How to Make Cannabis Extracts

Is it possible to boost cannabinoids and terpenes once the yield has been trimmed, dried and cured? The answer is yes. Different mechanical and chemical techniques can separate these compounds from the vegetable material. The Moroccan system to make hash or modern devices to obtain cannabis oil using CO2 are both efficient methods to get great quality concentrates.This post is going to explain how to make cannabis extracts in all sorts of ways.

What are Cannabis Extracts?

Cannabis extracts is the process of separating trichomes (also known as resin) from the vegetable material. This task concentrates the largest amount of cannabinoids and terpenes taking full advantage of all the material, from the best buds to the leftover leaves, depending on the type of concentrate.

How to Make Cannabis Extracts without Using Solvents

Cannabis extracts can be made without using solvents. The main advantage of the mechanical method is that you can enjoy concentrates without any chemical residues that could pose a health risk. This is a very interesting option for medicinal users. These techniques are easy, fast and practical. While you can do this at home without facing major difficulties, you should know that it will result in lower amounts of concentrates than when using solvents.

Types of Dry Cannabis Extracts

Without a doubt, a common way of making non-solvent extracts is the dry method, which is fast and easy. The first step is to stick the material inside an airtight bag and place it in the freezer for 24 h. All you need to do is beat the frozen buds and leaves over a grid so that the pollen falls underneath. This system has been historically used in Morocco; where they use huge grids to cover full plants and obtain large amounts of pollen. 

An even easier method to make cannabis extracts is to use grinders with mesh screens. With them you can crush the cannabis buds and obtain homogeneous pollen quickly. The Secret Shaker in concrete is very popular as you can manually make small amounts of hash. This 12 cm cylinder includes a 150 microns mesh and a grinder with a pollinator. Once you collect the pollen powder made with this device, you can press it using a stainless steel pollen press.

How to Make Cannabis Extracts with Ice

Ice extracts are increasing in popularity. The results obtained from cooling the buds and leaves after cutting the plants are quite promising as trichomes detach easier. This technique, also known as Iceolator, consists of submerging the material in very cold water and filtering it afterwards using different micron grids in order to obtain an optimum extraction of cannabinoids and terpenes. 

There are different ice bag sets that include multiple size filter bags to facilitate  ice extractions, as the more filters you use the better the quality and precision. Introduce the bags in a bucket, starting with the one with the smallest filter and continue ordering them by size. Afterwards, fill the bucket with very cold water and ice, let it sit for 10 minutes, add the buds and leaves that you want to use, mix for 10 minutes, let it sit for another 10 minutes. Repeat the same process 3 or 4 more times.

Next, remove the first bag and let it drain without pressure. Once you lift the second bag, you’ll start noticing a considerable amount of pollen, but again, let it drain without applying any pressure. When you get to the last bag, remove the final pollen with a spoon and let it rest on a plate for a few days. Mixing the content of the different grids is not a good idea as it would worsen the quality of the best pollen.

Some devices do this process automatically: extract washing machines. Their main advantage is the adjustable the speed, which guarantees an effortless precise filtering. GB The Green Brand recommends the Secret Box washing machine as it includes a 225 microns mesh and great manufacturing results that ensure successful extractions.

Rosin

This cannabis extract method uses low pressure and heat and doesn’t require any type of solvent. It became famous after a viral video where they used a hair straightener. From that moment on, this system gained popularity in the cannabis industry. Plenty of efficient and modern devices to perform it properly have arisen in the market since, for example, rosin presses. It can be done with buds (Flower Rosin), which offers more flavor or with hash (Rosin Hash), which will result in a very intense and powerful rosin. 

How to Make Cannabis Extracts Using Solvents

There are also other ways of obtaining outstanding quality extracts that include the use of solvent products, such as butane gas, CO2 or propane, among others. All the solvents work in a similar way by dissolving the trichomes to separate them from the vegetable material. You’ll need to clean the solvent content from the final extraction using an oven or a desiccator. These products are flammable, therefore, they require extra care and precision.

BHO Extracts

This system obtains cannabis oil with high terpene content in a safe and practical way by using butane gas. It can be performed with dry or frozen weed. The final product is called Shatter and it has different consumption ways: inhalation, vaporization or capsules.

You can use an open circuit system or a closed one. However, the first one will be more accessible; all you’ll need is a metal tube to introduce the butane gas. The extract will go to a recipient placed at the end of the tube. One easy way to get great quality shatter is to buy the BHO Roller Extractor and the 0% Impurity Colibri Gas for BHO.

Rick Simpson Method

This extraction method owes its name to its creator, Rick Simpson, who created RSO, one of the most powerful concentrates nowadays. Using alcohol to extract cannabinoids increases their concentration and enhances its effects.

This extract can be consumed in plenty of ways, such as sublingual, topical, ingested or vaporized. Doses have to be small and controlled. RSO could be beneficial to treat certain conditions like multiple sclerosis, arthritis, depression and muscle inflammation, among others.

In order to make this cannabis extract, you have to place the buds inside a recipient full of isopropyl alcohol and crush them with a wooden spoon. Mix for approximately three minutes. Get a cheesecloth and place it over a pot, pour the material and drain it. Repeat this process a few times to obtain better results. Afterwards, evaporate the solvent at 120 ºC and add a bit of water to replace the vaporized alcohol . Once the alcohol is all gone, collect the oil using syringes. 

How to Make Cannabis Extracts Using CO2

Extracting cannabis resin using solvents is a very popular multidisciplinary technique among growers and extract lovers. The most common solvents are alcohol, acetone or butane gas but the use of CO2 is also expanding nowadays. This extraction method separates cannabinoids and terpenes from buds and leaves by using high pressure and low temperature.

This is the most popular method among extract professionals as it allows for fast, easy and large cannabis oil extracts. However, this system is not accessible to all growers as it requires big installations and equipment. CO2 is pumped between two cylinders and pushed through a tube that holds the cannabis. With this process, CO2 absorbs cannabinoids, terpenes and essential oils. After,the extract needs to go through a condenser that gives it an oily and viscous aspect.

Extracting Resin out of Marijuana Brings on Very Intense and Strong Psychoactive Effects

Cannabis extracts have become a very relevant sector of the industry. They guarantee high cannabinoid and terpene content while promoting other consumption methods, both recreational and medicinal. We hope this post is useful to learn new concepts on how to make cannabis extracts using the necessary items.

GB The Green Brand offers a great variety of products, devices and accessories aimed at making cannabis extracts. Please check our web page or visit any of our physical stores if you want to expand your knowledge on this interesting cannabis modality.