Cooking with Cannabis
Making homemade edibles by infusing cannabis into butter, oil, or alcohol. Cost-effective but dosing is imprecise.
Onset
30-120 minutes (same as standard edibles)
Duration
4-8+ hours
Dosing Control
low
Discretion
High
Difficulty
intermediate
What It Is
Cooking with cannabis is the practice of infusing decarboxylated cannabis flower (or concentrate) into a fat-based medium such as butter, coconut oil, olive oil, or ghee, then using that infused fat as an ingredient in recipes. The result is homemade edibles: brownies, cookies, pasta sauces, salad dressings, smoothies, or virtually any recipe that calls for butter or oil. Patients can also infuse cannabis into high-proof grain alcohol to create homemade tinctures, or use already-vaped bud (AVB) directly in recipes.
For medical patients who consume edibles regularly, home infusion can be significantly more cost-effective than purchasing pre-made edibles from a dispensary. A gram of flower that costs $8-15 at a dispensary can yield 150-180mg of THC when properly decarboxylated and infused, equivalent to 15-36 individual 5mg gummy doses that would cost $15-50+ retail. Home cooking also gives patients full control over ingredients, allowing for dietary accommodations (vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free, allergen-free) that commercial edibles may not offer. Patients with specific dietary needs or restrictions often find home infusion to be the only practical path to edibles.
The primary trade-off is dosing precision. Commercial edibles are lab-tested and labeled with exact milligram content per serving. Homemade edibles are inherently imprecise because cannabinoid extraction efficiency varies with temperature, time, fat type, and plant material quality. Patients who cook with cannabis should treat every batch as an experiment, always testing a small portion and waiting at least two hours before consuming more. Despite this limitation, home cannabis cooking has a long history and remains one of the most accessible and rewarding ways for patients to produce their own medicine.
How It Works
Step 1: Decarboxylation (Required)
Raw cannabis flower contains THCA, which is non-psychoactive. Heating converts THCA into psychoactive THC through a process called decarboxylation. Without this step, your edibles will have little to no effect. To decarboxylate: preheat your oven to 220-245°F (105-120°C). Break the flower into small, pea-sized pieces and spread in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 30-40 minutes, stirring once halfway through. The flower should turn from green to a light golden-brown color. Lower temperatures preserve more terpenes; higher temperatures (closer to 245°F) ensure more complete THCA conversion. Do not exceed 250°F, as this begins to degrade THC.
Step 2: Fat Infusion
Cannabinoids are fat-soluble, meaning they bind to fats rather than dissolving in water. After decarboxylation, combine the cannabis with your chosen fat (butter, coconut oil, olive oil, or ghee) in a saucepan, slow cooker, or double boiler. Use a ratio of approximately 1 cup of fat to 7-10 grams of decarboxylated flower. Maintain a low temperature of 160-200°F (70-93°C) and simmer for 1-3 hours, stirring occasionally. Do not let the mixture boil or exceed 200°F; excessive heat degrades cannabinoids. A slow cooker on the "low" setting or a double boiler provides the most consistent temperature control.
Step 3: Straining
Once the infusion is complete, strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a clean glass container. Press gently to extract the infused fat but do not squeeze the plant material aggressively, as this pushes chlorophyll and plant matter into the oil, adding a bitter, "green" taste. Discard the spent plant material.
Step 4: Cooling and Storage
Allow the infused butter or oil to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate. Cannabutter will solidify in the refrigerator with a greenish tint. Infused oils remain liquid. Store in a clearly labeled, airtight container separate from regular cooking fats. Infused butter lasts 2-4 weeks refrigerated or 6 months frozen. Infused oils last 2-3 months refrigerated.
Step 5: Cooking and Dosing
Use the infused fat in any recipe that calls for butter or oil: baked goods, sauces, dressings, sauteed dishes, or spread on toast. To estimate potency, use this rough formula: total mg THC in flower (weight in grams x strain THC percentage x 1000, minus 10-20% decarb loss) divided by the number of servings in the recipe. Always test a small portion of a new batch and wait at least 2 hours before eating more.
Types and Variations
Infusion mediums: butter (cannabutter, most classic), coconut oil (high fat content, efficient), olive oil (savory dishes), MCT oil (tincture-style, easy to dose), ghee (high smoke point), alcohol (high-proof grain alcohol for tinctures). AVB (already vaped bud) can be used directly in recipes since it is already decarboxylated.
Clinical Reference
| Onset | 30-120 minutes (same as standard edibles) |
| Duration | 4-8+ hours |
| Bioavailability | 4-20% |
| Dosing Control | low |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Psychoactive | yes |
Dosing Guide
Infused into 1 cup butter = ~10-11mg per tablespoon. This is approximate.
