Wondering how to make THC butter? You’ve come to the right place!
The first step in making your own edibles is to make your own THC butter or cannabutter. There are many ways to produce cannabutter. But we think that this is the simplest method to make a delicious and potent cannabutter.
Here’s the step-by-step process to make THC butter for yourself.
Step 1: Preparation
We use butter or oil to extract THC and cannabinoids from buds because they dissolve in oil rather than water. The procedure is the same for coconut or olive oil, so you may substitute the butter with oil as desired.
What you will need:
1 cup of butter
1 cup (7-10 grams) of cannabis
A stockpot, saucepan or slow cooker
Step 2: Decarboxylation
All of the cannabinoids in raw cannabis plants begin as acid forms with an extra carboxyl ring attached to them. This means that THC is first THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid). THCA isn’t pharmacologically effective until it loses its carboxyl group, which is known as being decarboxylated.
When enough THCA is converted to THC, it becomes psychoactive. This is one of the major reasons why cannabis should be decarboxylated; otherwise, it wouldn’t be as potent. Decarbing is required in order for THC to be released from many of marijuana’s desirable effects. The same goes for cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), which must be decarboxylated to turn into CBD (cannabidiol).
To decarboxylate the cannabis, preheat your oven to 245°F. Place cannabis buds on parchment paper on a non-stick, oven-safe tray and bake for 30-40 minutes. Lightly shake the tray every 10 minutes to dry the buds evenly. If your buds are drier or older, it might need less time in the oven.
With a hand grinder, grind the decarboxylated cannabis finely. If you don’t have a grinder, you may use scissors to cut the buds into small pieces. Note that further decarboxylation will be done when you cook and bake your edibles with cannabis-infused butter or oil.
Step 3: Cannabis Infusion
Place a stockpot or saucepan over low heat and add 1 cup water and 1 cup butter. Simmer to allow the butter to melt. Water will prevent the butter from scorching and maintain a more consistent temperature.
Add the cannabis and simmer on low heat, 160°F-200°F, for 2 – 3 hours. You may also use the slow cooker keeping the temperature within this same range for 3 hours. Stir the mixture occasionally.
Some may choose to skip the decarboxylation step and spend more time on a stovetop or with a slow cooker. However, when you decarb it first, the weed tastes better.
When the cannabutter has cooled, strain it through a funnel over a jar with a cheesecloth covering the funnel. Allow it to flow freely without squeezing.
Step 4: Separating Cannabutter from Water
Refrigerate the jar of cannabutter for about an hour. The butter will harden while the water remains fluid. Drain any extra water by making a hole in the solid butter and pouring out the liquid underneath.
Closing on How to Make THC Butter
Now you got your homemade cannabutter! It is ready to be used in any recipe that requires butter. To assess how potent the cannabutter is, start with 1/4 teaspoon and wait for a couple of hours to feel the effects. To get the desired effects, adjust the amount up or down as necessary. Set the dosage carefully and enjoy!
