Oil (consumable)

A consumable oil is an ingestible cannabis preparation made by dissolving a decarboxylated cannabinoid extract in a food-grade carrier — most often MCT, coconut, olive, sesame, or hemp seed oil — and sold in dropper bottles, syringes, or softgel capsules. The category overlaps substantially with oil-based tinctures; the distinction is largely one of marketing and concentration, with "oils" typically higher-strength and positioned toward medical patients. Construction begins with a CO₂, ethanol, or hydrocarbon extract (distillate, full-spectrum, or RSO-style concentrate), diluted to a labeled milligrams-per-milliliter strength. Common formats include Rick Simpson-style oil syringes, MCT-based dropper oils, and full-spectrum tinctures. Pharmacokinetics follow the oral profile: onset 30–120 minutes, duration 4–8 hours, bioavailability 4–12%. Ingesting cannabinoids with long-chain triglyceride fats may modestly enhance systemic exposure by promoting intestinal lymphatic transport, partially bypassing first-pass hepatic metabolism. This category must be distinguished carefully from cartridge oils (inhalation concentrates) and topical oils (skin-applied products) — labeling on CannabisGlossary treats each separately. → See also: Tincture, RSO, Distillate (Part 3), onset (Part 5). ---