Problem with Potency

Dazanion

Member
I am having a problem with potency it seems. I am 50 and have been smoking since around 23. I have a very high tolerance. I recently started making my own canaoil. I first did butter but found I lost too much in the cooking process. So I switched to Coconut Oil where I lose none. Ok here is the issue, I am finding that I need to eat like 4-6 cookies to get even a mild high. I use the cookies to get through dialysis, I like to sleep, and lately, the last 3 batches or so, have been really weak, not lasting the 4 hours of dialysis - 6 cookies!

To make my oil, I used a crock pot. I use 1 Oz of weed, last used was Birthday Cake, I also used Diesel. I break it up and Decarboxify it for 40 minutes at 245 degrees F, shaking every 10 minutes so expose more weed. then lightly grind it and add to the already heated to 200 degree F oil in the crockpot. I then add a small amount of Lecithin to aid in the emulsification, I am using about 20 fluid ounces of oil and letting it cook for about 6 hours, I stir maybe every 25 minutes or so and maintain 195-200 degrees F all the way though cooking.

I am following the videos and tutorials I watched and read exactly, I maintain temperature precisely, I am using the correct substitutions or oil and butter in recipes, and use the called for amount in packaged cookie packages. So what am I doing wrong? I used to buy off my cousin, and hers were 1 or 2 cookie wonders, but she is pissed with me for making my own and wont tell me what I might be doing wrong, or how she does it. I feel like I am wasting money. I had issues with potency with butter, but not like this. The butter was more potent than the oil imo, but as I said, I lose 1 stick in 4 - I do butter the same way as oil, just no lecithin and only for 3 hours in crockpot.

PS: I cannot smoke or vape as I have COPD and need to ingest.
 

BobThe420Builder

Well-Known Member
I usually use 2/1 gr of weed/ oz of oil

Do I'd say , for your tolerance, yours is too week

If you do 30gr of buds, I'm assuming buds, I'd do like 10oz of oil, and try that

Take what u made already and add like 15gr of weed to it, see how that works

Also try running your oil longer or multiple times

I use an instant pot, and run my oil 3x at 2hrs per run, it also decarbs the weed in the IP, maybe get one, they are amazing
 

lokie

Well-Known Member
My wife makes a mix like you describe using 8 oz of coconut oil and they are 1 cookie wonders. 1 and lights out 2 hours later.

Maybe try cutting back on the oil, forcing a more concentrated product.
Pleased animated emoticon
 

Dazanion

Member
I usually use 2/1 gr of weed/ oz of oil

Do I'd say , for your tolerance, yours is too week

If you do 30gr of buds, I'm assuming buds, I'd do like 10oz of oil, and try that

Take what u made already and add like 15gr of weed to it, see how that works

Also try running your oil longer or multiple times

I use an instant pot, and run my oil 3x at 2hrs per run, it also decarbs the weed in the IP, maybe get one, they are amazing
So you use a pressure cooker? A quick google search for Instapot came up with a few options, I can get one of those tomorrow, I have never used one however, what settings do you use? I cant see a temperature setting on the ones I looked at, just pressure level/adjust.

I will certainly reduce the amount of oil that I use and see if that helps. That, on top of using a new cooker and doing it multiple times. I'll be the King of Oil in no time :)

Thankyou for your prompt and very helpful reply.
 

Dazanion

Member
My wife makes a mix like you describe using 8 oz of coconut oil and they are 1 cookie wonders. 1 and lights out 2 hours later.

Maybe try cutting back on the oil, forcing a more concentrated product.
Pleased animated emoticon
Thankyou lokie :) I am going to cut the oil down to 10oz and slightly change my method as described above.

Do you think Lecithin is really needed to add?
 

