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Make your own THC-infused butter with this thorough guide
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Cannabis-infused butter (or "bud butter") can be used in any recipe that calls for butter, though it is best known for being used in pot brownies. Using cannabis-infused butter allows you to side-step the disadvantages of smoking (like the potential health risks) while still enjoying the benefits of a THC high. We’ll teach you exactly how to make weed butter, including how to successfully decarboxylate (decarb) the weed and infuse it into butter. Whether you’re an experienced weed enjoyer or a first-time user, this recipe will help you achieve an enjoyable high with edibles.
Disclaimer: Weed butter needs to be cooled and refrigerated before consumption. Plan to make it ahead of time, or before you plan on getting high.
Things You Should Know
- Decarboxylate (decarb) the weed first by leaving it in the oven for 40-45 minutes at 225 to 240 °F (107 to 116 °C).
- Melt 4 sticks of butter in saucepan filled with 4 cups (950 ml) of simmering water. Add the decarbed weed to the melted mixture.
- Infuse the butter for 3 hours before straining and refrigerating it for 1 hour. Once the butter separates from the water, refrigerate it in an air-tight container for up to 6 months.
Ingredients
- 1 oz (28g) of cannabis buds
- 4 sticks (2 cups) of unsalted butter
- 4 c (950 mL) of water
Steps
Section 1 of 5:
Cannabutter Recipe
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Decarb the cannabis in the oven. Set your oven to a nice, low temperature—anything between 225 and 240 °F (107 and 116 °C) is a good, safe range. Then, hand-crumble the weed into small, rice-sized chunks and pour them out onto a foil-lined baking sheet. Secure another sheet of foil over the crumbled weed, and then leave the weed in the oven for 40-45 minutes so it can successfully decarb. What you’re aiming for is golden-brown weed that looks a little bit toasted. [1] X Research source
- “ Decarbing ” is short for “decarboxylating,” a simple but necessary process that activates the psychoactive compounds in your weed. Raw weed contains cannabinoids known as THCA and CBDA; when decarboxylated, they’re transformed into THC and CBD, the components of marijuana that weed users know and love. [2] X Research source Although it’s an annoying step, decarbing is an important element of making good cannabutter.
- Once the weed is successfully decarbed, set it on the counter and give it time to thoroughly cool down.
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Melt 4 sticks of butter in a simmering saucepan of water. Pour 4 c (950 mL) of water into a saucepan and wait for it to boil; then, bring it to a simmer. Unwrap and place 4 sticks of unsalted butter into the boiling water and wait for it melt completely. [3] X Research sourceAdvertisement
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Infuse the decarbed weed in the butter for 3 hours. Transfer the cooled weed to the simmering water-butter mixture and secure the saucepan with the lid. Set a timer for about 3 hours to let the weed completely infuse into the butter. Leave the lid on the entire time—once the mixture has a more shiny and thick consistency, it’s ready to strain. [4] X Research source
- Some people prefer to infuse their weed for only 90 minutes. [5] X Research source Keep in mind, though, that the longer you infuse the butter, the more powerful the high will be.
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Strain out the weed using cheesecloth and a large bowl. Stack two sheets of cheesecloth on the surface of a large bowl, securing them in place with a rubber band or section of string. Then, carefully pour the infused butter into the cheesecloth, which helps filter the pieces of weed out of the butter. Once you’ve transferred all the butter, give the cheesecloth an extra squeeze for good measure. [6] X Research source
- Use oven mitts to protect your hands, as the infused butter will be very hot.
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Cover and refrigerate the butter for 1 hour and let it separate. Cover the bowl with the cheesecloth again and set it in the refrigerator for 1 hour—this gives the butter time to separate cleanly from the water you cooked it with. After an hour, check to see if the butter has formed a solid layer on top of the water. [7] X Research source
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Remove the butter from the bowl and refrigerate it for up to 6 months. Using a butter knife, run the blade around the perimeter of the butter and pop it out of the bowl. Lay a clean towel on a cutting board and place the butter on top. Then, use the towel to lightly dry off the cannabutter. [8] X Research source If you don’t plan on using the butter right away, slip it into an airtight container (like a tightly sealed jar) and store it in your refrigerator or freezer for up to 6 months. [9] X Research source
- Feel free to dump the water at this point—you don’t need it anymore.
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Section 2 of 5:
How to Dose Weed Butter
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Calculate the THC content of the weed as a decimal. Check the label on the weed container and see if it lists the THC percentage (dispensaries typically include this info). Then, turn that number into a decimal—for instance, 17% THC would be 0.17. [10] X Research source
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Multiply the decimal by the grams of weed you have. Let’s say you have 7 grams of weed to cook with—you’d multiply 7 by 0.17, which totals 1.19. [11] X Research source
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Find the THC content in milligrams by multiplying that decimal by 1,000. In our example, we’d multiply 1.19 by 1,000, which is 1,190. This means that the finished batch of cannabutter will contain 1,190 total mg of THC. [12] X Research source
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Divide the total number of mg by the total tablespoons of butter. Let’s say we only have 2 sticks of unsalted butter to work with (which is equivalent to 16 tbsp/8 tbsp per stick)—we’d divide 1,190 by 16, which equals 74.4. In other words, 1 tbsp of infused cannabutter has around 74 mg of THC. [13] X Research source
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Factor that dosage into the recipe you’re making. Let’s say that we’re making brownies, using a recipe that calls for 8 tbsp of butter and produces 16 brownies total. Using our previous calculations, we can safely assume that the entire batch will contain around 592 mg of THC (74 x 8). 592 divided by 16 is 37, which means a single brownie would have 37 mg of THC. [14] X Research source
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Start small with your dosage and work your way up. If you have a relatively low THC tolerance (or aren’t sure what your tolerance is), start with a small dose of 5 mg or less—using the example above, that would be about 1/7 of a brownie. It takes at least 30 minutes for most people to start feeling the effects of an edible, so don’t start consuming extra. [15] X Research source
- If you’re using your butter as a spread rather than as an ingredient, use a tiny amount (like 1 ⁄ 4 to 1 ⁄ 2 tsp (1.2 to 2.5 mL)) first.
