Iftikhar Alam
Author
Reviewed by Cannabis Experts
Published on: November 9, 2020 | Updated on: July 21, 2024
Gummies made with cannabutter are a type of weed edible that is flavored and textured like a gummy candy. The most iconic type of gummy candy is of course the Gummy Bear, but edible weed makers can make the candy into any shape.
These edible candy products are chewy and fruity and can be used as a non-smoking alternative to ingesting cannabis. These gummies can be found at nearly every dispensary but are also easy to make at home.
What is cannabutter?
Infusing cannabis with butter is a tasty and versatile way to make edibles. The butter acts as a carrier for the THC and other cannabinoids present in weed. While butter is very common, you can also use olive oil, coconut oil, or any other fatty oil for infusion. Cannabutter or oil is ingested instead of inhaled, which makes it a healthier option for recreational and medical users.
How to make cannabutter?
Cannabutter is made with decarboxylated cannabis flower mixed with butter and cooked at a low temperature. As the flower cooks in the butter, the THC and CBD is transferred from the plant material to the butter. The flower is then strained from the butter, leaving a pure edible oil to cook with or eat plain.
To start, cannabis flower is grown, harvested, dried, and then decarboxylated. Decarboxylation is a natural chemical reaction that occurs when weed flower is heated or cured. It is the process of decarboxylation which activates the psychoactive compounds of cannabis, turning the non-psychoactive compound of THCA into the well known, high inducing compound THC.
An intense heat, like from a flame while smoking or coil from vaping, causes instant decarboxylation and the psychoactive compounds are then inhaled.
There are a few ways to make cannabutter. Perhaps the most precise and foolproof way is as follows:
Step 1:
Procure your desired amount of cannabis flower. In general, cannabutter is made from a 1:1 ratio for a strong concentrate, or a ½:1 ratio for a moderate concentrate. That means 1 ounce of weed will make one pound of very strong butter, or a half-ounce of weed will make one pound of a more relaxed butter. Newer users should make a moderate concentrate until they become more familiar with how their bodies react to edibles.
Step 2:
Decarboxylate your weed flower by gently roasting it in an oven pan at 225 degrees Fahrenheit for about 45 minutes. To ensure that it does not burn you can put aluminum foil or parchment paper at the bottom of the pan. Break up the weed into very small nuggets (or use a grinder) to achieve the most effective decarboxylation.
Step 3:
Remove your cannabis from the oven and let it cool. While this is happening you can begin to slowly melt your unsalted butter in a heavy bottom pot on the stove. Use a low flame and stir frequently so it does not burn or brown. Once the butter is melted, mix the entire contents of the decarbed weed into the butter and stir to mix. Heat this mixture on low for 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally.
Step 4:
Your butter will look glossy and very green since the plant matter is still in it. To remove the plant matter, pour the mixture through a cheesecloth or fine sieve over a bowl. This process will take some finesse to ensure all the butter is transferred to the bowl.
Step 5:
Once the plant matter is removed, it no longer has any use and can be discarded. Your weed butter can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container and used at any time.
Using cannabutter in edibles
Cannabutter can be used in place of butter or oil in any recipe. Some recipe masters may tweak a classic recipe to give the edible a balanced and less herbal flavor, but any amount of baking or cooking experience can be translated into making edibles.
How to make weed gummies with cannabutter?
Most of the supplies you need to make canna-gummies are very easy to find in most grocery stores. If possible, make these candies in a silicone mold and they will pop right out after being chilled. It is also helpful to taste the mixture before pouring it into the mold. If the weed taste is too strong, try adding some additional honey.
- 1 ½ cups of 100 percent juice fruit juice
- 4 tablespoons of gelatin (use grass-fed gelatin to make it vegan)
- 3 tablespoons of raw honey
- ¼ cup of your cannabutter (use more or less depending on how strong you want the gummies)
- Gummy molds
Step 1:
Place a medium-sized pot over low-medium heat and pour your juice into the pot. Get your liquid nice in warm but do not boil it. Add in your tincture when the juice is warmed up.
Step 2:
Slowly whisk your gelatin into the mixture until it is thoroughly mixed into the juice. You should be whisking until your mixture is free of any granules.
Step 3:
Taste your mixture and add some sweetener if you would like. This can be honey, agave, or a little more sugar. Only add a little at a time until you reach your preferred sweetness.
Step 4:
Carefully pour your mixture into your gummy molds using a small spoon or liquid dropper. Cover the gummy molds and put it into your refrigerator for 3-5 hours.
Step 5:
Check to see if your molds have solidified. If they are solid then they are ready to eat.
Step 6:
Store your gummies in your refrigerator in a sealed container. These can last a long time but they may lose potency if kept for more than a few months.
Determining the exact dose of your gummies
Math can be tricky and calculating your homemade edible dosages certainly can be too. However, it is important to know your dosage to avoid taking too much and having a bad time.
To calculate your dosages, you need to find out the THC content of your starting material. Unless you purchased your bud from a dispensary you probably will not know the exact THC percentage. If you are using crappy weed or trim then you may have bud that is as low as 5 percent THC. If you are using the best of the best stuff then it could be close to 30 percent. For the sake of easy math, we will assume your weed is 10 percent THC.
To begin your equation, multiply your THCA by 10 to get your mg/g of THCA
- 10 percent THCA x 10 = 100mg of THCA per gram of weed
- The conversion rate of THCA to THC is 0.877
- 100mg THCA x 0.877 = 87.7mg of THC per gram of weed
Next, divide the THC content in your recipe by the number of servings you plan to make.
The recipe for cannabutter above involves a ratio of 1 cup of butter to 1 cup of ground cannabis. Say you used about 3.5 grams (an eighth) of weed, multiply 3.5 x 89.7 and you have 313.95 milligrams of THC in your cannabutter.
Our weed gummies recipe uses a quarter cup of butter to make an entire mold of gummies (roughly 20 gummies), the batch would contain 156.97 milligrams of THC. Divide that by 20 gummies, the results suggest that each gummy contains approximately 7.5 milligrams of THC. This is a mild dose of THC per gummy so you can eat one or more depending on how high you want to get.
Sources
Footnotes
- Clark AR. Cannabidiol in gummies: determination of effective solvent-based extraction methods. Bowling Green State University; 2022.
- King JW. The relationship between cannabis/hemp use in foods and processing methodology. Current Opinion in Food Science. 2019;28:32-40.
- Larkin Jr PJ. Marijuana edibles and gummy bears. Buff. l. rev.. 2018;66:313.
- Wolkowicz AH. Edible Marijuana: A New Frontier in the Culinary World (Doctoral dissertation, Thesis, Providence, RI: Johnson & Wales University).
- Sicard C. The Easy Cannabis Cookbook: 60+ Medical Marijuana Recipes for Sweet and Savory Edibles. Callisto Media, Inc.; 2018.
References
- How To Make Edible Gummies With Cannabutter. Sativa University. Accessed 4/7/2024.
- How to Make Cannabutter, Step-by-Step. Bon Appétit. Accessed 4/7/2024.
The content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Cannabis use is subject to local laws and regulations, which vary widely by jurisdiction. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment or altering an existing treatment regimen. The authors and publishers of this blog are not responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided herein. Use cannabis responsibly and in accordance with applicable laws. This blog is intended for adults aged 21 and over. The Sanctuary Dispensaries D186, D187.