis buds. Decarboxylation is the process of heating marijuana to activate cannabi- noids such as THC and CBD. Some decarboxylation happens when the buds are cured. When marijuana is smoked, most of the process occurs when the flower meets the flame. In the kitchen, we use an oven to induce decarboxylation. Simply place your favorite ground cannabis buds on a baking sheet. Heat your oven to 220 degrees, and let the flower roast for 40 to 50 minutes. Once heated, your flower will be decarboxylated and ready to be intro- duced to the carrier oil. Step 3: Soak Now for the fun part. The ground and decarboxylated flower will soak in the carrier oil of your choice in a saucepan on a stovetop for at least three hours. Stir occasionally. Always keep the heat below 245 degrees so as not to burn the cannabinoids. Step 4: Strain and Enjoy After your oil and decarboxylated flower soak together, filter the mixture through a cheesecloth to remove raw plant product from the oil. Place the cheesecloth over a measuring cup or mason jar to collect the filtered oil. What’s left is a fresh batch of home- made cannabis oil to be enjoyed in your favorite salad dressing or baked good or even used as a body oil. Pro Tip You can save even more money by growing your own cannabis plants at home. In Arizona, adults are legally allowed to grow up to six marijuana plants for personal use. The average yield per plant hovers around 150 grams, depending on whether the plant is grown indoors or out. Purchasing that amount at a retail store could cost buyers more than $600 at a retail store. Happy growing! national platform and the influence to share their experiences with the world,” he told New Times. “It shows where [they] came from.” The Sports Illustrated story continued, stating Williams “figures he lost between $5 million and $10 million in salary and endorsements when his NFL career stalled out because of four failed drug tests (all, he says, for mari- juana) between 2002 and ‘06. He wants to make that back and then some.” Molina added, “Like with Ricky, the impact previous policies has had on many people across the country is still felt. Nonetheless, we are moving forward and beginning the reparation process. Thanks to great people like Mr. Ricky Williams for helping fight that fight through R&D and education.” Williams said that realizing there was more to him than just being a foot- ball player created an urge to start developing his other sides. He noted, “It was, and still is, my appreciation for cannabis that helped me to realize my potential for greatness outside the game of football.” Hence, Highsman. 39
