The Best Way to Make Weed Edibles at Home

How to Make Weed Edibles

Prepare Your Cannabis Flower. Lay parchment paper onto a baking sheet. Grind up your flower to a fine grind and evenly sprinkle .25 ounces (7.1 g) to .50 ounces (14 g) (depending on the desired potency) onto the sheet. Things You’ll Need: Cannabis flower, grinder, baking sheet, parchment paper. Cannabis flower featuring indica, sativa, or ones that are Indica-dominant are the best choice for those not experienced in consuming weed edibles. CBD-infused varieties with a ratio of 1:1 CBD:THC up to 3:1 CBD:THC or higher offer a more relaxing, less anxiety-inducing high.

Decarboxylate Your Ground Flower. Place the baking sheet with ground cannabis flower into a heated oven set to between 220 °F (104 °C) to 240 °F (116 °C). Bake the flower for 25 to 25 minutes. Be sure to check that it doesn’t overcook or appear too brown. Decarboxylation describes the process of using heat to activate the THC in cannabis.

Make Your Cannabutter. Over low heat, melt the butter, along with 1 cup (240 mL) of water. Once the butter is melted, add the decarboxylated flower to the pot and combine. Let the mixture simmer for 2-3 hours while stirring regularly so the flower doesn’t burn. Don’t allow the flower to sink to the bottom of the pot, which will cause it to burn. Keep the heat on a low setting, so the mixture doesn’t boil. Double Boiler Method: Simmer 1 cup (240 mL) of water in a large pot and add 1 cup (240 mL) of butter and your decarboxylated cannabis to a glass or metal bowl set as a double-boiler on top of the pot. Simmer on low heat for 3 hours while making sure the water doesn’t evaporate. Crockpot method: Add the decarboxylated cannabis, 1 cup (240 mL) of water, and 1 cup (240 mL) of butter to a crockpot or slow cooker.. Allow the cannabutter to cook at 150 °F (66 °C) for 3 hours.

Strain and store the cannabutter. After 30 minutes of cooling time, place a fine mesh strainer (or multiple layers of cheesecloth) over a storage container. Secure it with a rubber band to prevent movement. Pour the cannabutter through the strainer slowly so it has time to seep into the container. Seal your storage container and refrigerate it for a few hours so it can firm up. Things You’ll Need: Decarboxylated cannabis flower, 1 cup (240 mL) butter, saucepan, mesh strainer (or cheesecloth), storage container. Don’t press on the strainer or squeeze the cheesecloth to remove leftover liquid. It can end up releasing bitter tannins and chlorophyll which affects the flavor of your cannabutter.

Prepare Your Weed Edibles. Use a 1:1 ratio when replacing the butter in a recipe with cannabutter. If you’re concerned about making your weed edibles too strong, adjust your ratio with less cannabutter mixed with regular butter.

Make Weed Edibles Without Cannabutter

Cannabis Tinctures Grind and decarboxylate the cannabis flower as you would to make cannabutter. Once cooled, place the flower into an 8 ounces (230 g) mason jar and pour in high-proof alcohol (like vodka) so it reaches 1 inch (2.5 cm) above the level of the cannabis. Secure it tightly and leave it in a dark space (like a closet) for 4 to 6 weeks. Shake the mixture daily so the ingredients don’t stay separated for too long; strain it through a fine mesh strainer into a dropper bottle and add to your edibles (or make marijuana tea). You can also ingest cannabis oil sublingually, or take the desired dose under the tongue. When taken sublingually, let the liquid remain beneath the tongue for at least 1 minute. Swish the mixture before swallowing so membranes found in the cheeks and the tongue can absorb it. Effects usually begin within approximately 30 minutes and can last for up to 3 hours. A more complicated and expensive option is to diffuse edibles using a cannabis infusion machine, which extracts certain compounds from cannabis and infuses them into various ingredients, like butters and oils; some cannabis infusion machines can also decarboxylate the cannabis flower.

Dosing Guidelines When Making Weed Edibles

Beginners should start with a lose dose. Aim for 1 milligram (0.0010 g) to 5 milligrams (0.0050 g) of THC per serving. It’s a good place to start to feel the desired effect. The majority of edibles contain between 5 milligrams (0.0050 g) to 10 milligrams (0.010 g) of THC per serving.

The average dose varies due to specific factors. Daily doses can range from 30 milligrams (0.030 g) to 100 milligrams (0.10 g) a day. This amount varies according to the individual, their health conditions, and whether the cannabis use is for medical or recreational purposes. Factors that may affect how much cannabis you consume include the type and method of ingestion you use (flower, vape cartridge, edibles), how often you use it, and your level of tolerance. Use an online dosage calculator to figure out how much THC and/or CBD is going into the weed edibles you make.

