A Complete Step-By-Step Guide To Infusing Edibles Using Cannabis Flower

Written By Christina Wong

So you want to know how to make weed edibles at home? Here’s a step-by-step guide to INFUSING CANNABIS at home.

It’s easier than you think, and I’ll show you how to make low-dose edibles that won’t accidentally get you too high.

I wrote this guide because I felt overwhelmed with conflicting information when I was first learning how to infuse. I felt hesitant, scared I was going to get f***ed up, and confused by everyone’s opinions. This Step-By-Step Guide to Infusing Edibles is a general place to start for beginners who want to learn how to confidently, and safely, make low-dose edibles at home using the tools in your kitchen. For beginners, I recommend the mason jar method as the easiest fool-proof process.

STEP 1: Gather Materials

  • Digital Milligram Scale

  • Cannabis Flower

  • Oil/Butter/Fat

  • Glass Jar for Infusing

How much flower do I use?

Depends on how potent you want to make it, and on the recipe you’re making with the infusion. You’ll need to know:

  • how many servings your recipe makes

  • how much oil/fat is used in the recipe

  • approximate % THC of your flower (if unknown assume 20%)

  • potency per serving (I recommend 5mg per serving, or less for beginners)

Calculate how much flower to use with my canna math formula:

[# of servings] x [potency per serving] = [total THC mg needed in infusion]

[total flower in grams] x 1000 = [total flower mg]

[total flower mg] x [% THC] = [total potential THC mg]

[total potential THC mg] x [0.7 percent efficiency] = [total THC mg in infusion]

What’s the ratio of flower to oil/Butter?

You don’t need very much cannabis flower to make a batch of low dose edibles. You’d be surprised how little — less than a 1 gram joint. To increase potency, increase the flower to oil ratio.

For example: One (1) gram flower to one (1) cup oil will make an infusion of ~140mg THC. If 1 cup has 16 tablespoons, each tablespoon of oil is ~8.75 mg of THC. 

STEP 2: Decarboxylate / Activate THC from Cannabis Flower 

OK you’ve got flower, now what? Before infusing, you must do something called “decarb,” which is short for “decarboxylate,” the flower to activate the THC. Mixing dried cannabis flower without decarbing means there’s no THC. Decarb before infusing.

Do NOT skip this step.

Decarb / Decarboxylate / Activate means heating the flower to a specific temperature between 240°F and 295°F to convert the THCa molecule to THC.

There are several different methods to decarb (choose one): 

  • Oven: Spread coarsely crumbled flower in a foil envelope/boat to prevent burning. Preheat the oven to 240°F, place the foil on a baking sheet and onto the center rack of the oven. Bake for 30-40 minutes. 

  • Mason jar: To reduce the strong cannabis smell during decarb, place coarsely crumbled flower in a mason jar and seal with a metal lid. Place the mason jar on a baking sheet in the oven and bake at 240°F for 60 minutes. Using oven mitts, shake the mason jar every 20 minutes to evenly heat all the flower. 

  • Slow cooker: Place coarsely crumbled flower in a mason jar and seal with a metal lid. Fill the slow cooker pot with water, at least halfway. Place the jar in the water, and cover with a lid. Set on high (no higher than 300°F) and let it simmer for 4 hours. Keep the water levels topped at halfway throughout. 

  • Sous vide: Prepare a water bath with a sous vide machine or immersion circulator set at 240°F. Place ground flower in a water displaced zip-top sealed bag. Place the bag into the water bath for 90 minutes.  

  • Infusion machine: Specialty infusion machines such as Ardent and LEVO have a decarb function, where you place the ground flower inside and set the temp/time according to instructions.   

STEP 2: Infuse Cannabis Flower INTO OIL/BUTTER/FAT

Choose a fat-based substance to infuse. THC binds with fat, so higher fat level means increased infusion efficiency and potency. Types of fats for infusing cannabis:

  • Butter / Ghee

  • Olive Oil

  • Coconut Oil

  • Vegetable Oil

  • Avocado Oil

  • Heavy Cream / Milk / Condensed Milk

  • Honey (not a fat, but it works)

Methods for Infusing Cannabis

Place decarbed flower from Step 1 and fat-based substance into a container, like a glass mason jar. Heat it at even, consistent heat between 160°F to 200°F for 2-3 hours. Strain the flower out through a fine sieve or cheesecloth into a clean container and store until ready to use. 

Methods to infuse (choose one):  

  • Stovetop: Mix flower and oil in a mason jar sealed with a metal lid. Place into a saucepan filled with water and simmer at a low rolling boil for 2-3 hours. 

  • Oven: Mix flower and oil in an oven-safe container. Place into the oven and bake at 170°F for 2-3 hours. 

  • Slow cooker: Mix flower and oil in a crock pot and cover with a lid. Heat on low for 4 hours or longer, do not exceed 200°F.

  • Sous vide: Prepare water bath and set sous vide machine or immersion circulator to 170°F. Mix flower and oil in a mason jar sealed with a metal lid and place into the water bath. Heat for 4 hours. 

  • Infusion machine: Pour oil into the infusion machine, and set time/temp for infusion according to manufacturer’s instructions.  

That’s it!

Store your infusion in a cool, dark place, or refrigerated, until ready to use in your recipe.

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A version of this was originally published in “Cooking & Baking with Cannabis: A Complete Beginners Guide” for MedMen EMBER

Christina Wong
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The Difference Between Eating vs. Inhaling Cannabis