A Comprehensive Guide To Weed Butter: How To Make Cannabutter For Edibles

Cooking with cannabis is gaining traction, but many people still struggle to create homemade edibles that are both tasty and reliable. Weed butter, often called cannabutter, is the base for many cannabis‑infused treats because it binds cannabinoids to fat molecules. This article explains what weed butter is, why people make it at home, how to prepare it properly, and how to use it safely. You’ll also see how to control potency, store your butter, and understand the legal landscape.

What Is Weed Butter?

Weed butter is regular butter infused with cannabis. When you gently heat cannabis in fat, the plant’s cannabinoids dissolve into the butter and create an infusion. Depending on the strain you use, the butter may be rich in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which produces a high, or cannabidiol (CBD), which does not. Because cannabinoids attach to fat, butter acts as a good carrier. Weed butter can be used in cookies, brownies, sauces, and other dishes, offering a discreet and smoke‑free way to consume cannabis.

Why Make Weed Butter At Home?

Making your own weed butter has several benefits. Store‑bought edibles can be pricey, and their potency isn’t always clear. When you infuse butter at home, you control the dose, choose the strain, and experiment with flavors. Homemade cannabutter also lets you use flowers or trim from your garden rather than buying pre‑made products. If you’re new to cannabis weights and conversions, check our complete guide to weed measurements for help understanding grams, eighths, and ounces. Knowing these units will make it easier to decide how much cannabis to use in your infusion.

Gathering Your Ingredients And Equipment

Before you start, gather the right tools. You’ll need unsalted butter, dried cannabis flower, water, a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and a saucepan or slow cooker. Unsalted butter gives you control over the salt level in your recipes. The strain you choose affects the flavor and effects of your butter; learn about different varieties and cannabinoid profiles in our weed strains guide. Water helps regulate temperature during infusion and keeps the butter from burning. Use a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer to remove plant material, and store the finished butter in a mason jar or other airtight container. A digital scale will help you measure both the butter and cannabis accurately.

Decarboxylation: Activating Your Cannabis

Raw cannabis contains cannabinoids in their acidic forms (THCA and CBDA), which are not psychoactive. To activate THC and CBD, you must decarboxylate the cannabis by heating it gently. The easiest way is to bake the plant material at a low temperature. Preheat your oven to around 240 °F (about 115 °C). Break your cannabis buds into small pieces and spread them evenly on a parchment‑lined baking sheet. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring once or twice to prevent burning. When the cannabis turns from green to light brown and feels dry, remove it from the oven and let it cool. This step converts THCA to THC and CBDA to CBD so that the cannabinoids can dissolve into the butter during infusion.

Making Weed Butter: Step‑By‑Step Guide

Once your cannabis is decarboxylated, you can infuse it into butter. The process is simple but requires patience and low heat. Use the following steps:

1. Combine butter and water. In a saucepan or slow cooker, melt two sticks (about ½ pound) of unsalted butter with about two cups of water. The water stabilizes the temperature and prevents scorching.

2. Add the decarbed cannabis. Stir in the decarboxylated cannabis. A common starting ratio is ½ ounce (14 grams) of flower per ½ pound of butter. You can adjust this based on your tolerance and desired potency.

3. Simmer gently. Keep the mixture at a low simmer (between roughly 160 °F and 200 °F). Stir every 30 minutes to prevent sticking. Let it cook for 2 to 3 hours; longer cook times extract more cannabinoids but also pull more chlorophyll, which can make the butter taste grassy.

4. Strain the infusion. Place a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer over a clean bowl or jar. Carefully pour the mixture through the filter to remove the plant material. Avoid squeezing the cloth too hard, as pressing can push fine particles into the butter.

5. Cool and separate. Allow the strained liquid to cool at room temperature, then refrigerate it. The butter will solidify on top. Once it’s firm, lift off the butter layer and discard the water underneath. Pat the butter dry with a paper towel and place it in a clean, airtight container.

This stovetop method is the most common, but you can also use a slow cooker for a hands‑off approach. The key is to maintain low temperatures and avoid boiling, as high heat can degrade cannabinoids and terpenes.

