DIY Topical Cannabis (Pot) Salve

I think I should start out by saying that I only endorse this if marijuana is legal in the state you live in.

I suppose since I make other salves (which are awesome!), I'd eventually get to making a cannabis salve (which is also awesome!). Infusing pot salve is basically the same as all the other salves I make with one little difference. Decarboxylation.

And what's nice about this is you will also have made your own CBD Oil. More on that below.

How to Decarb Cannabis

After you have good quality bud, trim or shake:

1. Place the amount you will infuse on a clean cookie sheet. You will need enough, when finished infusing, to get at least 1 cup of oil for this recipe.
2. Turn the oven to 220 degrees. After it's heated, place the cookie sheet in for about 25 to 30 minutes.
3. Chop into fine pieces.

So heating in the oven will cause the room to smell like pot. I didn't think it was as potent as I've read but there was obviously a smell. I opened windows and really didn't think it was that bad and it really didn't stick around too long.

If you do want to make your own salve but don't want the smell, another option is to buy a decarboxylator but I don't know how much product these hold.

Infusing the Decarboxylated Cannabis

Note: Remember when infusing your herbs, and in this case pot, you don't want to use a jar where there is more than an inch of headroom between the oil level and top of jar.

1. Put the decarbed cannabis in the glass jar.
2. Add in a good quality extra virgin olive oil or MCT Oil or Coconut Oil (extra virgin olive oil has anti-inflammatory benefits, it moisturizes the skin, improves elasticity, and it has good fats and antioxidants to help heal the skin) and cover about 1 inch higher than plant material.
3. See Note above.
4. Seal with an airtight lid.
5. Place in warm area, maybe a closet or on the pantry shelf, etc.
6. At least every couple of days swish the jar back and forth to move the material around.
7. At least once a week I open the jar and lightly smash the plant material. Before putting the lid back on, wipe any oil from around the edges of the jar.
8. Let the product infuse for 4 to 6 weeks.

Note: You can add other herbs to the cannabis you'll be infusing if you want. I've also added Calendula and Arnica.

Straining Your Infused Cannabis/CBD Oil

Yeah! Now you're ready for straining, I use a piece of doubled up cheesecloth large enough to be able to hold and wrap the plant material so you can squeeze all the liquid out into a bowl. If it looks like it might be necessary, you can strain your oil twice.

Cannabis CBD Salve Recipe

Butters and Oils

These are some of the butters and oils that I have used in this recipe. You can do your own research as well for more information.

• Avocado Butter - moisturizing, softens and soothes the skin, antioxidant, healing
• Shea Butter – light nutty scent, moisturizing, hydrating, softens skin, healing, conditions damaged skin, and good for mature skin.
• Kokum Butter - moisturizing, antioxidant and antibacterial properties, softens the skin and restores skin flexibility, rejuvenate skin, anti-inflammatory,
• Coconut Oil - moisturizing, softens and soothes the skin, slightly oily until absorbed
• Apricot Kernal Oil - softens/soothes skin, anti-inflammatory, nourishing for dry and mature skin, good for sensitive skin, slightly oily until absorbed
• Emu Oil - anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, healing properties, essential fatty acids and vitamins, can help relieve pain
• Vitamin E Oil - antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, healing properties, helps dry skin
• Arnica Herbal Oil - anti-inflammatory, healing properties, antioxidant, can help reduce pain
• St. John's Wort Herbal Oil - antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, healing properties, improves skin quality

Cannabis Salve Ingredients

• 1 cup Oils - I've typically make this with just the Cannabis Infused Oil but I've also lessened the amount of cannabis oil and added in a few teaspoons of other oils.
• 2 - 4 Tablespoons Beeswax Pastilles (see Note 1)
• 1/4 cup Butter of Choice (listed above)
• 12 - 18 drops Clove Essential Oil
• Glass containers - 1 or 2 ounce size

Directions

• In a bowl large enough to melt your ingredients, add the oil, beeswax, butter.
• Fill a larger pot a little less than half way full of water and place the bowl with your ingredients inside, like a double boiler idea.
• Heat slowly over a medium-low to medium heat, stir occasionally until all ingredients are melted.
• While this is melting, get your containers ready to fill. I put an old towel down (to protect the surface from any spills) then put the containers on that.
• When the ingredients have been completely melted, turn the burner off and carefully remove the bowl from the hot water. Be so careful not to spill, this is hot! Use pot holders and set the bowl on a towel.
• I let the mixture cool a bit before adding the essential oils. I really don’t know if you have to do this but I do, I think I am getting a better sense of what my mix of essential oils will smell like when it's a bit cooler.
• Add the essential oils and stir well then pour in the containers and wait for them to harden before you start using it and giving it to friends and family.

Notes:

1. I always start with the least amount of beeswax. When all ingredients are melted, I take some of the mixture and put it on wax paper to cool to see what the consistency is like. From there if I want, I'll add in more beeswax. Let it melt and test again.
2. If using glass containers, let the oil cool enough so as not to crack the glass.
3. It will take 2 to 3 hours before it's hardened. Start with just a little bit so you know what it will be like on your skin.

Making Homemade CBD Oil

If your goal is to make a homemade CBD Oil, when you go to make your purchase at a dispensary, ask for something that is a high CBD strain. If you live in a state where you cannot legally purchase cannabis, look into a place where you can buy Hemp flower which is legal for purchase.

You can read more on Hemp and the Farm Bill below:

Industrial Hemp - National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Brookings - The Farm Bill, hemp legalization and the status of CBD

Making CBD Oil is the same process as infusing bud for salve. The only difference is the strain of flower you are buying.

You will end up with a nice good oil. Just the oil itself can be applied to the skin and taken internally (see the disclaimer at the bottom of the website). If you are concerned about taking it internally, check with your doctor.

How to Take CBD Oil Internally

If taking internally, start with a few drops under the tongue and let it sit about 30 seconds before swallowing.

Now I don't mind the taste but some of you may not like it (but you do get used to it) so you can put a touch of organic honey under the tongue first.

Good luck and have much fun making your products.