A Beginner’s Guide on Making Cannabis Products

As cannabis becomes legalized in many states and countries, the industries surrounding it continue to expand. However, as lucrative as running a cannabis business may seem, it is essential to note that it is not a walk in the park. For one, prominent search engines such as Google do not seem to be so eager to let people advertise/promote cannabis products on their sites.

Also, the legal cannabis industry is relatively new, meaning that, unlike other sectors that have existed for decades, there may be a lack of a clear framework on how to do things or run a thriving cannabis industry.

Despite all these throwbacks, the cannabis industry has continued to flourish. In fact, according to projections, the legal marijuana market is expected to be at least $66.3 billion by 2025.

Thinking of joining the cannabis industry and getting a piece of the pie? You need to understand the various cannabis products and what it takes to produce them.

Therefore, whether you are launching a business or using cannabis products, it is imperative to have a thorough awareness of all facets of cannabis and the market. For instance, not all cannabis growers or consumers may be aware of cannabis clones, which are exact genetic replicas of the mother plant. It can be crucial to comprehend the advantages and disadvantages of using clones instead of seeds while growing cannabis plants of the finest quality. As a result, staying educated about the most recent advancements, trends, and popular cannabis products will help to stay up-to-date and make informed decisions in the ever-evolving cannabis industry.

Popular Cannabis Products

As mentioned earlier, the legalization of cannabis has led to the growth of related industries. In this section, we will mention some of the products/cannabis sectors you can venture into.

1.      Gummies

Edibles are the most popular cannabis products in the market today. There are many forms of cannabis edibles, including teas, coffees, and even beers!

According to reports, in 2018, edibles alone reached over $1 billion in sales. They are estimated to be at $4.1 billion by 2022. Gummies are some of the most popular cannabis edibles. In Colorado, the sale of edibles grew by 43% on Valentine’s Day this year compared to last year.

One of the best things about cannabis edibles is that they can easily be made at home by infusing cannabis products such as CBD into teas or brownies!

2.      Cannabis Beauty and Skin Care Products

One of the most widespread chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant (cannabinoids) is CBD. Unlike THC, CBD is not psychoactive and won’t get you high. The passing of the 2018 hemp bill legalized the use of hemp-based CBD in all 50 states. Thanks to this move and the acceptance of CBD globally, the beauty and skincare industry has experienced exponential growth.

CBD has been touted for its many health benefits, such as pain relief. According to research, the compound may also eliminate acne by preventing the excessive secretion of sebum. Popular CBD-infused beauty products are said to help with hydration and pain relief. They are also advertised to have a euphoric, relaxed feeling on the skin.

3.      Cannabis Dog Treats

If you think cannabis products are only for humans, you are wrong. If you are into pets, you can also venture into selling CBD-infused dog treats.

4.      Cannabis Capsules

You don’t want the taste of CBD oil in your mouth? No problem. Cannabis or CBD capsules are available for people who want to avoid raw cannabis oil or edibles.

One of the best things about cannabis capsules is that they are easy to incorporate into your daily routine. This is because they are just like your other regular pills, so you don’t need to make drastic changes regarding your living style.

Most people also prefer cannabis capsules since they are easy to dose. Most cannabis capsules or pills are clearly labeled, indicating the amount of CBD in one pill.

How To Make Cannabis Products

Although these products are different, they follow a similar production process. The first step involves extracting or ‘harvesting’ the cannabinoids from the cannabis plant.

So assuming you are doing everything from scratch on your own, you must decide on what you want to extract and the most suitable extraction technique to use.

As mentioned earlier, the cannabis plant boasts at least 100 cannabinoids. Depending on the intended purpose as well as the legality of the various cannabis compounds, you can extract either CBD, THC, or any other helpful cannabinoid.

Choosing The Extraction Method

There are three standard extraction methods; Ethanol, Hydrocarbon, and CO2.

The CO2 extraction method relies on pressurized carbon dioxide to extract cannabinoids from the cannabis plant.

On the other hand, ethanol extraction uses ethanol as the extraction solvent. The plant matter is soaked in ethanol for a given period. It is then removed, and the solvent is filtered. Ethanol evaporates, leaving behind the desired elements, such as CBD.

The hydrocarbon extraction method uses propane or butane as the extraction solvent. However, it is not as popular as the other two extraction methods because of safety concerns.

Which Is The Best Extraction Method?

The ideal extraction method will depend on your skills, budget, and what you are trying to achieve.

However, ethanol extraction is becoming the most preferred extraction technique, mainly because it is less expensive to set up than CO2. Also, it does not require highly specialized skills like CO2.

The Distillation Process

So far, you have managed to extract the cannabinoids from the plant. However, the obtained compound is still contaminated with some extraction solvent residue and other unwanted elements such as fats, waxes, and lipids.

This is where winterization comes in. This process involves mixing the extract with ethanol and then freezing it for at least 48 hours. At this point, you have an extract free of lipids, fats, waxes, etc.

Still, you need to purify this product further to achieve a high-quality cannabis distillate.

During this process, the extract is heated, steamed, and vacuumed. This helps get rid of other compounds, such as flavonoids and terpenes.

This is a critical stage, for as much as you want to obtain a high-quality cannabis extract, you don’t want to introduce very high temperatures that would potentially damage your product.

Summing Up

As you have seen, there are many cannabis products out there. Before any cannabis product can be made, the desired cannabinoids must be extracted from the plant using the best extraction techniques.

These cannabinoids can then be turned into any of the products we mentioned at the beginning of the article.