Cannabis oil 101: What is it and types of oils

Since the 2018 legalization of recreational marijuana, Canadian dispensaries and retailers offer a broad range of marijuana flowers, products, including cannabis oils.

Cannabis users consume cannabis in a number of different ways; smoking, vaping, oils, edibles and other methods. Among the many benefits of marijuana, taking cannabis oils is a popular way to consume these benefits as its convenient and very discreet. No special paraphernalia or equipment is required. Just rub it on the body, dab onto food or consume directly. Among all the methods, cannabis users who prefer the oil find its simply a cleaner alternative to smoking cannabis (as we all know the harsh burn you can get on the throat and lungs).

So if you’re new to cannabis oils, the following frequently asked questions I hope to answer your questions about oils and gives you a good baseline to start your research before trying a variety of oils available in the market.

What are cannabis oils?

Let’s start with the basics for the beginners. Cannabis oils are cannabis plant extracts that have been dissolved in a base to create a liquid. Typically, coconut or olive oil are used with the extract. The variety of cannabis strains available reflects the varying degree of oil strength available. Some cannabis oils are higher in THC while others are higher in CBD. If your new to marijuana and unfamiliar with what is the difference between THC and CBD, I recommend this post.

Achieving a specific ratio of THC to CBD can be difficult with the dried flower because each cannabis strain is somewhat unique and can have very little CBD. But with cannabis oils, the production process allows the manipulation of the compounds to create a specific ratio of THC to CBD. That’s why you can get a higher concentration of CBD in oil than dried marijuana, which is beneficial.

What are the types of cannabis oils?

As with marijuana strains, cannabis oils are not one-size-fits-all. We’ll share an updated post soon that offers direct resources to the available cannabis oils offered by major cannabis brands, including Canopy Growth’s Tweed oils, CanniMed, Broken Coast, Tilray, Aphria, Aurora and others. And as the marijuana industry matures, many other cannabis oils will be developed and available.

Remember these key points on cannabis cannabis oil:

• Cannabis oils are just extractions of cannabinoids and terpenes from Cannabis plants
• Cannabis oil can contain:
  • Cannabidiol (CBD)
  • Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is known for a psychoactive and “typical high” feeling
  • Other minor cannabinoids (though in non-detectable quantities)
  • Aromatic compounds (called terpenes)
  • Carrier oils like olive or grapeseed oil

While I’ve focussed this post on cannabis oils for beginners, I felt I would be neglecting your journey of knowledge to not whet your appetite on other forms of cannabis concentrates beyond oils, such as wax, hash, shatter, and dabs.

How much oil should I take?

Cannabis oil dosage varies from person to person. But since oils are more concentrated, it’s a good idea to start with a low dosage and move up very slowly. This principle applies to other forms of consuming marijuana too, such as edibles.

On average 1 mL is one dose, but you can start with less. The ratio of compounds is based on 1 mL, so if you see a ratio of 5:1 THC: CBD, that means there are 5 mg of THC and 1 mg of CBD per 1 mL. With the legalization of cannabis, the governance standards for consumer packaging should contain the necessary information labeled that shows the ratios. All cannabis oil packaging must also state the percentage of THC and CBD in the oil (so you know how potent and psychotropic it is before you use it). Just like strains of dried cannabis, oils can have stronger concentrations of CBD, THC, or be more balanced, and thus create very different experiences. Not all oils are created equal — so reading the packaging is crucial for your first time. 

How should I consume cannabis oils?

Cannabis oils can be consumed in many way.khdfghns. Most oils come with droppers so you can put a few drops under your tongue, similar to other over the counter medical liquids requiring low dosages. This is called the “sublingual” method and allows the active ingredients to be absorbed into your bloodstream from under the tongue. This can be quicker because it bypasses your digestive system like edibles.

Alternative methods for cannabis oil consumption can be infused by either the consumer or by a producer into topicals (creams, moisturizers), edibles (cookies, brownies, tacos), juice, or capsules. I prefer to put the cannabis oil into food or drinks or make cannabis-infused cooking supplements such as butter or oil, which can then be used in cooking. In this method, the effects may take longer to feel because it takes longer to pass the blood-brain barrier versus the latter sublingual application.

How quickly will I feel the oil effects?

Like any other supplement or medicine―it takes time for CBD to start working. Your body processes cannabis differently based on how you consume it. In order to deliver its benefits, CBD first needs to be absorbed into our bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, it can then be distributed throughout the Endocannabinoid System where the cannabinoid receptors in CBD can bond with the receptors in our body. I won’t get into the details for this post, but the key message is that it varies based on several key factors―the usage method, the quality, and type of CBD, and your body’s weight, metabolic rate, and composition. The long answer, which I won’t get into the details, would cover how each of these factors interacts with your body and how this info can be used to understand how CBD will work best for you.

Remember, it takes longer to feel the effects when you take cannabis oil, but the effect can last longer than smoking. When you inhale you feel the effects faster, but when you ingest oil it can take up to two hours to feel the effects, but it should stay around much, much longer (ex. est. six hours.)

To wrap up this post, the last tip of cannabis oil info for beginners is how you store or save the oil. Keep your cannabis in a cool, dry place. It will last longer. Why? Heat and light contribute to degrading the compounds in cannabis, so like your other kitchen supplements like your olive oil, follow the same way you store these.

Do you have any other tips or knowledge to share for beginners thinking of trying cannabis oil? Comment below or reach out to me to update this post or collaborate on a new posting.