Cannabutter: What Is It And How Do You Make It?

It's something you've likely heard of, but do you know what it is? Today's researchers are finding that edibles like cannabutter have positive side effects (1) that differ from smoking marijuana. 

• Cannabutter is an easy alternative to smoking that can give you a long-lasting high without certain negative side effects. 
• Individuals looking for a safer alternative to smoking or vaping can easily master the art of homemade cannabutter. 

If you're ready to dive into the world of cannabutter, then we're here with a full guide on the basics of cannabutter and how to safely enjoy it. We've got you covered with tips and tricks as well as an easy cannabutter recipe to try today!

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"Cannabutter" is cannabis-infused butter - pretty simple, right? Essentially, it's a form of edible that will give you a high depending on how much you consume. 

Butter is the key ingredient here because the THC in your cannabis needs to bind to fat molecules to work its magic. Oils such as avocado or coconut oil also work well because they have high levels of fat. 

In our opinion, there's no such thing as better or worse when it comes to cannabis! It simply depends on your preference. Cannabis oil is easy to use and apply, but cannabutter is the best route if you want to enjoy a sweet treat or baked goodie! 

Cannabutter is used in the same way that you would use regular butter. You can incorporate cannabutter into your favorite brownie or cookie recipe, spread it on toast, or put a dab on top of your pancakes. 

It's easy to use cannabutter in any recipe that calls for regular butter- the only catch is that you'll need to be careful about how much you consume to avoid negative side effects. For milder effects, try experimenting with your butter ratios by using half cannabutter and half regular butter. 

Cannabutter isn't necessary to make a batch of edibles because it can also be replaced with cannabis-infused oil. This is especially helpful if you are vegan or lactose intolerant because you can still create your favorite baked recipe while enjoying a high. 

For those who are trying to avoid dairy, try using vegan butter instead of regular butter to create your homemade cannabutter!

Cannabutter is safe for individuals who have consumed alternative forms of cannabis before. Similar to other edibles like gummies or cannabis powder, the effects take longer and you'll want to be careful and only consume it in small amounts. 

If you are new to edibles, start small and slowly work your way up, giving your body a minimum of 45 - 90 minutes to first notice the effects. Assess how your body feels and how you're reacting to it before you consume any more. 

It depends! The process of creating cannabutter requires decarboxylating the cannabis to convert its tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) into tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). And we get it - that's a mouthful. Essentially, this process is a chemical reaction that changes the naturally-occurring acid forms in weed (THCA) into a more potent form (THC). 

This process is what gives cannabis its psychoactive effects ... in other words, it's what gives you a high. But also much of this depends on the amount of THC in the product and the source from which it came. This means that if you derived the cannabis from the hemp plant, you may not have the effect as if it was derived from the marijuana plant. Skipping this process means your cannabutter won't provide any of the positive effects of getting high. 

Like all forms of getting high, consuming cannabutter does come with side effects including drowsiness, impaired motor control, dry mouth, and in extreme cases, paranoia. This is why it's so important for consumers to eat small amounts in increments and to give the body plenty of time to digest and feel the effects. 

Because you're consuming cannabutter via food, this means your stomach is doing most of the work to process the THC levels. All edibles are processed and absorbed slower than cannabis that is smoked, which means it takes longer to feel high and also takes longer for the effects to wear off. 

We recommend waiting at least 45 - 90 minutes after your first bite to see if it's safe to eat more. For some people, it may take up to 2 hours to feel the effects, so practice patience and take it slow!

Since your digestive system is breaking down the cannabutter and doing all of the work, the cannabinoids are released slowly and your high is going to last much longer than it would after smoking. The exact time frame varies from person to person and depends on factors like your diet, BMI, and how much cannabutter you consumed. 

Full effects may not hit until 2 - 4 hours after consumption. Give yourself plenty of time to assess how your body reacts before going anywhere. 

The THC in cannabutter can help manage levels of anxiety or chronic pain. Some individuals also benefit from appetite stimulation or a general sense of calm that makes daytime activities easier to manage. 

If taken before bed, a cannabutter edible can also help you achieve better sleep. Try out our 5 tips for a better night of sleep by incorporating edibles into your nightly routine. 

Consuming cannabutter is very different from smoking weed. When you smoke weed, your lungs take the direct impact and must immediately process the cannabinoids and send it into the bloodstream. In comparison, edibles made with cannabutter are processed slowly by the digestive system. This digestive process produces a time-release system and makes the high take longer to hit and longer to wear off. 

Some individuals prefer edibles to smoking joints because of the harmful side effects of combustibles on the lungs. With smoking, you inhale not only burnt cannabis but also paper and potentially, carcinogens. Smoking anything can cause long-term damage to the lungs, and for this reason, many people favor edibles, oils, or tinctures to get high. 

Ready to try your hand at making a batch of cannabutter? We're here to make the process easier with this simple homemade cannabutter recipe. 

1 Cup (2 sticks) of unsalted butter

1 Cup water

1 Cup (7 - 10 grams) cannabis, decarboxylated 

1. First, decarb the cannabis. Preheat your oven to 245 degrees Fahrenheit and cover a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Sprinkle the loosely-broken bits of cannabis onto the sheet and then bake for about 30 - 40 minutes. Use a spatula to gently mix the buds every 10 minutes so that all sides are evenly baked. 
2. Grind the cannabis. Allow the buds to cool and then grind them down to leafy bits using a hand grinder. (Remember not to over-grind - you don't want a fine powder.) 
3. Prep the butter. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter on low heat until fully melted. Add in the water and allow the melted butter and water to incorporate. 
4. Add the cannabis. Once the butter mixture is ready, sprinkle in the ground cannabis. Simmer on low heat for about 2 - 3 hours, making sure the mixture never fully boils. We recommend keeping the mixture at a minimum temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit and a maximum temperature of 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. Strain the mixture. When the mixture is thick and glossy, it's time to strain. Cover a jar with cheesecloth or a mesh strainer and slowly pour the mixture through it. When finished, avoid squeezing out any remaining bits and throw away the leftover plant material. 
6. Refrigerate. Place the jar of butter in the fridge and allow it to cool completely. This may take several hours up to a full night. 
7. Finally, enjoy! Your cannabutter is ready to enjoy after it has fully solidified. Try spreading a small amount onto a piece of toast or follow a brownie recipe to enjoy a sweet treat. 

Remember to keep your cannabutter in a covered container and refrigerate when not in use. If you notice any water at the bottom of the container, remove the solid mixture and drain the water out before replacing it. 

Cannabutter is a wonderful way to achieve a high while also enjoying a tasty treat! Because of its versatility, it's easy to incorporate it into a variety of delicious recipes. 

It's also a great method for individuals wanting to avoid potential lung damage or who don't enjoy the experience of smoking weed. As with any method of consumption, we recommend starting with a small dosage of cannabutter until you know how your body reacts and how much it can take.

With this simple recipe, you can enjoy the full benefits of marijuana while also having fun in the process! However, for additional information and CBD products, check out our variety of CBD Tinctures. And, if you’re interested in learning more about THC based products that you can trust, head over to OTTERSPACE, where you can find your utopia with a collection of Delta 8, Delta 9, and CBD products

Sources:

1. Barrus DG, Capogrossi KL, Cates SC, Gourdet CK, Peiper NC, Novak SP, Lefever TW, Wiley JL. Tasty THC: Promises and Challenges of Cannabis Edibles. Methods Rep RTI Press. 2016 Nov;2016:10.3768/rtipress.2016.op.0035.1611. doi: 10.3768/rtipress.2016.op.0035.1611. PMID: 28127591; PMCID: PMC5260817.