Homemade dosing is inherently imprecise. Always test before serving.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Significantly more cost-effective than purchasing dispensary edibles, especially for patients who consume edibles regularly
- Full control over every ingredient: patients can make edibles that are vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free, allergen-free, or tailored to any dietary restriction
- Can use lower-cost flower, trim, shake, or already-vaped bud (AVB), reducing waste and stretching your cannabis budget further
- Versatility: infused butter or oil can be used in virtually any recipe, from baked goods to savory meals to beverages
- Long-lasting effects (4-8+ hours) identical to commercial edibles, making home-cooked edibles effective for chronic pain, sleep, and other conditions requiring extended relief
- Batch preparation: make a large batch of cannabutter or oil, store it, and use it over weeks, saving time compared to daily dispensary purchases
- Creative and empowering process that gives patients a deeper understanding of their medicine and how it works
Cons
- Very imprecise dosing
- Time-consuming
- Strong smell during decarboxylation and infusion
- Easy to make mistakes (overheating destroys THC)
- Inconsistent potency batch to batch
Who Is This Best For?
Best For
- Patients who consume edibles regularly and want to save money
- Patients with dietary restrictions
- Patients who enjoy cooking
- Patients with access to trim/shake/AVB
Patient Tips
- Do NOT skip decarboxylation. This is the most common mistake in cannabis cooking. Raw cannabis contains THCA (non-psychoactive), and without heating it at 220-245°F for 30-40 minutes first, your edibles will have little to no effect.
- Temperature control is critical at every stage. Use an oven thermometer during decarb and a cooking thermometer during infusion. Keep infusion temperature at 160-200°F. Exceeding 200°F degrades THC; exceeding 250°F destroys it rapidly.
- Use a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove all plant material after infusion. Do not squeeze the plant material too hard, as this pushes bitter chlorophyll into your oil and worsens the taste.
- Label all infused butter, oil, and finished products clearly with "CANNABIS" and the approximate mg per serving. Store separately from regular cooking products in a locked or child-resistant container.
- Always test a new batch: eat a small portion (equivalent to what you estimate is 5mg or less) and wait a full 2 hours before eating more. Homemade edibles can be much stronger or weaker than expected.
- Choose strongly flavored recipes to mask the herbal cannabis taste: chocolate brownies, spicy dishes, peanut butter cookies, and rich pasta sauces all hide the flavor better than delicate or plain recipes.
- For the most consistent results, use a slow cooker on the "low" setting for infusion. Slow cookers maintain steady, low temperatures with minimal monitoring, reducing the risk of overheating.
Safety Information
Homemade edible dosing is inherently imprecise. Test every batch before serving to others. Label all infused products clearly. Store in child-resistant containers away from regular food. Never serve cannabis-infused food to unknowing individuals.
Related Methods
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to decarboxylate cannabis before cooking with it?
Yes, decarboxylation is required. Raw cannabis contains THCA, which is non-psychoactive. Heating at 220-245°F for 30-40 minutes converts THCA into psychoactive THC. Without this step, your finished edibles will have little to no psychoactive effect. This is the single most common mistake in cannabis cooking and the most frequent reason homemade edibles "don't work."
How do I calculate the dose of homemade edibles?
Use this rough formula: multiply the grams of flower by the THC percentage (as a decimal) by 1000 to get total mg THC. Subtract 10-20% for decarb efficiency loss. Divide by the number of servings in your recipe. Example: 7g of 20% THC flower = 1,400mg raw THC. After decarb loss: approximately 1,120-1,260mg THC infused into 1 cup butter (16 tablespoons) = approximately 70-79mg per tablespoon. This is approximate because extraction efficiency varies. Always test a small portion of every new batch.
Can I use already vaped bud (AVB) for cooking?
Yes. AVB has already been partially decarboxylated by the vaporizer and retains some cannabinoids, primarily CBD and CBN with reduced THC. It can be added directly to recipes (no additional decarb needed) or infused into fat. Potency is significantly lower and less predictable than fresh flower. Effects tend to be more sedative due to higher CBN content. Use roughly 2-3x the amount you would use with fresh flower.
What is the best fat for cannabis infusion?
Coconut oil is generally considered the most efficient due to its very high saturated fat content (about 82%), which binds cannabinoids effectively. Butter (about 80% fat) is the most versatile for baking. Olive oil is best for savory cooking. MCT oil is ideal for creating measurable, dropper-style infusions. The best choice depends on what you plan to cook. All common cooking fats work; higher fat content means better cannabinoid extraction.
How long does infused butter or oil last?
Cannabutter lasts 2-4 weeks in the refrigerator and up to 6 months in the freezer. Infused coconut oil and olive oil last 2-3 months refrigerated. Alcohol-based tinctures (Green Dragon) can last 1-2 years stored in a cool, dark place. Always store in airtight, clearly labeled containers. Check for off smells or mold before using stored infusions.
How do I reduce the cannabis taste in my edibles?
Choose recipes with strong flavors: chocolate, peanut butter, garlic, spices, and citrus all mask the herbal taste effectively. During infusion, avoid squeezing the plant material when straining, as this pushes bitter chlorophyll into the oil. Using a water bath during infusion (simmering cannabis and fat together with a cup of water, then refrigerating so the butter solidifies and the green water separates below) can also reduce the vegetal taste significantly.
This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Consult with your certifying physician about which consumption method is appropriate for your specific medical condition and treatment plan. Cannabis affects everyone differently based on individual factors including tolerance, metabolism, and medical history. Always start with the lowest effective dose and increase gradually.
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