How to Store Weed Edibles

Chocolates Wrap leftover chocolate in foil and store it in a cool, dark place. Edibles containing dark chocolate have a shelf life of up to a year, while those made with milk and white chocolate last between 8 and 10 months. You can also refrigerate or freeze the chocolate edibles for an additional 2-4 months; it will develop a “sugar bloom,” or white film caused by refrigerator moisture, but is safe to consume. Keep chocolate edibles in an airtight container to prevent other smells from the fridge or freezer from seeping in.

Baked Goods The shelf life of baked goods made with weed depends on the type of product it is (marijuana brownies vs. cookies). Most baked goods last a few days in the pantry, 1 or 2 weeks in the fridge, and a few months in the freezer. Keep the baked goods in an airtight container to keep them fresh and free from outside smells. Muffins: 3 days in the pantry, 1 week in the fridge, 2 months in the freezer. Cakes: 4 days in the pantry, 1 week in the fridge, 3 months in the freezer. Brownies: 2 weeks in the pantry, 1 month in the fridge, 3 months in the freezer. Breads: 4 days in the pantry, 2 weeks in the fridge, 3 months in the freezer.

Gummies and Candies Soft weed gummies and candies last for 6-9 months in a cool, dry place, because sugar acts as a natural preservative. Hard candies can last up to a year. Make sure to individually wrap anything sticky, like caramels, to prevent candies from sticking together.

Troubleshooting When Making Weed Edibles

Using Too Much Cannabis You can end up wasting the cannabis flower if you use too much when making cannabutter or cannabis oil. Use the 1:1 ratio instead; this means 1 cup (240 mL) of cannabis to 1 cup (240 mL) of butter or oil. 1 cup (240 mL) of ground cannabis equals about 7 grams, so plan accordingly before you start.

Over-Grinding Cannabis Grinding your cannabis flower can result in a strong, grassy flavor. A hand grinder is a good option, whenever possible. If using a coffee or spice grinder, make sure your cannabis flower has the consistency of a coarse salt once ground.

Overstirring Cannabutter While Cooking Not stirring marijuana butter regularly while cooking can cause a very uneven distribution of weed (and potency). This means, you may not feel any effect after eating a few pieces, while someone else feels an extremely potent effect. Stir your cannabutter batter regularly throughout cooking, so the cannabinoids are distributed evenly throughout.

Not Straining Cannabutter Correctly It’s tempting to want to press down on the cannabutter mixture when using a strainer or squeeze the cheesecloth during the straining process. Doing either causes plant matter to seep into the final mixture, which produces a bitter flavor you won’t enjoy in the final product. Allow the mixture to pass through the sieve or cloth naturally instead.

Adding Too Much/Too Little Cannabutter or Oil If you’re unsure of the effects, start small by adding .25 teaspoons (1.2 mL) to .50 teaspoons (2.5 mL) of cannabis-infused oil to your food. When using cannabutter, replace only part of the butter in the original recipe with cannabutter and continue to use regular butter for the remainder. Slowly increase the amount you use when making weed edibles until you reach the desired effect.

Cooking Edibles Using High Heat When you bake your weed edibles in the oven using cannabutter, keep the temperature under 400 °F (204 °C). Baking edibles at a higher temperature can result in the THC breaking down, which can burn the edible you’re baking. Keep the oven temperature under 375 °F (191 °C) when using cannabis oil; don’t use cannabis oil when you’re frying or sauteeing food.

Making Weed Edibles FAQs

Does making edibles smell? When you make weed edibles, it does produce a weed-like smell while baking. The strongest weed smell you’ll notice occurs when you make your own cannabutter or cannabis oil. When baking weed edibles, don’t overcrowd the oven. By baking less at a time, you can slightly reduce the scent of weed the edibles will create.

Can you use fresh weed to make edibles? It’s not advisable to use raw cannabis flowers when making cannabutter or cannabis oil for weed edibles. Always begin by grinding and decarboxylating the cannabis flower beforehand. This process allows your body to absorb the cannabinoids in the weed, so you can feel the effects more directly.

Are making your own edibles worth it? While dosing can sometimes be challenging, making your own edibles with cannabutter or cannabis oil is a cheaper way to enjoy weed edibles. It also makes it possible for you to add weed to different kinds of recipes, from sweet baked goods and gummies to savory meals and condiments. If you follow a specialized diet (ex. vegan), you can ensure your edibles don’t include anything you don’t want them to.

How long do edibles take to kick in? Depending on the potency, edibles can last anywhere from 4-12 hours on average. Some edibles can even last up to 24 hours. The variation in time depends on certain factors, like the type of edible (baked good vs. gummy), the absorption method, and whether your stomach is full or empty. Your personal tolerance also comes into play in connection with how quickly you notice the effect of edibles.

Why are edibles so much longer than smoking weed? Smoking cannabis means you’re orally ingesting Delta-9-THC into your bloodstream. When you consume cannabis in an edible, the THC breaks down in your stomach, where it transforms into 11-Hydroxy-THC, a more potent version of THC that lasts longer. Keep this in mind when you’re consuming weed edibles and have early plans the next day.