Cannabutter Dosage Calculator

Cannabutter tastes different depending on whether it is washed or not. Unwashed cannabutter is described as “hash-like” and much like unprocessed nugs of marijuana. Depending on preference, some people like this flavor quite well, but others think it is inedible. On the other hand, washed cannabutter has a more pleasant, mild flavor.

Once the mixture has been refrigerated and separated from the water that you used to make it with, you can immerse it entirely in fresh water again. Start by re-melting the cold butter so that the excess chemical compounds in the butter will leach into the fresh water. This process can be done again and again to obtain the desired texture, consistency, and flavor.

After washing cannabutter once, the butter will lighten in color and the texture will change a bit, making it very similar to coconut oil. If you choose to wash your cannabutter twice, you’ll find the butter has a nuttier flavor and a higher concentration of THC. Washing cannabutter is totally up to personal preference. Many people choose to experiment with their first few batches and settle on their favorite method.

In short, yes. Cannabutter is a combination of cannabis and butter. It is safe to consume but varies greatly in the amount of THC it contains. This makes it rather easy to overconsume, so its side effects should be considered. Products made with cannabutter do have a longer latency period. Unlike inhaled cannabis, edible products are metabolized differently in the body. Of course, the level of head change is based on the amount consumed, your body size, gender, and individual metabolism. Often, edibles take 30-90 minutes to start showing effects, and reactions peak at 2-4 hours after consumption. When compared with smoking cannabis, consuming edibles takes a little longer to show effects. Smoking or vaping cannabis takes between 20 and 30 minutes to show effects and can last for a few hours.

There are many health benefits of cooking with cannabis and using cannabutter in your food products. Using cannabis is gaining in popularity and becoming more accepted as a natural treatment of various diseases and conditions.

The main benefits include:

You’ll find several recipes for cooking with cannabutter here: The Beginner’s Guide to Easy Cannabutter Recipes for Every Occasion.

But, before you make any of these you must first make your cannabutter. Learn How to Make Cannabutter here.

A quick review of the process:

You start with a decarboxylation process before adding your cannabis to your butter. Next, melt the butter and water mixture in a saucepan. After the butter is completely melted, you start stirring in the ground cannabis little bits at a time. Continue to simmer the mixture on the stove for 2-3 hours until small, foamy bubbles begin to form on the surface. Then, remove from heat and strain the mixture using a metal strainer or cheesecloth. You can store your weed butter the same way you would regular butter — in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or freeze it for up to 6 months.

The short version is that in order to access the compounds THC and CBD from cannabis, you must release the carboxyl group that is attached to the THCA and CBDA molecular structures. To achieve the desirable traits of cannabinoid compounds, the plant needs to be heated to a very high temperature (at least 200 degrees) — one that is much higher than what can be achieved in the body.

Learn more: What Should You Know About Decarboxylation?

If you have a lot of loose, fine bud, you may want to make your cannabutter in a crockpot. Just toss it in your slow cooker with a pound of butter and a cup of water and let it cook for 12-24 hours. The longer, the better.

Here are four popular (and easy) cannabutter recipes to try as a first-timer:

1. Pot Pasta

Nothing says comfort food quite like pasta. Add cannabutter to the recipe, and you will bring a whole new meaning to the term “relaxing dinner for two.” It’s easy too. Simply make your favorite kind of pasta and add a homemade pesto sauce using cannabutter inplace of oil and mix with chopped flat-leaf parsley and fresh garlic. Mix the sauce with a plate of piping-hot pasta and garnish with freshly grated parmesan cheese.

2. Weed Garlic Bread

What better to serve with your pot pasta than some yummy garlic bread? Use a loaf of crusty French bread and slice into 2-inch thick pieces. Smoother each slice with a generous amount of cannabutter and add garlic salt to taste. Bake in the oven until the bread is crispy and golden brown.

3. Weed Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Can I get an Amen? Who doesn’t love peanut butter cups, especially when made with weed butter? These cookies can be made in 3 easy steps and take only 35 minutes from start to finish.

Step One: Sift 1 ¾ cups flour and then stir in ½ tsp salt and 1 tsp baking soda. Set aside.

