Cannabis-infused butter, also known as cannabutter, is made by heating butter and cannabis together for several hours. Cannabutter is one of the most versatile forms of infused cannabis and it can be used in place of regular butter in most recipes.
Flavor
Cannabutter has a strong cannabis flavor, so it works best in recipes where its flavor won't overpower the dish. It can be used in most recipes that call for butter, such as cookies, brownies, sauces, and drinks. When substituting cannabutter for regular butter, use the same amount. However, cannabutter is very potent, so you only need a little bit to feel the effects. Always start with a small dose, around 1/4 of what a recipe calls for, and wait at least 2 hours before consuming more.
Potency
The effects of edibles made with cannabutter tend to be full-body, long-lasting, and sedative. Cannabutter is often made from indica strains that promote relaxation and sleep. The potency of cannabutter depends on the amount and potency of cannabis used, but a single dose can contain anywhere from 5 to 100 milligrams of THC. Always clearly label your cannabutter with the date made and dosage to avoid overconsumption. Properly stored, cannabutter can last for several months.
Making Cannabutter
To produce cannabutter, begin by coarsely chopping cannabis flowers or trim and decarboxylating them through baking at a low temperature for approximately 40 minutes. This process converts the non-psychoactive THCa compound into psychoactive THC.
Next, combine the decarboxylated cannabis with butter or oil in a saucepan and heat over low heat, stirring frequently, for 3 to 6 hours. The longer you heat the mixture, the more THC will infuse into the butter. Continuous stirring and low, consistent heat are key to ensuring even infusion and preventing the cannabis from burning.
After several hours of infusion, strain out the plant matter using a cheesecloth, fine mesh strainer, or metal strainer. Press firmly on the plant matter to extract as much of the infused butter as possible. Discard the plant matter.
Allow the infused butter to cool, then transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate. When ready to use, the cannabutter can be substituted for regular butter in recipes for foods like brownies, cookies, or other baked goods. The cannabutter can also be consumed on its own, though its strong flavor may be unpleasant to some. Properly prepared and stored cannabutter will last for several months in the refrigerator.