What is Cannabutter?
Cannabis-infused butter, or cannabutter, is one of the simplest and most common ways to make edibles. Butter is an ideal medium for cannabis infusion because it’s delicious, versatile, and THC binds well to fat molecules, which are abundant in butter (as well as oils such as coconut, olive, and vegetable oil).
The infusion process takes a few hours, but it’s easy to do and this guide will show even beginners how to make it.
As with all edibles, start low and go slow: After consuming food made with weed butter, try a small amount first, wait 45-60 minutes for effects to kick in, and have more only if needed.
How is Cannabutter Used to Make Edibles?
Once you infuse butter with cannabis, you can use that weed butter in baked goods, or simply spread it on toast. People commonly use cannabutter to make weed brownies, cookies, and cakes.
You can use all cannabutter in a recipe, half cannabutter and half regular butter, or another ratio to adjust potency.
To properly infuse butter, cannabis must first be decarboxylated. This process converts THCA into THC, activating the plant’s psychoactive potential in your edibles.
Heat is needed for decarboxylation. When you light a joint, heat converts THCA into THC, making it psychoactive. For cannabutter, decarboxylation happens by heating cannabis at a low temperature in an oven before adding it to butter.
Note that homemade edibles are difficult to accurately dose. This guide will offer tips for dosing, but all DIY cannabis cooks should be aware that potency may vary across a batch of edibles.
Cannabutter Recipe
Making cannabutter is simple, requiring only a few ingredients and patience. Keep in mind that butter burns easily, so watch your weed butter carefully.
Materials:
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Oven
- Saucepan, stockpot, double-boiler, or slow cooker
- Mesh strainer or cheesecloth
- Container for cannabutter
- Cannabis grinder (optional)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks)
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup ground cannabis (7-10 grams), decarboxylated
When making cannabutter, a 1:1 ratio of cannabis to butter is recommended. For milder effects, use less cannabis.
Basic Cannabutter Recipe:
- Decarb the Cannabis: Preheat oven to 245ºF. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper and place loosely broken-up cannabis on it. Heat in the oven for 30-40 minutes, stirring every 10-15 minutes. (Older, drier cannabis may require less time.)
- Grind or Break Up the Cannabis: A grinder ensures consistency, but breaking it up by hand works too. Avoid grinding too finely, as small particles can pass through the strainer.
- Melt the Butter: On low heat, melt 1 cup of butter in a saucepan, stockpot, double-boiler, or slow cooker. Add 1 cup of water to help regulate temperature and prevent scorching.
- Add the Cannabis: Stir in the decarbed cannabis once the butter has melted.
- Simmer: Keep the mixture on low heat (160-200ºF) for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally. Do not exceed 200ºF, or cannabinoids may degrade.
- Strain the Mixture: Place a mesh strainer or cheesecloth over a jar and pour the butter/cannabis mixture through it. Discard the plant material.
- Refrigerate: Store the jar in the fridge overnight or for a few hours. If excess water forms at the bottom, remove the solid butter and drain the water.
What is FECO?
If you’re looking for an alternative to using flower, Full Extract Cannabis Oil (FECO) is a potent and versatile option. FECO is a concentrated cannabis extract made using alcohol extraction to preserve a full spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes. Unlike cannabutter, which infuses THC into fats, FECO is a highly potent oil that can be used in a variety of ways.
Benefits of FECO:
- Higher Potency: FECO is more concentrated than cannabutter, meaning you need less to achieve the desired effect.
- Versatile Use: FECO can be ingested directly, added to food, mixed into capsules, or applied topically.
- Long-Lasting Effects: Because it is highly concentrated, its effects can last longer than traditional edibles.
- Precise Dosing: Unlike homemade edibles, FECO is often available with clear dosing information, making it easier to control intake.
For those who prefer a smoke-free cannabis experience, FECO is an excellent alternative to using flower. Whether adding it to food or taking it in a capsule, it provides a potent, long-lasting effect without needing to inhale smoke or vapor.
Why Decarboxylation is Necessary for Making Cannabutter
Before making cannabutter, you need to decarboxylate the cannabis flower. Skipping this step will result in butter with little to no cannabis effects.
Decarboxylation converts THCA into THC using heat, allowing the butter to have psychoactive properties.
Some recipes suggest adding raw cannabis directly to hot butter, but decarbing beforehand improves potency and taste. We recommend using an oven for optimal results.
Why Calculating Edible Dosage is Difficult
Many factors affect the potency of cannabutter:
- The potency of cannabis used
- The duration of infusion
- The temperature during infusion
These variables are difficult to measure, making homemade edibles tricky to dose. The best way to test potency is to start with a small amount, wait 90 minutes, and adjust as needed.
Cannabis to Butter Ratio: Adjusting Potency
A 1:1 ratio of cannabis to butter is recommended. If your cannabutter is too strong, mix it with regular butter for milder effects. For stronger cannabutter, increase the cannabis-to-butter ratio.
Once cannabutter is made, its potency cannot be increased—only the amount consumed can be adjusted.
Whether you choose cannabutter for DIY edibles or opt for FECO as a potent alternative, both provide excellent ways to enjoy cannabis without smoking. Experiment with different methods to find what works best for you!
