When you think of cannabis, it’s likely that your first thoughts are of smoking a joint, and for a while, that was the most popular method of consumption.

Now that recreational cannabis is legal, however, Canadian retailers are selling a wide range of products, including cannabis oils.

What are Cannabis Oils?

Cannabis oil is made of cannabis plants extracts that have been dissolved in a base oil, usually olive or coconut oil, to create a liquid. Some contain more of the cannabis compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which produces the “high” associated with marijuana, and others contain more cannabidiol (CBD), which balances the psychoactive effects of THC with a general sense of wellness and calm.

Why Choose Cannabis Oil?

Many Canadians prefer consuming cannabis oils over smoking the dried flower. For one, it’s much easier to get a specific THC:CBD ratio. With dried buds, each strain has a different mix of compounds and often contain very little CBD, making it harder to control what type of effects you get from the cannabis. Cannabis oil producers, however, can manipulate the compounds to create a particular ratio of TBD to CBD, meaning you’ll have a better idea of what your experience will be like.

Secondly, consuming cannabis oil is cleaner than smoking as it doesn’t release any toxins or carcinogens into the air or your body.

Another positive aspect of oils over dried flowers is its convenience and subtlety. You don’t need any special equipment and the oils are packaged in small bottles. Cannabis oils can be consumed in many different easy and discreet ways.

How Do You Consume Cannabis Oils?

There are number of ways to consume cannabis oil. The simplest is with the dropper that is included with most oils on the market. You can use the dropper to gently place the liquid over or under your tongue.

Another popular way to consume cannabis oil is to eat or drink it. One way to do this is by infusing cooking oil or butter with cannabis oil and then cooking with it. A less-effort way is to drop the oil directly into your food or drinks. This is our favourite way to consume cannabis oil, and we even make coffee blends designed specifically to infuse with the oil of your choice.

Related: How to Make Weed Coffee: The CBD-Infusion Process

How Much Oil Should I Use?

Everyone has different body chemistry and therefore different ideal doses. In general, as oils are a concentrated version of the bud, it’s best to start with a low dose and increase the dose slowly until you reach your intended result. One milliliter (mL) is generally considered one dose, but it’s okay to start with less.

When Will I Feel the Effects and for How Long?

Your body processes ingested and inhaled cannabis differently. Namely, you’ll feel the effects of inhaling cannabis within a few minutes and the effect will last about two hours. It can take up to two hours to feel the effects of ingesting cannabis, but the effect might last as long as six hours.

If you’ve gotten your hands on some cannabis oil and you’re looking for a perfect coffee to infuse it with, check out our selection of gourmet coffee blends that are made to be fusible with the tastes and energy of specific weed strains.