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References
- ↑ https://www.plant-family.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Canna-butter-Recipe.pdf
- ↑ https://cannalib.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/The-Art-of-Weed-Butter-A-step-by-step-guide-to-becoming-a-cannabutter-master-2019.pdf
- ↑ https://www.plant-family.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Canna-butter-Recipe.pdf
- ↑ https://www.plant-family.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Canna-butter-Recipe.pdf
- ↑ https://growweedeasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Best-Weed-Butter-Recipe-Make-Awesome-Cannabutter.pdf
- ↑ https://www.plant-family.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Canna-butter-Recipe.pdf
- ↑ https://www.plant-family.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Canna-butter-Recipe.pdf
- ↑ https://www.plant-family.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Canna-butter-Recipe.pdf
- ↑ https://cannalib.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/The-Art-of-Weed-Butter-A-step-by-step-guide-to-becoming-a-cannabutter-master-2019.pdf
- ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-make-cannabutter-article
- ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-make-cannabutter-article
- ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-make-cannabutter-article
- ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-make-cannabutter-article
- ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-make-cannabutter-article
- ↑ https://www.plant-family.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Canna-butter-Recipe.pdf
- ↑ https://www.growweedeasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Best-Weed-Butter-Recipe-Make-Awesome-Cannabutter.pdf
- ↑ https://www.plant-family.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Canna-butter-Recipe.pdf
- ↑ https://cannalib.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/The-Art-of-Weed-Butter-A-step-by-step-guide-to-becoming-a-cannabutter-master-2019.pdf
- ↑ https://www.growweedeasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Best-Weed-Butter-Recipe-Make-Awesome-Cannabutter.pdf
- ↑ https://www.leafly.com/news/lifestyle/recipe-how-to-make-basic-cannabutter
- ↑ http://herb.co/recipes/quick-easy-cannabutter/
- ↑ https://www.leafly.com/news/lifestyle/recipe-how-to-make-basic-cannabutter
- ↑ https://hightimes.com/edibles/ultimate-cannabutter-experiment-method-1/
- ↑ https://hightimes.com/edibles/ultimate-cannabutter-experiment-method-1/
- Videos provided by Alice Oregon
Community Q&A
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QuestionWhat happens if I use salted butter instead of unsalted butter?Community AnswerIt's just taste saltier, that's all.
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QuestionWhy would people want to prepare marijuana butter when it's illegal in most places?Community AnswerActually, marijuana is legal in Canada and is legal either medicinally or recreationally in all but 17 of the 50 United States. Many other countries are also legalizing or decriminalizing it. As to the why, infusing butter or oil with marijuana allows it to be distributed more evenly throughout edibles.
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QuestionCan I use margarine instead of real butter?Community AnswerFor this recipe, you should only use real butter.
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Tips
- Always use unsalted butter when preparing marijuana butter.Thanks
- If you’re worried about your cannabutter tasting a bit too much like cannabis, try using it in a baked good to see if the taste gets masked.Thanks
- When people talk about marijuana, they think about getting high. It is a psychological state that shifts one's perception and gives a euphoric buzz or creative feeling. It can be very powerful and lead to addiction.Thanks
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Warnings
- Marijuana is illegal in most countries and isn’t consistently available (or legal) across the United States. Make sure you can legally obtain and possess marijuana before attempting this recipe.Thanks
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About This Article
Article Summary
X
To prepare marijuana butter, scatter the crumbled weed onto a baking sheet in a thin, even layer and bake it for 30 minutes at 240°F until it turns light brown. Let the weed cool, grind it coarsely, and set it aside. Next, bring 1/4 cup of water and 1 pound of butter to a light simmer over medium heat. Then, lower the heat, whisk in the cannabis, and let the mixture simmer for 2-5 hours. Finally, strain the mixture through a cheesecloth and refrigerate the liquid for several hours until it solidifies. For tips on alternative cooking techniques, read on!
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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 391,329 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "Started to experiment with cannabis pizza, and went further. This recipe of butter is awesome, and you can choose a method you like the best. Highly recommended (but keep far from curious family members). Can be pretty potent, but good for healing and relaxation. " ..." more
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"Started to experiment with cannabis pizza, and went further. This recipe of butter is awesome, and you can choose a method you like the best. Highly recommended (but keep far from curious family members). Can be pretty potent, but good for healing and relaxation. "
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"I watched friends make "bud butter," but I didn't like how their butter still had weed particles in it. They didn't use cheese cloth. Thank you for the utmost-needed part of the recipe that my friends omitted because they were too lazy to do it correctly."
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"Very interesting and informative article. A must for people whose states are finally going to legalize marijuana and who don't want to smoke it. This is the basic how-to for preparing marijuana butter for edibles."
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"The video was awesome and now I know just how it all works. The tip I loved was using a French press!"
"Easy step by step instructions for quality medical butter. "
