Cannabis Honey: The Short Answer

Cannabis honey is honey infused with decarboxylated cannabis. You can make it two ways: steep ground, heated flower in warm honey, or stir a cannabis tincture or oil into honey. The second method works better because honey is a poor solvent for THC. Honey is mostly sugar and water, and THC is fat-soluble, so flower steeped in honey alone releases only part of its potency. Adding a small amount of oil, lecithin, or alcohol tincture carries the cannabinoids into the honey. One teaspoon is the dose unit, so you calculate potency before you taste it.

cannabis honey dosage guide

What You Need

  • Decarboxylated cannabis flower, or a cannabis tincture or infused oil
  • Honey, raw or pasteurized
  • Double boiler or a saucepan with a heat-safe bowl
  • Candy thermometer that reads 100 F to 250 F
  • Cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer
  • Airtight glass jars with lids
  • Labels and a marker
  • Optional: sunflower lecithin, MCT oil, or food-grade alcohol

Method 1: Infuse Honey with Decarboxylated Flower

  1. Decarboxylate the flower by spreading it on a baking sheet and heating it at 240 F for 40 minutes.
  2. Grind the cooled flower coarse, about the texture of dry oregano, so the cheesecloth can catch it later.
  3. Add 1 cup of honey to the top of a double boiler and warm it to 150 F.
  4. Stir in 3.5 grams of the decarboxylated flower plus 1 tablespoon of MCT oil or lecithin.
  5. Hold the mixture at 150 F to 160 F for 2 hours, stirring every 15 minutes. Do not let it boil.
  6. Line a strainer with two layers of cheesecloth and pour the honey through it into a bowl.
  7. Squeeze the cheesecloth to recover the honey it holds, then discard the plant material.
  8. Pour the strained honey into a jar, cap it, and label it with the date and the milligrams of THC per teaspoon.

Method 2: Blend Honey with a Cannabis Tincture or Oil

  1. Warm 1 cup of honey in a double boiler to 110 F so it flows.
  2. Whisk in 1 teaspoon of sunflower lecithin to keep the oil and honey from separating.
  3. Add your measured cannabis tincture or infused oil and whisk for 3 to 5 minutes until the mixture looks uniform.
  4. Pour the honey into a jar and cap it while it is still warm.
  5. Label the jar with the date and the milligrams of THC per teaspoon.

Dose per Teaspoon

Estimate total THC first, then divide by the number of teaspoons in your batch. Honey weighs about 7 grams per teaspoon, so 1 cup, roughly 336 grams, holds about 48 teaspoons.

cannabis honey dosage guide

  1. Multiply grams of flower by its THC percentage and by 1000 to get milligrams of THC. A 3.5 gram batch at 20 percent THC gives about 700 mg before decarboxylation loss.
  2. Multiply that number by 0.85 to account for loss during decarboxylation and straining. The example lands near 595 mg.
  3. Divide by the teaspoons in the batch. In the example, 595 mg across 48 teaspoons is about 12 mg per teaspoon.
  4. Start with one quarter teaspoon, about 3 mg, and wait two hours before taking more.

Storage and Labeling

  • Keep the jar at room temperature, away from direct light.
  • Skip the refrigerator. Cold speeds up crystallization.
  • Expect oil-based batches to separate. Stir before each use.
  • Write the milligrams per teaspoon and the batch date on every jar, including gift jars.
  • Use within 6 to 12 months for the best flavor and potency.

Safety Notes

  • Store cannabis honey the way you store medication: locked, labeled, and out of reach of children.
  • Never give cannabis honey to a dog or cat. Cannabis and honey are both harmful to pets.
  • Edibles can take 30 minutes to 2 hours to take effect, so do not redose early.
  • Do not drive or operate machinery after eating cannabis honey.
  • Avoid cannabis honey if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or under 21.