BobThe420Builder

Well-Known Member
I use high pressure setting for 2hrs, let it naturally release it's pressure, let cool, do it again 2more times
Most at high pressure run around 230-245f, so will decarb as well

Use the little rack it comes with. Add like a cup of water for each run
I use an aluminum bowl, but any oven safe will work.
Loosely cover with aluminum foil to keep water from getting inside

I usually use an imursion blender to get my weed really ground up prior to making oil
 

Dazanion

Member
I use high pressure setting for 2hrs, let it naturally release it's pressure, let cool, do it again 2more times
Most at high pressure run around 230-245f, so will decarb as well

Use the little rack it comes with. Add like a cup of water for each run
I use an aluminum bowl, but any oven safe will work.
Loosely cover with aluminum foil to keep water from getting inside

I usually use an imursion blender to get my weed really ground up prior to making oil
Ok, so I just put the weed in the oil with no decarb, got it.

But a blender? Isnt that too fine? What do you use to strain? I use cheese cloth.
 

BobThe420Builder

Well-Known Member
I don't strain

A friend is positive the chunkies help adding to the potency over time

I'll strain some if making capsules, otherwise I don't strain it at all

Fine grind is better in my opinion, I try and do it so I don't loose and trics in the process
 

lokie

Well-Known Member
Thankyou lokie :) I am going to cut the oil down to 10oz and slightly change my method as described above.

Do you think Lecithin is really needed to add?
We have made oils both ways. At first no lecithin. The product was good.
After more reading to try and maximize the yield lecithin was added.

After several batches whit out and several with, I do not personally experience any difference either way.
No animated emoticon


The strength may play a role. If I understand correctly the lecithin helps in absorption.

The stronger the oil the the more THC available for absorption thus lecithin becomes less necessary.
I don't know animated emoticon
 

Hobbes

Well-Known Member
.

Danzanion have you considered trying a Magical Butter Machine for your coconut oil?

We use one to make oil for arthritis pain and sleep, the more potent you want it just add some more bud.

I use 50 grams of bud to 800 ML of coconut oil and it makes a nice potent oil. Not so potent that you feel hungover the next day but potent enough to put you to sleep.

I second the vote for lecithin.

.
 
Last edited:

Nizza

Well-Known Member
I like using my ardent nova to get a perfect decarb every time
then I follow up with the magic butter machine cause I'm lazy!
 

SoCal65

Member
Your Birthday cake should be 24% THC. That means you have 240 mg of THC per gram of bud. One ounce is 28 grams. So, 240 X 28 = 6,720 mg of THC potential per ounce of flower. I figure a 20% loss in the infusion process (If you had an Ardent Nova or FX, they claim only 10% loss with certain oils). With a 20% loss you now are left with 5,376 mg of THC. If you cut that into 20 fl oz, then you have 269mg of THC per ounce of oil. Divide that by 28 ml per oz of oil, and you have a concentration of 9.6 mg of THC per ml of oil. If you have a high tolerance for THC, then you probably need at least 50mg of THC for a decent dose. That means you would have to add 5.2 ml of oil per cookie in your recipe. If your recipe made 16 cookies, then you would need 83 ml of oil -or- almost 3 fl oz of oil in that recipe. I doubt your recipe calls for that much oil.

Conclusion, your oil-to-bud ratio is too low.
Here's another way to look at the math:

If your cannabis has a 20% THC count
  • 20% = 20.0
  • Move the decimal place one place to the right
  • 20.0 = 200
  • 200 mg THC per gram of flower
If you had 8 grams of 20% THC decarbed flower, then it had a potential of 1,600mg of THC. Take out 10% loss due to inefficiency in your infusion, you are left with 1,440mg THC. Infuse that into 2 oz of avocado oil, (Which is 56ml) then you have around 25.7mg of THC per 1ml of oil. For me, that dose is about right to get a nice body high, or a sleep-aid. So I end up with 56 sessions out of 8 grams of flower.
 

Gdub51

Well-Known Member
I am having a problem with potency it seems. I am 50 and have been smoking since around 23. I have a very high tolerance. I recently started making my own canaoil. I first did butter but found I lost too much in the cooking process. So I switched to Coconut Oil where I lose none. Ok here is the issue, I am finding that I need to eat like 4-6 cookies to get even a mild high. I use the cookies to get through dialysis, I like to sleep, and lately, the last 3 batches or so, have been really weak, not lasting the 4 hours of dialysis - 6 cookies!

