BHO: What is Butane Hash Oil?

January 16, 2017 by Anthony Martinelli

Butane hash oil (BHO) has gained massive popularity in recent years But what is BHO, and is it safe?

Butane hash oil (BHO) is a concentrated form of marijuana. It’s made by pushing liquefied butane through tubes packed with marijuana. This process allows for the cannabinoids to be removed from the marijuana by pumping the butane through the holding container.

What’s left is a mixture of butane and marijuana, which is evaporated to remove the harmful substances. What remains is the waxy concentrate known as BHO.

Although most cannabis strains have a THC percentage somewhere between 10 to 25, the THC in butane hash oil is often 60 to 80%, sometimes higher.

Is BHO Safe to Make?

The process of making BHO has the potential to be extremely dangerous if not done correctly. This is because butane is, quite obviously, highly flammable. Because of this it’s recommended that you avoid trying to make it until you’ve done extensive research; and if possible, watch someone experienced make it before trying it yourself.

If you do decide to make it yourself, use extreme caution and also never underestimate the potential dangers.

Click here for how to make butane hash oil.

Is BHO Safe to Consume?

When purged correctly, butane hash oil is safe to smoke; it’s a favorite among many medical cannabis patients. However, it’s vital that you know where the oil is coming from; if not made correctly, the residual butane can be harmful to the lungs.

Where do I find BHO?

On the black-market butane hash oil is nearly non-existent. In the legal cannabis scene, however, it’s everywhere; and this is true of medical and also recreational outlets. Various types of butane hash oil can be found in dispensaries in states like California and Colorado; it can be found in cannabis retail outlets in states like Washington.

If you living in a state where cannabis is legal; or a state where it’s legal for medical purposes and you’re a patient; simply call the outlets in your area and ask if they have any butane hash oil.

Marijuana Kiefs vs Marijuana Hash: What’s the Difference?

January 9, 2017 by Anthony Martinelli

In the cannabis scene kief and hash are popular ways to enhance the power of a bowl, joint, blunt or edible. But what exactly are they, and how do they differ?

Marijuana kief and marijuana hash both serve a similar purpose, but are obtained/made in entirely different ways.

Marijuana kief:

Kief is the resinous trichomes of cannabis. These trichomes, when bulked together, take on a light powdery consistency; this allows it to easily be added to bowls, joints, blunts and so forth.

The word kief derives from the Arabic word kayf, which fittingly means please or well-being.

When using a grinder with a screen, it will gradually collect at the bottom; eventually there will be enough that it can be collected for use. Cannabis buds can also be sifted to shake the kief off; this allows for large amounts to be collected, and is how cannabis outlets can sell it by the gram.

Click here for a guide on how to collect and use kief.

Marijuana hash:

Hashish, or hash for short, is the concentrated resin collected from cannabis. Given it’s highly concentrated, it tends to high much higher levels of cannabinoids compared to standard cannabis. This adds an extra kick to bowls and joints; this kick has allowed it to maintain a prestige reputation for hundreds of years.

Click here for a few different methods of making hash.

Marijuana oil:

Marijuana oil, although a concentrated form of cannabis like hash, is a different thing altogether. It’s typically made using a much more complex extraction method that typically requires the use of butane or alcohol.

Although making cannabis oil can often be dangerous; meaning you should probably leave it to professionals; when done correctly it packs a massive punch that is unrivaled in the cannabis scene.

Click here for a guide on how to make butane hash cannabis oil (BHO).

How to Make Cannabis Oil

September 28, 2016September 22, 2016 by Anthony Martinelli

By WikiHow.com

Producing your own medical cannabis oil is entirely safe when done correctly. The pure medical cannabis oil has provided relief to men and women suffering several medically diagnosed issues, including epilepsy, cancer, chronic joint pain, and PTSD. Those with a prescription can benefit from the potent pain reliever by applying small amounts of the oil directly to their skin or consuming 1 to 3 drops of the oil per day.

Part 1: Preparing and Equipping Your Workspace

1. Select a workspace. When making your own medical marijuana oil, you need to work in a safe, open environment.

The space should be well ventilated—open all available windows and or use fans to promote air flow.
The space should also be equipped with a fire extinguisher—the alcohol you will be using as a solvent is extremely flammable, as is the oil itself.
If you intend to use a stovetop, the space needs a gas or electric range.
If you intend to use a rice cooker, the space needs electricity.

