🍃 Why Cannabis Butter or Oil?
Cannabis-infused oil or butter is the backbone of almost every homemade edible. Whether you’re making brownies, gummies, or nerd ropes, it all starts with a fat-based infusion. THC and other cannabinoids bind to fat molecules, making oil and butter ideal carriers.
🔥 Step 1: Decarboxylate Your Cannabis
Raw cannabis contains THCA, which is non-psychoactive. You must activate it through a process called decarboxylation to convert it to THC.
What You’ll Need:
- Cannabis flower (trim or smalls work too)
- Baking tray
- Parchment paper
- Oven
How To:
- Preheat oven to 240°F (115°C).
- Break your cannabis into small pieces (don’t grind).
- Spread it evenly on a parchment-lined baking tray.
- Bake for 40 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Cool and set aside.
🧠 Pro Tip: Use a thermometer to ensure accurate temperature. Too high = burnt terps. Too low = under-decarbed cannabis.
🧈 Step 2: Choose Your Base (Butter or Oil)
Best options:
- Unsalted butter
- Coconut oil (great for vegan or longer shelf life)
- Olive oil (for savory dishes)
Why fat content matters: THC binds best with high-fat content. Coconut oil and butter have 80%+ fat, making them ideal.
🧪 Step 3: Infusion Process
What You’ll Need:
- 1 cup butter or oil
- 1 cup water (for butter only, prevents burning)
- 7–10 grams decarboxylated cannabis
- Saucepan or slow cooker
- Cheesecloth & strainer
Stovetop Method:
- Combine butter/oil and water (if using) in a saucepan over low heat.
- Add your cannabis.
- Simmer on low (160°F–200°F) for 2 to 4 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Do not let it boil!
Slow Cooker Method (preferred):
- Add oil/butter and cannabis.
- Set to low and cook for 4–6 hours.
🧠 Pro Tip: Add lecithin (soy or sunflower) to help emulsify and increase potency absorption!
🧃 Step 4: Strain and Store
- Let the mix cool slightly (not hot).
- Line a jar or bowl with cheesecloth.
- Pour slowly, letting gravity do the work.
- Squeeze the remaining liquid from the plant material.
- Store in an airtight jar in the fridge (butter) or cool cabinet (oil).
✅ Label it clearly — cannabis butter looks like regular butter!
📏 How Strong Is It?
Potency depends on:
- Strain THC%
- Amount used
- Time and temperature
- Amount of oil
💡 Use online calculators or lab testing kits to estimate dosage.
Example: 7g of 20% THC flower yields ~1400mg total. If you infused 1 cup, that’s about 58mg THC per tablespoon of butter/oil.
🍳 How to Use Your Infused Butter/Oil
You can use your infused base in:
- Nerd ropes (post coming soon!)
- Brownies, cookies
- Mac & cheese
- Sauces, dressings, and more
⚠️ Do NOT cook infused oil at high temps — it can degrade THC. Add it after cooking when possible!
🧊 Storage Tips
- Butter: Fridge up to 3 weeks, freezer up to 6 months
- Oil: Pantry up to 2 months, fridge up to 6 months
- Use opaque containers to reduce light degradation
- Always label with strain, dose estimate, and date
🚀 Wrapping Up
Infused oil or butter opens the door to dozens of cannabis edible recipes. It’s easier than you think — and with the right technique, it’s consistent and potent. Stay tuned for our next post: How to Make Nerd Ropes with Infused Oil!