Step Two: Mix ½ cup each of cannabutter, white sugar, peanut butter, and brown sugar until nice and fluffy. Combine the wet ingredients with the dry and form into 40 balls by using your hands. Place each ball onto an ungreased mini muffin tin.

Step Three: Bake in a 375-degree oven for 8 minutes. Remove immediately and press a mini peanut butter cup into each cookie ball while they are still warm. Remove from the pan and enjoy!

4. Pot Popcorn

Friday movie night just got a lot more fun! Air pop as much popcorn as you need and drizzle with melted cannabutter. Add salt to taste and start munching.

5. Weed Rice Crispy Treats

A recipe with just three ingredients and is ready in under 20 minutes! This all-time favorite snack is easy and perfect for snacking any time of the day or packed in a picnic lunch.

Melt the equivalent of a stick of cannabutter in place of regular butter and stir in a regular size bag of marshmallows until melted. Add 6 cups of rice crispy cereal to the melted butter and marshmallow mixture, then transfer to a greased 9-in pan to cool.

For the perfect ratio, use our cannabutter cooking calculator. The calculations are difficult for even professionals to accurately determine. The calculator tool that we recommend is based on current research and best practices.

If you cannot eat butter or want to make edibles without using butter, there are five alternatives to cannabutter:

1. Instant Edibles

This is the easiest way to make cannabutter without butter. Simply use the decarboxylated flower straight in your product without combining it with the butter and water mixture. Many people think it is 100% necessary to use some type of oil, butter, or alcohol, but this is a myth. Be extra careful with this version because a little bit goes a long way, and it is very easy to overdo when butter is not used.

2. Kief Butter/Oil

If you want to use an alternative to butter, kief butter or kief oil is a good one to try as an alternative to cannabutter. Kief is the part of the marijuana bud that is the sticky bit of resin on the flower. It is quicker to make kief butter using this part of the plant. The flavor is different as well compared to using the entire bud. The biggest difference is in its potency. This type of “butter” alternative is very concentrated and potent.

3. Cannabis Coconut Oil

This makes a great cannabutter substitute. It is more versatile than butter, which makes it great for edibles, and it also has a very high concentration of saturated fat, making it great for extraction. Plant-based coconut oil appeals to vegans, paleo, and keto dieters.

4. Cannaoil

In addition to using coconut oil, many other types of oils can be used, including avocado, canola, olive, and walnut oils. All oils have a high-fat concentration since essentially that is what oil is, so they are good for the extraction process. Use an oil that suits your taste in terms of flavor. For example, olive oil may be good for use in savory dishes.

5. Tinctures.

These are a fantastic, mess-free way to incorporate weed into your edibles. In this version, there is no added fat at all, but rather alcohol is used to make the tinctures. Alcohol tinctures can last longer than butter due to the fact that alcohol doesn’t go rancid. The process of making a tincture starts with decarboxylation; then, the bud is placed in a jar with high-proof alcohol and allowed to sit for 1-3 hours. Lastly, you strain out the bud once the alcohol is infused.

Place marijuana in a 240 degree Fahrenheit oven for 45-60 minutes. Cannabutter does best at a low temperature for a longer time.

Unfortunately, potency cannot be added to the cannabutter once the butter is made. You can, however, reduce the potency after the butter is made by melting it down and adding more butter.

One of the most common mistakes when it comes to making cannabutter is skipping the decarboxylation process or not doing it correctly. Another common mistake is not adding water to the infusion. This may not sound like a big deal, but water helps regulate the temperature and prevents overheating from occurring. Water also helps with the flavor, making it a bit milder and less hash-y tasting.

A third mistake is heating the butter to the wrong temperature. Cannabutter does best cooked for a longer time over low heat. Be careful not to overheat the mixture. If it starts to boil, remove it from the heat source right away. It won’t be ruined at this point. Just allow it to cool a bit, then turn down the heat and make sure you continue to stir it often. The fourth common mistake is using too much cannabis.

Cannabis edibles give you a different type of high. Be cautious of how much cannabis you use so that the butter is not overly potent. The final mistake is over-grinding the weed. You may see misinformation out there that alludes to the fact that the finer you grind the weed, the more THC will be extracted. This is a myth. When the weed is ground too finely, the taste becomes bitter and is extremely hard to strain.