# Medical Cannabis and Ethanol Extraction > **Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD (ABFM Board Certified, MA Lic. #240562, NPI: 1962722637) > **Publisher:** CED Clinic (https://cedclinic.com) > **Canonical URL:** https://cedclinic.com/d81-medical-cannabis-and-ethanol-extraction-png/ > **Published:** 2026-09-04T23:06:05-04:00 | **Last Modified / Clinically Audited:** 2026-09-28T10:45:00-04:00 > **Clinical Summary:** Ethanol extraction of cannabis step by step: decarboxylation, ethanol soak, evaporation, homemade versus professional setups, and the safety points. --- [โ† Back to Terpenes Summary Hub](https://cedclinic.com/topic-terpenes/) #### ๐Ÿ” CED Perspective Lens: Medical Cannabis and Ethanol Extraction Dr. Benjamin Caplan, MD **๐ŸŒฑ Clinical Focus:** The ethanol extraction sequence from raw cannabis to concentrated extract, and why processors choose ethanol. **๐Ÿ’ก Clinical Guidance:** Why ethanol, what each step removes or keeps, and where homemade setups fall short of professional ones. **๐Ÿ“– Research & Data:** Process diagram, step by step walkthrough, and references checked against PubMed. Ethanol extraction takes raw cannabis through three steps, decarboxylation, an ethanol soak, and evaporation, to reach a concentrated extract. Ethanol is chosen because it is food safe and pulls out a broad range of cannabinoids and terpenes, and the trade off is that it also pulls out chlorophyll and other compounds that need filtering. From raw cannabis to final product: the ethanol extraction journey. ## From Raw Cannabis to Final Product: The Ethanol Extraction Journey This diagram maps the journey of raw cannabis material through decarboxylation, ethanol extraction, and evaporation, ending in the final product. The step by step layout makes the whole process easier to follow. ### 1. Decarboxylation Raw cannabis must first undergo decarboxylation to activate its key components, such as THC and CBD, by removing the carboxyl group through the application of heat. In the plant these compounds exist mostly as acids (THCA and CBDA), and gentle, even heating converts them to the neutral forms. The CED guide to [the decarboxylation process](https://cedclinic.com/d45-png-the-decarbolyxation-process-for-thc-from-a-chemical-perspective/) covers the chemistry. ### 2. Ethanol extraction Ethanol serves as the chosen solvent because of its polarity, which enables the extraction of a broad spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes. However, it may also pull out undesirable compounds like chlorophyll, which requires further filtration steps. Cold ethanol pulls less chlorophyll than warm ethanol, which is why professional processors often chill the solvent before the soak. ### 3. Evaporation After extraction, the ethanol is evaporated to leave behind the concentrated cannabis extract. The solvent has to be removed thoroughly before the extract is used, and in commercial settings it is recovered for reuse. The CED guide to [falling film evaporation](https://cedclinic.com/d82-medical-cannabis-and-falling-liquid-film-png/) shows one of the higher throughput ways to do this. ## Homemade vs. Professional Setups Homemade versions often use simple equipment such as a rice cooker for evaporation, while professional setups use controlled environments such as rotary evaporators, which improve both yield and purity. The difference is not only equipment: professional processors also control temperature and time at every step and test the result for residual solvent. ## Why Ethanol Ethanol is chosen for its safety, efficiency, and the broad spectrum of compounds it can extract. It is also food safe, which adds a layer of security for medicinal and recreational users alike. A narrative review of medicinal cannabis processing describes ethanol extraction alongside hydrocarbon, carbon dioxide, and solventless methods, and notes that the choice of solvent shapes which compounds end up in the extract (Lazarjani 2021). ### Advantages and disadvantages Ethanol is efficient and relatively non-toxic but may extract unwanted compounds and may require more sophisticated filtration techniques, such as winterization, which chills the extract so waxes and lipids drop out and can be filtered away. ### Homemade recipe consideration For those interested in home ethanol extraction, the recipe involves decarboxylating the raw cannabis in an oven, soaking it in ethanol, and then evaporating the ethanol using a simple heat source. Caution is essential because ethanol is flammable: no open flames, good ventilation, and food grade ethanol only, never denatured or isopropyl alcohol. ## What This Does and Does Not Show The diagram is a schematic of the process sequence. It does not specify temperatures, times, ethanol volumes, or yields, and it does not compare ethanol against other solvents on measured outcomes. It is meant to make the order of operations visible. ## References - [Lazarjani MP, Young O, Kebede L, Seyfoddin A. Processing and extraction methods of medicinal cannabis: a narrative review. Journal of Cannabis Research. 2021;3(1):32.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34281626/) This page is a reconstruction of the original CaplanCannabis.com guide. The book that grew out of that series, The Doctor-Approved Cannabis Handbook, is [available here](https://amzn.to/4a35lhE). ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Why is cannabis decarboxylated before ethanol extraction? Raw cannabis holds THC and CBD mostly as acids, THCA and CBDA. Gentle heating removes the carboxyl group and converts them to the active neutral forms before the ethanol soak. ### Why choose ethanol as the solvent? Ethanol is food safe, efficient, and extracts a broad spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes. The trade off is that it also pulls out chlorophyll and other unwanted compounds that need filtering. ### What is the difference between a homemade and a professional setup? Homemade setups often evaporate the ethanol in a rice cooker; professional setups use rotary evaporators with controlled temperature and time, which improve yield and purity, and test the result for residual solvent. ### What is winterization? A filtration step that chills the extract so waxes and lipids drop out and can be filtered away, which is one way to handle the unwanted compounds ethanol pulls out. ### Is home ethanol extraction safe? Ethanol is flammable, so it calls for no open flames, good ventilation, and food grade ethanol only, never denatured or isopropyl alcohol. [โ† Back to Terpenes Summary Hub](https://cedclinic.com/topic-terpenes/) #### ๐ŸŒ Explore Related CED Clinical Summary Hubs & Research [๐Ÿ˜ด Sleep & Insomnia Hub โ†’](https://cedclinic.com/topic-cannabis-sleep-insomnia/) [๐Ÿงฌ Bioavailability Hub โ†’](https://cedclinic.com/topic-bioavailability-pathway-decisions/) [๐Ÿ’Š Clinical Dosing Hub โ†’](https://cedclinic.com/topic-dosage/) [โšก Pain Control Hub โ†’](https://cedclinic.com/topic-pain-control/) --- ### Verification & Medical Governance - **Lead Clinical Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD - **Credentials:** Board Certified in Family Medicine (ABFM), Former CMO Canna Care Docs (250,000+ patients supervised), Founder & CMO CED Clinic & CED Foundation, Author of *The Doctor-Approved Cannabis Handbook* (Penguin Random House). - **Clinical Scale:** 350,000+ lifetime evaluations overseen; 81,008-patient Real-World Evidence Registry (`~/.ced_rwe_vault.db`); 125,000+ peer-reviewed study literature observatory (`http://localhost:8768/api/explorer/terminal`). - **License Verification:** Commonwealth of Massachusetts License #240562 (https://checkahealthlicense.mass.gov/). - **NPI Registry:** 1962722637 (https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/provider-view/1962722637). - **Ethics & Data Privacy:** Clinical registry observations adhere strictly to HIPAA Safe Harbor de-identification (45 CFR ยง 164.514(b)) and criteria for secondary research exemption under 45 CFR ยง 46.104(d)(4).