Quote Originally Posted by bigsby
Hey GG,

The video mentions a number of different base solvents for extracting. I know that some use isopropyl but I've also read that isopropyl leaves trace elements of known carcinogens. Can you comment on different solvents that can be used with pros vs. cons?
I am no expert when it comes to the solvents. I made my decision on what solvent to use just on basic common sense. I felt that the 99% isoporpyl was by far the safest solvent. It is used in hospitals to swab your skin before getting a shot. It is considered safe for sterilization (even for cleaning your bong or pipe). I haven't heard of anyone concerned with the 99% isopropyl being toxic for sterilization. I purchased my 99% isopropyl alcohol at my local Meijer, I had to ask for it at the pharmacy because it was not on the shelf.

Pros & cons, in my opinion, 99% Isopropyl on the down side extracts some chlorophyll, but on the good side in my opinion is much safer. Naphtha on the down side, well it is used as an engine degreaser, in my opinion, it is more dangerous than 99% isopropyl on the good side for naphtha, it might not extract the chlorophyll but I am not for certain on that.

The chlorophyll leaves a bad taste when ingesting, smoking or vaping, and makes the oil dark, and if you ingest too much chlorophyll, you can get chlorophyll poisoning (diarrhea, vomiting, etc.). You are not going to get chlorophyll poisoning if you use quality buds and make the oil properly in my opinion. What is more concerning is the product you use. For example, say you use 4 pounds of leaves and stems, and you have to consume a much larger amount of oil because it is not that potent, then you are consuming large amounts of chlorophyll. When the oil is made right, it is very safe when it comes to the chlorophyll or using 99% isopropyl. What is really more important is how the buds were grown. Were chemical fertilizers or pesticides used? This is far more important because no matter what solvent is used those chemicals could also be extracted and end up in the finished product. That is why I grow only 100% organic in soil and I do not use any pesticides. I always recommend to anybody and everybody to make the oil yourself, because that is the only way you will really know what you are getting. I hear all the time of oil being at the dispensaries and such. So much of that is fake, low grade, diluted, infused with other oils, etc. In my opinion, those oils are not of full medicinal quality. When it comes to cancer and such, having the real high quality clean oil is most important.

With using the 99% isopropyl, there are ways of reducing the amount of chlorophyll extracted. One example is, if your buds were dry and frozen and the 99% isopropyl was also kept in the freezer, you can do two quick 5 minute washes. From what I understand, since the bud and 99% isopropyl are at below freezing temperatures the THC is more easily removed and the chlorophyll is more difficult to remove and the oil should come out a more golden color.

I have seen many debates about which solvent is best. If you drink too much water you can die from water poisoning. It is not so much which solvent, it is all about the product (the cannabis) and being certain to evaporate out the remaining solvent (as shown in the video finishing off on the coffee cup warmer) it is important to bubble out the remaining solvent with a coffee cup warmer, it can take up to 12 hours.

When using any other solvents that may have a small percentage of water, it can extract a percentage of the red oil out of cannabis. The red oil is water soluble and I have not heard any studies being done with the red oil. So I am not sure of its qualities good or bad. I do know that the 99% isopropyl does not extract it.

This picture is of red oil that I extracted after initially washing with the 99% isopropyl. After the remaining cannabis dried I then soaked it in water, filtered, and cooked down to extract the red oil, just out of curiosity. One example of the red oil is that the aroma of the cannabis was in the red oil. I think some studies need to be done on the red oil to see if there are any medicinal values in it. The red oil in the pictures have no THC. I made it for experimental reasons and I discarded it because I do not know if it contained medicinal qualities. I am considering in the future to have a sample tested.
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Here are some pictures of my cannabis soaking in the 99% isopropyl. I chose to do it in quart canning jars so I could shake it up real good and also see what is going on.
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I have a patient that has been ingesting and vaporizing the oil at least three times a day for approximately nine months now and I have had no complaints from him yet. Only complements and positive feedback.