Controlling Potency And Dosing

One challenge of homemade cannabutter is knowing how strong it is. Potency depends on the THC content of your cannabis and the ratio you use during infusion. To estimate the total THC in your batch, multiply the weight of your cannabis (in grams) by the percentage of THC in your strain and then by 1,000 to convert to milligrams. For example, 10 grams of cannabis at 15 percent THC contains about 1,500 milligrams of THC. If you infuse all of it into a half‑pound of butter, each tablespoon (there are 16 tablespoons in ½ pound) would contain roughly 94 milligrams of THC. When cooking, you can replace only part of the recipe’s fat with cannabutter to control the dose.

Because edibles take longer to produce effects than smoking or vaping, start with a low dose. Many people begin with 5 to 10 milligrams of THC per serving and wait at least two hours before consuming more. Everyone metabolizes edibles differently, and the effects can last for several hours. Careful measuring helps prevent unexpected potency.

Choosing Between Butter And Other Fats

Butter isn’t the only fat that can carry cannabinoids. Coconut oil, olive oil, and other plant‑based fats also work well because cannabinoids are fat‑soluble. Coconut oil is particularly popular; it has a high saturated fat content, which helps draw out cannabinoids, and a neutral flavor that blends nicely into sweet and savory dishes. Vegan butter provides a dairy‑free option that behaves similarly to regular butter. Whichever fat you choose, follow the same low‑heat infusion method: melt the fat, add decarbed cannabis, simmer for a few hours, strain, and cool. Experimenting with different fats can help you tailor the taste and texture of your edibles.

Storing, Cooking, And Using Weed Butter

Proper storage keeps your cannabutter fresh and potent. Place it in an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. For longer storage, freeze it for up to six months. Freezing the butter in ice cube trays makes it easy to portion out small amounts for recipes. Label your containers clearly to avoid accidental use and keep them out of reach of children and pets.

When cooking with weed butter, you don’t need to replace all of the fat in a recipe. Many cooks substitute half of the recipe’s butter or oil with cannabutter and use regular butter for the rest. This approach balances the flavor and controls the dosage. Cannabutter works well in baked goods like cookies and brownies, but you can also melt it over popcorn, stir it into pasta, spread it on toast, or mix it into mashed potatoes. Keep cooking temperatures moderate because very high heat can degrade cannabinoids and reduce potency.

Risks, Legalities, And Safety Considerations

Edibles can be enjoyable when used responsibly, but they come with risks. Because homemade batches vary widely in potency, it’s easy to consume too much. Edibles take 30 to 90 minutes or longer to take effect, and the experience can last several hours. Overconsumption may lead to dry mouth, drowsiness, anxiety, impaired coordination, and other unpleasant effects. Start small, wait for the effects to develop, and don’t eat more until you know how your body reacts.

Legal issues vary by location. Some states or countries allow adult use of cannabis, others restrict it to medical use, and some ban it entirely. Even where cannabis is legal, there may be limits on possession, cultivation, and potency. For an overview of the current legal landscape, explore our weed legalization article. Always purchase cannabis from licensed sources and follow local laws to avoid legal trouble.

To prevent accidental ingestion, especially by children and pets, store your cannabutter securely and label it clearly. Edibles often look like regular food and can be mistaken for non‑infused treats. Consider using a child‑proof container and keep infused products out of sight.

Bringing It All Together: Crafting Weed Butter At Home

Learning how to make weed butter at home gives you control over ingredients, potency, and flavor. You can create a versatile ingredient for a wide range of dishes by decarboxylating your cannabis, infusing it at low heat, and measuring your doses carefully. Experiment with different strains and fats to customize your edibles to your taste and desired effects. Once you’ve mastered the process, weed butter becomes a convenient base for homemade treats.

Enjoy Weed Butter With Proper Storage

Once you’ve finished infusing and straining your butter, storing it correctly helps preserve its potency and flavor. An airtight, opaque container or a specialized stash jar keeps light, air, and moisture away from your infusion. If you’re searching for a convenient storage solution, check out the Ludist stash jar. Its smell‑proof design and durable construction make it ideal for keeping cannabis flower or cannabutter fresh and discreet.