Make Your Own Cannabis Edibles
Use our free cannabis edibles calculator to dial in your THC and CBD dose, then follow the step-by-step infusion guide below to make consistent, properly dosed edibles at home.
Set Up Your Infusion
Calculate Your Servings
*Cannabinoids are lipophilic — they bind easily to fats and oils such as butter, coconut oil, lecithin, and alcohol. Potency estimates assume full decarboxylation and full infusion efficiency; actual results vary. Massachusetts recreational limit is 5 mg THC per serving. Medical patients should consult a CommCan budtender for personalized guidance.
How to Make Your Own Cannabis Edibles
Almost any cannabis product can be turned into an edible at home. Flower, kief, hash, wax, RSO, tinctures, and CO2 extracts all work. The two steps that every infusion method shares are decarboxylation and infusion. Master those two and the rest is just cooking.
If you’re new to edibles or just want a refresher on how they work in the body, our Edibles Guide covers onset times, effect duration, and what to expect.
Step 1: Decarboxylation (Decarbing)
Decarboxylation is the most important step in making edibles that actually work. Raw cannabis contains THCA, which doesn’t get you high on its own. Low, controlled heat converts THCA into the Delta-9-THC that produces effects. Skip this step and your edibles will have little to no potency.
Temperature and time both matter. Too hot or too long and you’ll burn off the THC and terpenes you want to keep. Too short and the conversion isn’t complete. The right approach depends on what you’re starting with.
Decarbing by Product Type
Cannabis Flower: Spread ground flower in a thin, even layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 240°F (115°C) for 40 to 60 minutes. The flower should shift from bright green to a light golden brown. Not sure which strain to use? Our Strain Guide can help you pick a flower with the effects you want.
Kief and Hash: Use a lower temperature than flower. Try 220°F (105°C) for 30 to 40 minutes. These are more concentrated and more sensitive to heat.
Wax, Shatter, and Other Concentrates: Concentrates need a shorter decarb. Aim for 200 to 210°F (93 to 99°C) for 20 to 25 minutes. They’re already highly refined, so less time is needed and overheating is a bigger risk. Learn more on our Concentrates Guide.
RSO and Tinctures: These products are already decarboxylated. Do not apply additional heat. You can add them straight to a recipe, but high cooking temperatures can degrade their potency. Mix them into no-bake recipes or stir them in at the end of cooking. Our Tinctures Guide has more on how to use these products.
Step 2: Infusion
Infusion is how the activated cannabinoids get into your final edible. THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids are fat-soluble. That means they bind to fats and oils. Steeping your decarbed cannabis in a fat source like butter, coconut oil, or olive oil creates an infused cooking base you can use in any recipe.
Many home cooks add a small amount of sunflower or soy lecithin as an emulsifier. Lecithin helps cannabinoids bind to the fat more completely and can make your edibles more consistent from serving to serving.
Basic Infusion Method
Combine your decarbed cannabis and fat in a double boiler, slow cooker, or saucepan over very low heat. Keep the temperature between 160 and 180°F (70 to 82°C). Never let the mixture boil. Simmer for 2 to 4 hours, stirring once in a while. Strain through cheesecloth to remove the plant material, then store in a sealed container in the fridge.
Use the calculator at the top of this page to figure out how much cannabis to use for your fat. Once you know the milligrams of THC per teaspoon of your infused fat, you can dial in the dose for any recipe.
Tips for Consistent Dosing
Homemade edibles can vary in potency from batch to batch and even from serving to serving. A few practices help:
- Mix your infused fat thoroughly into the recipe batter before dividing into individual portions.
- Cut or portion the final product as evenly as you can. Uneven pieces mean uneven doses.
- Label your infused fat clearly so it isn’t used by accident by someone who didn’t intend to consume cannabis.
- Start with a lower dose than you think you need. Edibles take 45 minutes to 2 hours to kick in. Wait before redosing.
- Massachusetts caps recreational edibles at 5 mg of THC per serving. Use the calculator above to keep your homemade servings in line with your tolerance.
Not sure what your tolerance is? Stop into CommCan in Millis, Rehoboth, or Mansfield and our budtenders can help you find a starting point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I find the THC % and CBD % for my product?
Check the label on your CommCan product or your receipt. Add the THC % and THCA % together and enter the combined number in the THC field. Do the same for CBD and CBDA. If you only see one value (just THC or just THCA), use that number on its own.
Example CommCan product label. Look for the THC, THCA, CBD, and CBDA values.
Your budtender can help you read a label if you’re unsure. Stop by any of our three Massachusetts locations and we’ll walk you through it.
Can I use any cannabis product to make edibles?
Yes. Flower, kief, hash, concentrates (wax, shatter, crumble, sugar), RSO, and tinctures all work. The main difference is decarboxylation. Products like RSO and tinctures are already activated and don’t need to be heated further. Concentrates and flower need to be decarbed first. See the guide above for product-specific instructions.
What fat or oil should I use for infusion?
Cannabinoids are fat-soluble, so any fat works. Butter, coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil, MCT oil, ghee, and even alcohol (for tincture-style infusions) all do the job. Higher fat content generally means more efficient absorption. Coconut oil and butter are the most common choices for baked goods. Adding a small amount of sunflower or soy lecithin helps keep potency consistent across servings.
Do I have to decarboxylate my cannabis?
Yes, if you’re using raw flower, kief, hash, or concentrates. Without decarbing, the THCA in your cannabis won’t convert to THC and your edibles will have very little psychoactive effect. The only exception is products that are already decarboxylated. RSO, tinctures, and some distillates can be added straight to recipes without extra heating.
How long do homemade edibles take to kick in?
Usually 45 minutes to 2 hours, sometimes longer. It depends on your metabolism, whether you’ve eaten recently, and the fat content of the edible itself. This is much slower than smoking or vaping. The most common mistake people make is redosing too soon. Wait at least 2 hours before deciding whether to take more. For a deeper look at how edibles work, see our Edibles Guide.
What is the Massachusetts legal limit for edible doses?
Massachusetts law caps recreational cannabis edibles at 5 mg of THC per serving and 100 mg per package. These limits apply to commercially sold products. There’s no legal cap on homemade edibles for personal use, but the 5 mg guideline is a useful benchmark, especially if you’re new to edibles or sharing with others. Medical patients using CommCan’s 25 mg medical products should follow guidance from their healthcare provider. New to medical cannabis? Learn how to become a patient in Massachusetts.
Why does my dose vary between batches or servings?
Homemade edibles aren’t as precise as commercial ones. Variation can come from an incomplete decarb, an uneven infusion, or uneven distribution of the infused fat in your recipe. To keep things consistent: decarb thoroughly, infuse at a steady low temperature, and mix your batter well before portioning. The calculator gives you a reliable estimate, but treat it as a close guide rather than an exact figure.