How to Extract Oil From Hemp

Hemp oil is produced from the seeds of a variety of Cannabis sativa, the same plant that produces the herbal drug marijuana. Hemps seeds, however, contain none of the intoxicating chemical tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, that marijuana possesses. Hemp seed oil can be used as an edible oil in cooking and food items, in personal care products such as soaps, shampoos and cosmetics and as a drying oil in paints, sealants, lubricants and other commercial products. With a small home-based press, you can extract hemp oil from seeds.

Hemp seeds

Oil press

Large plastic container

Small plastic container

Glass jar with lid

Obtain dry, fresh hemp seeds. Clean the seed thoroughly to remove any sticks, rocks, leaves or other debris.

Place the small container under the press to catch the expressed oil. Position another larger container to catch the pressed seeds at the end of the press.

Measure out enough hemp seeds to fill the seed hopper about 2/3 full. Crank the handle of the oil press or turn on the motor that operates the press.

Press the hemp seeds down, occasionally, to keep them feeding into the oil press properly. Check the oil container. As it fills up, remove the container and pour the oil into a large glass jar. Continue feeding seeds into the hopper until all the seeds are pressed. Empty any oil remaining in the container into the bottle.

Place a lid on the glass jar that holds the finished hemp oil. Put the jar in a warm, dark location to let the oil to separate from any water or other matter extracted during the pressing. Pour off the oil on the following day.