Resin Extraction for Cooking

Marijuana Horticulture

by Jorge Cervantes

Cannabis butter and oil are simple to make. Each takes a little time to make, but large batches can be processed and stored in the refrigerator or freezer.

The psychoactive cannabinoids dissolve in butter, cooking oil, or alcohol. Dissolving the resin in the butter, oil, or alcohol makes it available for absorption by the body. Cannabis butter contains about 80 percent of the cannabinoids that were in the original foliage used to make it.

Heat 1.6 quarts (1.5L) of water in a large pan on the stove. Add 4 ounces of marijuana leaf, one pound of butter, and stir.

Bring the liquid to a boil. Put the lid on the pot and simmer two hours on low heat, stirring occasionally.

Strain the mix through a colander, catching the liquid below. Press the wet foliage to get all the liquid out.

Pour 0.5 quart of boiling water over the wet leaf to wash out remaining butter. Press the leaves to squeeze out all the liquid possible.

Let the mix stand and cool. Within an hour or two, the mix will separate – water on the bottom and cannabis butter on top. You can speed the process by placing the hot mix into the refrigerator.

Pour off and discard the water, and retain the cannabis butter.

Use the butter in any recipe that calls for butter. Use small portions until you are familiar with dosage and effects. Be careful when consuming; the butter is quite potent.

Cannabis vegetable oi is made very much like cannabis butter.