2. Retrieve the materials. To produce cannabis oil, you need medical marijuana and a solvent.

Procure 1 ounce of medical marijuana. If needed, you may substitute 2 to 3 ounces of medical marijuana trim.
Purchase 1 gallon of high proof alcohol, such as Everclear, to use as a solvent. The high proof alcohol will burn off in the boiling process, leaving you with a very pure and potent medical marijuana oil. Do not use alcohol that is not intended for human consumption, such as rubbing alcohol.

3. Gather your tools. Over the course of this process, you will need a variety of tools. These include:

1 medium sized glass or ceramic mixing bowl. Do not use a plastic mixing bowl.
1 large wooden spoon
A straining device. You may choose from the following: muslin bag, grain steeping bag, clean pair of stockings, cheese cloth, chai tea filter, or coffee filter paired with a mesh strainer.
1 container to catch the liquid, such as a 2-quart mixing cup
1 silicon spatula
1 double boiler (for range) or rice cooker and candle warmer
Plastic oral syringes

4. Consider wearing protective gear. The process of making your own medical marijuana oil can be dangerous.

Safety paint or odor respirator mask
Non-latex gloves.
Oven mitts or hot pads
Safety glasses

Part 2: Extracting THC from the Medical Cannabis with a Solvent

1. Soak the medical cannabis buds in the solvent. Pour the medical marijuana buds into a medium sized glass or ceramic mixing bowl. Pour the high proof alcohol over the medical marijuana. Continue to pour the solvent until it rests 1 inch above the surface of the medical cannabis.

2. Stir the mixture. Retrieve your wooden spoon. Mix and mash the solvent and medical cannabis together for 2 to 3 minutes. The constant stirring motion will aid the solvent in absorbing the THC from the medical marijuana.
3. Strain the solvent-medical cannabis mixture into another container. Retrieve your straining device and second container. Place your straining device within your second container. Carefully pour the mixture through the strainer and let the dark green liquid fill the container.

If you are use a bag or cloth, squeeze the contents of the cloth to get out all of the liquid.
The liquid is a mixture of the alcohol and the extracted resin from the medical cannabis.

4. Soak, mix, and strain the mixture a second time. The first wash will remove approximately 70% to 80% of the resin from the medical cannabis. This second wash will remove the rest of the THC.

Empty the contents of your strainer into the medium sized mixing bowl.
Pour the solvent over the cannabis so that it is fully submerged.
Use the wooden spoon to mix and mash the alcohol-medical cannabis mixture for 2 to 3 minutes.
Place your strainer over the second container, which already contains the dark green liquid from the first wash.
Slowly pour the contents of the mixing bowl in your strainer. Allow all of the dark green liquid to run into the container.
It is not necessary to do a third wash.

Part 3: Removing the Solvent and Storing the Cannabis Oil

1. Boil off the solvent in a double boiler. When it is time to boil off the alcohol, you have one of two options. The first is to use a double boiler and a range. This is a very safe method.

Fill the bottom part of your double boiler with water.
Pour the dark green liquid into the top pan. If you can not fit all of the liquid in the pan, gradually add it as the level drops.
Turn the burner on high and wait for the liquid in the top pot to boil.
Once the liquid in the top pot is bubbling (the alcohol is evaporating), turn off the burner immediately. The heat from the boiling water below will continue to burn off the alcohol.
Allow the contents in the top pan to bubble for 15 to 25 minutes. Occasionally scrape the sides and bottom of the pan with your silicon spatula. If the contents stop bubbling, but still appear runny, turn on the burner to low. Once the contents resume bubbling, turn off the burner.
When the contents become a thick dark green syrup, all of the alcohol has evaporated and all you are left with is the medical cannabis oil. The process is complete.
Remove the top pan from the bottom pan and allow the medical marijuana oil to cool. As it cools, it will continue to thicken.

2. Boil off the solvent in a rice cooker. If you do not have access to a stove top, you may substitute a rice cooker for a double boiler.