To make my oil, I used a crock pot. I use 1 Oz of weed, last used was Birthday Cake, I also used Diesel. I break it up and Decarboxify it for 40 minutes at 245 degrees F, shaking every 10 minutes so expose more weed. then lightly grind it and add to the already heated to 200 degree F oil in the crockpot. I then add a small amount of Lecithin to aid in the emulsification, I am using about 20 fluid ounces of oil and letting it cook for about 6 hours, I stir maybe every 25 minutes or so and maintain 195-200 degrees F all the way though cooking.

I am following the videos and tutorials I watched and read exactly, I maintain temperature precisely, I am using the correct substitutions or oil and butter in recipes, and use the called for amount in packaged cookie packages. So what am I doing wrong? I used to buy off my cousin, and hers were 1 or 2 cookie wonders, but she is pissed with me for making my own and wont tell me what I might be doing wrong, or how she does it. I feel like I am wasting money. I had issues with potency with butter, but not like this. The butter was more potent than the oil imo, but as I said, I lose 1 stick in 4 - I do butter the same way as oil, just no lecithin and only for 3 hours in crockpot.

PS: I cannot smoke or vape as I have COPD and need to ingest.
I'm 69, using cannabis since 1968. I need it for Ankylosing Spondylitis and also have a high tolerance. I've just discovered dry ice hash and have found it to be the most efficient while also being the most potent and useable concentrate for cooking with. My only other suggestion is to try MCT oil. It's a refined coconut oil that's a better carrier and lower in calories. There are many videos to show you how to make the hash. My technique uses an automotive orbital polisher placed under the bucket to provide superior vibration with vortex generation. But just shaking by hand works fine. I suggest the 160 size bag for a good yield. Break up the ice into marble to ice cube size pieces. You can retrieve the ice for another run using a noodle scoop to gather up the ice while letting the herb drop thru. Good Luck, good relief and stay safe!
 

Gdub51

Well-Known Member
Your Birthday cake should be 24% THC. That means you have 240 mg of THC per gram of bud. One ounce is 28 grams. So, 240 X 28 = 6,720 mg of THC potential per ounce of flower. I figure a 20% loss in the infusion process (If you had an Ardent Nova or FX, they claim only 10% loss with certain oils). With a 20% loss you now are left with 5,376 mg of THC. If you cut that into 20 fl oz, then you have 269mg of THC per ounce of oil. Divide that by 28 ml per oz of oil, and you have a concentration of 9.6 mg of THC per ml of oil. If you have a high tolerance for THC, then you probably need at least 50mg of THC for a decent dose. That means you would have to add 5.2 ml of oil per cookie in your recipe. If your recipe made 16 cookies, then you would need 83 ml of oil -or- almost 3 fl oz of oil in that recipe. I doubt your recipe calls for that much oil.

Conclusion, your oil-to-bud ratio is too low.
Here's another way to look at the math:

If your cannabis has a 20% THC count
  • 20% = 20.0
  • Move the decimal place one place to the right
  • 20.0 = 200
  • 200 mg THC per gram of flower
If you had 8 grams of 20% THC decarbed flower, then it had a potential of 1,600mg of THC. Take out 10% loss due to inefficiency in your infusion, you are left with 1,440mg THC. Infuse that into 2 oz of avocado oil, (Which is 56ml) then you have around 25.7mg of THC per 1ml of oil. For me, that dose is about right to get a nice body high, or a sleep-aid. So I end up with 56 sessions out of 8 grams of flower.
I don't think any recipes that use only infused oil will do much for any high tolerance individual like me. Tinctures and Dry Ice Hash can be added to most recipe's at the amount you want so you are in command of your dose not how much cannabinoids your oil can hold. Any you don't have to buy top shelf. I grow my own but if I didn't I'd buy the trim from the local pro grower and use it to make the hash for my edibles, never buying flower again. FAR MORE COST EFFIECIENT
 

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