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Making Your Own THC or CBD E-Liquid for Vaping

Vaping has quickly grown into one of the most popular methods for consuming cannabis and CBD. Pre-filled cartridges provide convenience, but can be expensive and limiting in strain selection. Luckily, you can easily make your own customized THC or CBD vape juice at home with just a few ingredients.

This guide will walk through the entire process of formulating and making e-liquids for cannabis vape pens and e-cigarettes. Follow along to start enjoying affordable, tailored vaping experiences.

Selecting Cannabis Concentrates

The first step is choosing which type of cannabis extract you want to use as the base for your e-liquid. There are a few common options:

THC Oils

THC oils like Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) or distillate contain activated THC, meaning they will readily absorb into the bloodstream when vaped. Potent and easy to dose.

CBD Oils

CBD oils or isolates are popular for their wide-ranging therapeutic benefits without psychoactive effects. Great for medical uses.

Live Resin

Made via flash freezing fresh cannabis, live resin concentrates offer exceptional terpene content for rich flavor. Requires mixing with liquidizer.

Cannabis Shatter

A brittle, translucent concentrate that breaks ("shatters") when handled. Shatter has high THC levels for recreational vaping.

Hash Rosin

Solventless rosin made from heat and pressure preserves terpenes well. However, it can recrystallize in vape devices.

Consider potency, intended effects, flavor, viscosity, and price when selecting your base cannabis concentrate.

Choosing Dilution Ingredients

Concentrated cannabis extracts are too thick on their own to vape properly in most devices. Diluting them to an appropriate consistency requires adding thinning agents:

Propylene Glycol (PG)

PG is an odorless, tasteless binding agent that produces dense, potent vapor. It can cause allergic reactions in some users.

Vegetable Glycerin (VG)

VG provides smooth hits and carries flavor well. But it produces less vapor compared to PG and can make blends too viscous.

MCT Oil

Derived from coconuts, MCT oil gives a clean taste and cannabinoid potency boost. Too much can clog atomizers over time.

Terpenes

Natural cannabis terpenes or flavors like pine, pepper, citrus thin viscosity while complementing effects and taste.

Ethanol

Food-grade alcohol enhances flavor solubility and shelf-life. But too much can irritate throat tissue when vaping.

There are also proprietary cannabis liquidizer blends to consider. Get small sample sizes to test which thinners you prefer.

Calculating Ratios

When making THC or CBD vape juice, you want to achieve the optimal ratio between cannabis concentrate and thinning agents. Here are some starting points:

THC oil: Use a 1:1 to 1:4 concentrate to diluent ratio. This provides 10-25% THC for a moderate strength vape.
CBD isolate: Aim for 15-30% CBD which requires 1:3 to 1:5 CBD to diluent ratios. Lower strength for sublingual use.
Shatter/rosin: 1:2 concentrate to liquidizer ratio works well. The extracts are thick and terpy.
Live resin: Use up to 1:5 resin to liquidizer ratio for stable viscosity and terpene retention.

Always start on the lower dilution end and test concentrations. Increase thinness as needed. Track ratios carefully using a scale.

Step-By-Step Mixing Process

Once you have your ingredients and target ratios, it's time to combine into vape-ready e-liquid:

1. Measure out target amounts of cannabis concentrate and diluents using a jeweler's scale for precision.

2. Combine concentrates and thinning agents in a small glass jar or liquid mixing bottle. Glass prevents plastic leaching.

3. Apply gentle heat either in a water bath or using a heating pad. This lowers viscosity for easier blending.

4. Mix slowly to fully incorporate. Consider using a thin stirring stick or laboratory magnetic stirrer for at least 5 minutes.

5. Check consistency and test a small amount in your vape pen. If too thick, add more diluent. Too thin, add more concentrate.

6. Store in a cool, dark place and avoid temperature extremes. Blends typically last 1-2 months before remixing.

Follow safety precautions like ventilated workspace, goggles, gloves when making e-liquids to avoid risks. Take care when handling concentrates and diluents.

Flavoring Options

Unflavored cannabis e-liquids provide pure flavor for cannabis purists. But you can also enhance blends with tasty terpenes or e-juice flavors:

Cannabis-derived terpenes - Match the strain's profile or recreate flavors like Pineapple Express, Gelato, Sour Diesel, etc.
Botanical terpenes - Natural limonene, linalool, pinene are smoother than artificial flavors.
Vape juice flavors - Pre-mixed options like cinnamon, vanilla, mint, mango, tobacco, etc. Add dropwise to avoid muting cannabis.
Essential oils - Oils from real fruit peels, herbs, spices impart natural flavor when carefully diluted.

Shake vigorously after adding any flavorings to fully mix throughout the solution.

Vaping Your Handcrafted E-Liquid

Once properly mixed, your homemade THC or CBD e-juice is ready to be vaped! Follow these tips for best results:

Use optimized cartridges and vape pens designed for thick cannabis oil rather than e-juice vapes.
Start with small puffs to gauge potency, especially if using higher THC concentrates.
Expect thicker vapor production and viscosity compared to pre-fills cut with additives.
Clean vape cartridges between fills to prevent leftover concentrate buildup.
Store e-liquid upright when not in use to prevent leaking from air bubble expansion.
Avoid chain vaping extended sessions to prevent burning coils or concentrating nicotine.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the shelf life of homemade cannabis e-liquid?

Properly stored e-liquid can last 1-2 months before remixing is needed. Keep in cool, dark place and avoid temperature swings.

Can I vape homemade blends in any device?

For best results, use vape pens and cartridges designed for cannabis oil, not just e-juice. Match viscosity.

Is vaping homemade cannabis e-liquid legal?

Legality depends on your state laws. Most allow private cannabis consumption but not sales without a license. Research regulations.

What ratio for max potency THC vape juice?

For highest THC strength, use concentrates up to 80-90% THC and minimal dilution of 1:4 concentrate to liquidizer.

Why add non-cannabis thinner ingredients?

Pure cannabis oil is too thick for vape devices. Adding PG, VG, or terpenes lowers viscosity so it can be vaped.

Can I make my own vape cartridges and coils?

Premade cartridges with coils are recommended for ease and safety. But DIY options exist for more customization. For more information, you can check online resources such as cannabis and CBD business directory.

How long does homemade e-liquid last in pens?

Properly stored, pre-filled cartridges can last about 1 month before flavor and potency degrade.

What’s the best flavor additive?

Botanical or cannabis-derived terpenes give the most authentic flavor. Avoid artificial mixes that can mute the strain's profile.

Conclusion

Now you can finally vape your own customized cannabis blends! Adjust concentrations, terpene profiles, and flavors to find your perfect THC or CBD vaping experience. You can find more vaping products from online vape directory or other resources.

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