Fill your rice cooker ¾ of the way full with your alcohol-oil mix. If you have more of the mixture, you can continue to add it to the rice cooker as the level drops.
Turn the rice cooker on “High” or set it to the “White Rice” setting.
Allow the solvent-oil mixture to boil down.
When the solvent-oil mix is becomes a thick, dark green liquid, put on oven mitts, remove the pan from the rice cooker, and gently swirl the mixture. (When the amount of bubbles rising to the top decreases significantly, it is time to remove the mixture from the rice cooker).
Pour the contents of the rice cooker into a glass or metal dish.
Set the glass or metal dish on a candle warmer. Turn on the candle warmer and allow any remaining CO2 to evaporate from the mixture.
When the contents are no longer bubbling, you may remove the glass or metal dish from the candle warmer. The lack of bubbles signifies that all of the alcohol has evaporated from the medical cannabis oil and the process is complete.

3. Fill syringes with the medical marijuana oil. For ease of use, store the medical marijuana oil in a plastic syringe. Slowly draw the medical cannabis oil into the plastic syringe by pulling on the plunger. If you have more oil than syringes, you may store any excess oil in a glass air-tight container. Keep your syringes and containers in a cool, dark cabinet.

Oklahoma Senate Committee Unanimously Passes Bill to Legalize Medical Cannabis Oil

April 5, 2016 by Anthony Martinelli

A bill (House Bill 2835) to legalize the medical use of low-THC cannabis oil for those with a variety of medical conditions was given unanimous approval today by the the Oklahoma Senate Health and Human Services Committee. The measure was passed last month by the House of Representatives with an 89 to 6 vote.

Under the proposed law those 18 and older who have a qualifying condition and receive a recommendation from a physician would be legally authorized to possess and use cannabis oil that has no more than 0.3% THC. Qualifying conditions include intractable nausea and vomiting, lack of appetite due to conditions such as cancer, and spasticity issues due to Multiple Sclerosis and paraplegia.

Medical Cannabis Bill Given Approval by North Carolina Legislature, Sent to Governor

July 15, 2015July 14, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

House Bill 766, a proposal to allow the medical use of cannabis low-THC cannabis oil for those with seizure disorders, has been given approval by North Carolina’s full legislature, sending it to Governor Pat McCrory for consideration. The measure was passed unanimously in the Senate, 15 to 0, and nearly unanimously in the House, 112 to 2.

Under the proposed law, sponsored by Representative Pat McElraft, those with seizure disorders such as epilepsy who receive a recommendation from a neurologist will be authorized to possess and use cannabis oil that has no more than 0.9% THC.

Medical Cannabis Oil Bill Approved Unanimously by North Carolina Senate

July 3, 2015July 2, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

North Carolina House Bill 766, a proposal to legalize the medical use of cannabis extracts, has been approved unanimously by the state’s full Senate.

The measure was passed with some minor amendments, meaning it will head back to the House of Representatives – which has already passed the bill once – for a final vote. If approved in the House, as expected, it will go to Governor Pat McCrory for consideration.

Under the proposed law, those with seizure disorders who receive a recommendation from a physician will be authorized to possess and use cannabis oil that has no more than 0.9% THC.

Cannabis Oil Bill Passes Oklahoma Legislature

April 28, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

Oklahoma’s full Legislature has passed House Bill 2154, a bill to allow the use of cannabis oil by those with epilepsy who receive a recommendation from a physician. The measure was passed unanimously, 46 to 0, by the state’s Senate, and was approved 85 to 5 by the state’s House of Representatives.

The proposal would authorize university medical centers to produce, dispense and study the medicine, which advocates say can be helpful for a wide range of conditions, especially seizure disorders such as epilepsy.

Idaho Senate Approves Cannabis Extract Bill

March 25, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

Idaho’s full Senate has voted 22 to 12 to approve Senate Bill 1146 a proposal to legalize the possession and use of low-THC cannabis extracts for the treatment of epilepsy. The Senate also voted to approve the use of Epidiolex, a cannabis-based medicine from the makers of Sativex. The vote on the latter proposal, Senate Bill 1156, was unanimous.

Senate Bill 1146 would allow those with epilepsy who receive a recommendation from a physician to possess and use cannabis extracts – such as tinctures and oils – that have low amounts of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), and high amounts of CBD (cannabidiol). Unfortunately no legal method of obtaining the medicine was established.