The Ultimate Cannabis Infused Honey Recipe

It’s difficult to beat honey's unique flavor and characteristics when it comes to natural sweeteners. Humans have been eating honey for millennia – likely since the Paleolithic – and people have been keeping bees for honey production since at least 7,000 B.C.E. Honey has a distinct sweetness that varies with the floral source, an attribute that can add complexity to dishes beyond plain sugar. Other qualities also make honey a popular food item, including its ability to inhibit microbial activity and resistance to spoilage. 

Because it is so useful and tasty, many patients and consumers have found ways to incorporate honey into their cannabis regimen or experiences.

Making cannabis infused honey at home is not difficult to do, and once a batch has been prepared, it’s easy to incorporate into recipes or even a morning cup of tea or coffee. And because it’s eaten, weed-infused honey and edibles made with it can be a great alternative to inhalation methods of consuming cannabis, such as vaping and smoking.

With so many benefits, it’s easy to see why so many patients and consumers are discovering cannabis honey and adding it to their daily routines.

Why Make Cannabis Infused Honey?

Take the case of a medical cannabis patient who uses cannabis to help get a good night’s sleep. Many consumers dislike smoking (or can't smoke due to health concerns), so joints, pipes, bongs, and the like are out of the question. And whether vaping is healthier than smoking is still being debated, making other cannabis products such as edibles, tinctures, or capsules the best option to help non-smoking consumers get the sleep they need.

There's also the matter of budget. Many recreational and medical cannabis consumers have to be careful about how much they spend on cannabis. Unfortunately, edibles and other oral cannabis products require more processing, which can make them more expensive than cannabis flower (which is generally the most affordable product category at dispensaries).

Thankfully, patients don't need to choose between inexpensive cannabis flower and pricey edibles. By making weed-infused honey at home, consumers can enjoy a wide variety of delicious edible options and get their desired effects without spending more at the dispensary.

With a modest amount of flower, even patients who aren't confident in the kitchen can make a delicious batch of cannabis-infused honey that will last for weeks.

And because honey is so versatile - add a spoonful to your nightly chamomile tea or spread a dollop onto a piece of toast - consumers can get the support they need to fall asleep quickly and stay asleep for hours. As an added benefit, an appropriate dose of cannabis before bed can avoid the foggy head associated with some other sleep aids the morning after use.

Regardless of the reason you may use cannabis, preparing your own weed honey offers a wide range of edible options for a simple, delicious alternative to smoking.

What You'll Need to Make Cannabis Infused Honey

Besides the actual ingredients (listed below), you don’t need much to create your own batch of cannabis-infused honey. The process does not require complicated equipment; just about everything needed can be found in the average household kitchen or weed consumer’s collection of accessories.

First, you’ll want a weed grinder, which can be purchased online or at dispensaries. With it, you’ll grind the cannabis flower into a fine powder that can be easily incorporated into the honey you choose. You will not be straining the flower out of the honey, so ensure it is as fine as possible.

Making cannabis honey at home also requires some basic cookware and utensils. A double-boiler is best for heating the honey gently and slowly. If you do not have access to a double boiler, a heat-resistant bowl placed on top of a pan of boiling water can be carefully used instead.

You’ll also need a heat source, such as a cooktop or hotplate, to gently heat the honey. Basic utensils, including a wire whisk, a rubber spatula, and an opaque, airtight storage container, round out the list of items you’ll need to make THC-infused honey.

How Much Weed Do You Need to Make Infused Honey?

The potency of your weed-infused honey can vary from batch to batch based on the quantity and potency of the cannabis flower you use.

If you’re buying cannabis from a dispensary, it should have the percentage of THC listed on the package. With this information, you can calculate how much THC is a particular quantity of cannabis flower and the creations you make out of it using an online edible potency calculator or with a bit of arithmetic. 

For example, 3.5 grams of cannabis (3,500mg or an eighth of an ounce) that has 30% THC will contain 1,050mg of THC (3,500 x 0.30 = 1,050). When the cannabis flower is added to one cup (48 teaspoons) of honey, each teaspoon will have about 20mg of THC. Thus, a half teaspoon of honey would deliver approximately 10mg of THC.

Cannabis Infused Honey: The Ingredients

To make a batch of cannabis honey, you need:

• one cup of honey
• 3.5 grams of cannabis
• two cups of water for the double boiler.

The amount of cannabis or honey can be increased or decreased to tailor the potency of the finished THC honey. To maintain potency, double or triple the amount of cannabis and honey for a bigger batch.

For a vegan option, substitute agave syrup for the honey.

How to Make Cannabis Infused Honey

It isn’t difficult to learn how to make cannabis-infused honey.

1. Decarboxylate the cannabis flower to convert non-psychoactive THCA to THC and CBDA to CBD. To decarb your flower, break it into small pieces (don’t grind it just yet) and heat it in an oven at 230°-250° F for about 25-35 minutes. After removing it from the oven, let the cannabis cool.
2. Grind the decarbed cannabis in a weed grinder until it is a fine powder and set aside.
3. Add 2 cups of water to the bottom half of the double boiler over high heat and bring to a boil.
4. Remove the bottom of the double boiler from the heat. Place the top pan in place and add the honey to gently heat it. The honey will get thinner as it warms.
5. Add the ground, decarbed cannabis flower to the warm honey and whisk it very well. 
6. Pour the weed honey into a heat-safe, airtight container, or let the cannabis-infused honey cool before storing it in a suitable container. Using a rubber spatula can help you get every sweet and tasty drop into the container. Stir well before using.

Registered dietician and holistic cannabis practitioner Emily Kyle notes that some THC honey recipes call for cooking the cannabis for an extended period, sometimes as long as two hours, before straining the mixture, similar to the process for infusing cannabis butter. However, since honey does not contain fat, it does not have the same ability to dissolve cannabinoids such as THC. 

Because of this, gently heating the honey so it will become thinner and allow the ground cannabis to incorporate easily into it is all that is needed. Less heat also helps preserve the natural benefits of the honey itself. Do not strain the cannabis honey to retain the cannabinoids and other beneficial compounds. Be sure to stir it well before use.

Common Substitutes:

• Substitute agave syrup for the honey to make vegan-friendly weed honey.
• Instead of cannabis flower, decarbed kief or cannabis concentrates can be used to make THC honey.

The Best Way to Store Your Freshly Made Cannabis Infused Honey

To help preserve the benefits of cannabis-infused honey, store it in an airtight, opaque glass container. Keep the container in a cool, dark place, being sure to avoid direct sunlight and high temperatures. The honey will be safe to consume for several months when stored properly. If the honey crystallizes, gently warm it by placing the container in a shallow bowl of hot water and stirring until smooth. 

To use the THC honey, use the edible calculator to determine its potency if desired. The weed honey can be mixed into hot beverages, added to recipes, or simply taken by mouth.

If you’ve been looking for a new way to enjoy the benefits of cannabis without smoking or vaping, consider making your own weed honey. It’s quick, easy to prepare, tasty, discreet, and simple to use. Enjoy!

The information in this article and any included images or charts are for educational purposes only. This information is neither a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about laws, regulations, or your health, you should always consult with an attorney, physician or other licensed professional.