Step 1: Decarb the flower
Cannabis makes its THC mostly as THCA, which converts to THC only with heat, so Leafly warns that skipping the decarb leaves cannabutter with little to no effect. Bake broken-up flower on a parchment-lined tray in a low oven: in a 2016 lab study, THCA was essentially gone after 30 minutes at 110°C (230°F), and Leafly's cannabutter method uses 245°F (118°C) for 30 to 40 minutes. Let it cool. The full method is in why and how to decarb weed.
Step 2: Infuse butter or oil
THC binds to fat, so butter and oils carry it best, says Leafly; an Italian study found that oil extracted cannabinoids significantly better than water (Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine). Butter, coconut oil, olive oil, canola or avocado oil all work.
- Melt the butter or oil with about half as much water on the lowest heat or in a slow cooker. Leafly advises staying at or below 200°F (93°C), since going hotter may burn off cannabinoids.
- Stir in the decarbed flower and keep it just below a simmer for 2 to 3 hours, stirring now and then. Never let it boil.
- Strain through cheesecloth or a fine sieve, chill until the fat sets, lift it off and discard the water.
- Keep it covered and clearly labelled in the fridge; Leafly says it lasts 1 to 3 months there, or up to 6 months in the freezer.
- For a full walkthrough, see how to make cannabutter at home. Or skip this step: bottled cannabis oil can replace the oil in most recipes, and its label makes dosing much easier.
Step 3: Estimate the strength per serving
Health Canada says there is no convenient way to test homemade extracts and that they may be extra potent, but you can work out the most THC a batch could hold. Total THC, listed for flower in mg per gram, already counts the THCA that converts with heat (Health Canada). Multiply it by the grams you used, as Health Canada's label guide does for a package, then divide by the servings.
- 1 g at 150 mg/g, cut into 16 pieces: up to about 9 mg each.
- 1 g at 250 mg/g, 16 pieces: up to about 16 mg each.
- 3.5 g at 200 mg/g, 24 pieces: up to about 29 mg each.
What those numbers mean
The real figure is lower, because temperature and cooking time affect how much THC ends up in the food (Leafly), but nobody can say how much lower, so plan around the ceiling. Health Canada suggests new consumers look for 2.5 mg of THC or less, and a legal edible package may contain no more than 10 mg (Health Canada). For a weaker batch, use less flower, as Leafly suggests, or mix infused butter with plain butter. More worked examples are in the edibles dosage guide.
Keep the heat low
Heat is a balance: too little fails to activate the cannabinoids, while too much burns them off (Leafly). The 2016 study cites earlier work in which THC peaked after about 5 to 10 minutes at 145°C and then fell significantly with longer heating, and another in which the oxidation product cannabinol (CBN) formed at 160°C and 180°C.
- Use an oven thermometer; Leafly notes that ovens can fluctuate by 20 degrees.
- Keep infusions at or below 200°F (93°C), and never let them boil.
- Add infused oil to finished dishes such as pasta, dressings or toast rather than frying with it.
Mix well and cut even portions
Uneven mixing is how a square ends up far stronger than the next. Stir the infused fat in until no streaks remain, then portion evenly, with a ruler for cutting brownies and a measuring cup for muffin batter. Legal edibles labelled with more than 5 mg of THC must contain 85% to 115% of the stated amount under the Cannabis Regulations; a home batch gets no such check.
Eat slowly, then wait
Health Canada says eaten cannabis can take 30 minutes to 2 hours to start and up to 4 hours to reach full effect, effects can last up to 12 hours with some residual effects up to 24, and the body turns swallowed THC into a stronger compound, 11-hydroxy-THC.
- Try a small piece and wait at least 2 hours before a second 2.5 mg dose, as the B.C. government's edible fact sheet advises.
- Clear your schedule: B.C. suggests at least 8 hours free, at home with people you trust, with no driving or looking after others.
- Skip alcohol and other drugs, which Health Canada says increase impairment and the risk of adverse effects, and do not drive for at least 6 hours, as Canada's Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines advise.
- Too much can cause extreme sedation, anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations and a rapid heartbeat, according to B.C.; get medical help if someone is unwell. If you have a health condition or take medication, ask a doctor or pharmacist first.
Label and store everything
Homemade edibles look like ordinary food. Health Canada advises storing cannabis locked away and out of sight and reach of children and pets, keeping edibles separate from regular food and labelling homemade edibles clearly.
- Write what it is, the date and the estimated maximum mg per piece on the container.
- Use airtight containers. Leafly says edibles usually stay potent for 3 to 6 months, but brownies and cookies can go stale in a week or so, so freeze any you will not eat soon.
- Store leftover decarbed flower in a sealed jar somewhere cool and dark, and use it within a few months.
- Suspected poisoning: call 1-844-POISON-X (1-800-463-5060 in Quebec) or 911 (Health Canada); for a pet, call a veterinarian.
Easy recipe ideas
Once the infusion is measured, the cooking itself is ordinary:
- Brownies and cookies: swap infused butter for regular butter; the weed brownies recipe shows the strength math for a full pan.
- Chocolate strawberries or bark: melt chocolate gently, stir in a measured spoonful of infused coconut oil, then dip completely dry berries or spread it thin and chill. Divide the oil's THC by the number of pieces.
- No-bake energy balls: mix oats, nut butter, maple syrup and infused coconut oil, then roll equal-sized balls.
- Popcorn: toss with melted cannabutter, then portion into individual bowls rather than a shared one.
- Savoury dishes: stir infused olive oil into a finished pasta sauce or a salad dressing.
- Drinks: fat floats on lemonade, so add a measured dose to each glass, not the pitcher, and stir. For warm drinks, weed tea uses milk or butter to carry the THC.
- Raw smoothies: raw leaves or buds keep their THC as THCA, so they will not produce a high.
- Hosting: label infused and plain versions, tell guests the dose per piece, and keep plain food and drinks out.
Is it legal to cook with cannabis in Canada?
Yes, with cannabis you may legally possess. The Cannabis Act lets individuals alter it but bans explosive or highly flammable organic solvents such as butane, and Health Canada notes you cannot sell cannabis without a licence. In Ontario you must be 19 or older to buy, use, possess or grow recreational cannabis (Government of Ontario), so never share homemade edibles with anyone younger.
Getting flower for cooking
GasDank offers same-day delivery across Toronto and the GTA, usually within 1 to 2 hours, and mail order across Canada, and the menu carries lab-tested products: browse all flower. Toronto and Mississauga orders have a $40 minimum and free delivery from $80; local orders are paid by cash on delivery or Interac e-Transfer. Customers must be 19 or older (21 in Quebec), with ID checked at the door.
