How to Make Strong Cannabis Coconut Oil — 4 Hour Method

Learning how to make strong cannabis coconut oil is the foundation of cannabis cooking. This vegan-friendly slow cooker cannabis oil recipe uses the mason jar water bath method for precise temperature control — resulting in a potent, beautiful dark green oil you can use in any edible recipe. Here’s the complete method with 40g of decarboxylated cannabis and optional lecithin for maximum bioavailability.

Ingredients for How to Make Strong Cannabis Coconut Oil

• 400g unrefined or refined coconut oil (or 454g / 1 pound for US measurements)
• 28–40g decarboxylated cannabis (finely ground)
• 1 tsp soy or sunflower lecithin (optional — granules or liquid form)
• Mason jars (small, to fit inside your slow cooker)
• Slow cooker (crockpot)
• Digital thermometer (with alert setting — highly recommended)
• Cheesecloth for straining
• Canning funnel and canning jar tongs

How to Make Strong Cannabis Coconut Oil — Step by Step

Step 1: Decarboxylate Your Cannabis

Decarboxylated cannabis coconut oil starts with properly decarbed flower. Grind your cannabis to a fine powder after decarboxylating — the finer the grind, the better the infusion. This recipe uses 40g of decarboxylated, finely ground cannabis (a mix of flower, trim, and shake is fine).

Step 2: Liquefy the Coconut Oil

Melt your coconut oil in a microwave-safe measuring jug — 30–40 seconds is usually enough. The oil should be fully liquid and slightly warm. While it’s warm, add the optional lecithin: 1 tsp of lecithin granules or liquid. This cannabis oil lecithin bioavailability boost helps your body absorb THC and other cannabinoids more efficiently.

Step 3: Divide Oil and Cannabis Into Mason Jars

Divide the liquid coconut oil evenly across 3–4 small mason jars. Then add an even amount of ground decarboxylated cannabis coconut oil mixture to each jar and stir. Don’t screw the lids on tight — place them on loosely or leave them off entirely. The loose lids prevent pressure build-up while still limiting evaporation.

Step 4: Slow Cooker Water Bath — 4 Hours

This is the core of the slow cooker cannabis oil recipe. Fill your slow cooker with hot water to about the same level as the oil in your jars. Place the jars in the slow cooker. Set the temperature to HIGH to start. Once you reach 80°C (176°F), switch to LOW. Monitor with a digital thermometer — you want the water bath to stay between 80–85°C (176–185°F) for 4 hours. If it exceeds 85°C (185°F), open the lid to release heat. Stir the jars once per hour.

Step 5: Strain Through Cheesecloth

After 4 hours, use canning tongs to remove the hot jars. Set up a canning funnel lined with cheesecloth over a clean mason jar. Pour the hot oil through the cheesecloth to strain cannabis coconut oil cheesecloth-style, separating the liquid oil from the spent plant material. Squeeze the cheesecloth firmly to extract every last drop — the harder you squeeze, the more oil you recover.

Step 6: Refrigerate and Store

Pour the strained oil into a clean jar, seal, and refrigerate. The oil will solidify within a few hours. The finished product should be a beautiful dark green colour — that’s how you know this is how to make strong cannabis coconut oil that actually works. Store in the fridge for up to 3 months.

Unrefined vs Refined: Which Coconut Oil to Use

• Unrefined coconut oil: Retains the natural coconut flavour and aroma — great if you don’t mind or enjoy the taste of coconut in your edibles. This is what’s used in the video.
• Refined coconut oil: Processed to remove the coconut smell and flavour — leaves a neutral-tasting oil that won’t affect the flavour of your recipes. Ideal if you want a truly flavour-neutral base for edibles.

Why Use Lecithin for Cannabis Oil Bioavailability?

Adding lecithin to your slow cooker cannabis oil recipe increases the bioavailability of cannabinoids — meaning your body absorbs the THC and CBD more efficiently from each dose. The cannabis oil lecithin bioavailability effect is especially noticeable with soy or sunflower lecithin in liquid form (granules work but dissolve less effectively). Add 1 tsp per batch. It won’t change the taste but makes your edibles hit more consistently.

Using Your Leftover Cannabis Pulp

Don’t throw away the spent cannabis material left in the cheesecloth after you strain cannabis coconut oil cheesecloth-style. The pulp still contains trace cannabinoids. Dry it out on a baking sheet and add it to tea — mixed with rose hips and mint, it creates a gentle, relaxing sip that won’t get you high but provides a mild, calming effect.