How to Make Weed Butter: Expert Preparation Guide

Cannabis concentrates come in a variety of consistencies and forms based on the method of preparation. Budder is a popular type of concentrate being sold in online dispensaries right now. Concentrates are products that have incredibly high concentrations of cannabinoids and almost zero plant matter. 

Budder is made by adding chemical solvents to cannabis and extracting the solvent. The final result is something between solid and liquid. Its name originates from its strong resemblance to butter with regards to its creamy texture. It is potent, pure, and amber or yellowish.

While budder was first manufactured in the early 1990s, it has only recently started receiving wide-scale attention and acceptance. In this article, we delve deeper into budder, its makeup profile, and how to extract it. Read on for more insight into how to make budder.

What Sets Budder Apart From Other Concentrates?

When you smoke a joint or a blunt, you inhale several therapeutic cannabinoids like CBD, THC, and terpenes. You also inhale less beneficial compounds, such as chlorophyll and plant matter. This has always resulted in many pot users asking: “How do I get more cannabinoids and less plant matter when consuming cannabis?”

Well, concentrates like budder are the solution to this often-asked question. During the extraction process, budder uses a chemical solvent to extract active compounds like CBD and THC from the weed plant. While a typical marijuana flower may have around 20 percent THC and 1 percent CBD, concentrates may contain up to 90 percent CBD or THC, based on the strain it originates from.

Budder has increased in popularity in the cannabis concentrate marketplace for several reasons. These include:

Consistency

“Soft but pliable” is the perfect description of budder. It’s just like actual butter, although budder shouldn’t be confused with cannabutter because they are not the same thing. 

Before budder, concentrate users had difficulties in selecting between the viscosity of oils and the solidity of shatter. Shatter often breaks off, and oils tend to slide off the dabbing tool. But budder’s thickened consistency provides the ideal middle ground, allowing you to scoop and place it on a rig or in a vaporizer.

Cannabinoid Levels

Budder boasts between 80-90 percent THC. THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) is responsible for the psychotropic effects you experience when you consume weed. Budder is regarded as one of the highest THC-rich concentrates. Even a little amount packs an incredible punch, so be careful not to overindulge. It is also very clean, with a purity rate of 99.6 percent, meaning it’s devoid of impurities. 

Terpene Profile

The popularity of budder set off like wildfire as a result of the shift from high cannabinoid concentrates to terpene-rich concentrates. This was after the realization that terpenes contained many potentially therapeutic properties. 

And in that case, budder had a lot of terpenes. In fact, that’s what differentiates it from other concentrates. Terpenes are the active compounds responsible for the unique smell and taste in each weed strain. 

They also work synergistically with THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids to create a beneficial phenomenon called the entourage effect. As such, budder is the most flavourful concentrate due to its high terpene concentration.

How to Extract Weed Butter

The process of extracting budder is somewhat complicated and requires specialized equipment. Also, the use of flammable solvents such as CO2 and butane makes the extraction process even riskier. Therefore, it is best left to experts. With that disclaimer in mind, here’s a rundown of the process of making budder.

The equipment needed:

• Uncut cannabis
• Glass bowl
• Extraction tube
• Concentrate container
• Butane/propane containers
• Parchment paper
• Electric heating pad
• Vacuum oven
• Coffee filter

Step-by-step Process

1. Pack in the Flower Buds

Take the uncut cannabis and grind it up into fine particles, just as you would do when rolling a joint or blunt. Take the finely ground cannabis and pack it inside the specialized airtight extraction tube. Make sure you stuff it up in such a way that the solvent will be able to permeate through. 

After stuffing up, use an unbleached coffee filter to cover the extraction tube’s opening. The coffee filter acts as a sieve to trap any plant material that may find its way into the extracted liquid. A more expensive but better option would be to use a closed-loop system. This is a machine that allows the liquid solvent to drench the buds without being emitted into the nearby area.

2. Drench the Buds With Liquid Solvent

Using butane, CO2, or propane, blast the extraction tube. The goal is to drench the buds with the solvent so make sure the whole tube is saturated with the solvent and runs clear. Among the solvent options, butane is regarded as the most ideal option for buttery consistencies. Due to the blasted liquid pressure, the terpenes and cannabinoids are extracted from the buds and added to the liquid solvent. Next, the liquid solvent containing the cannabinoids and terpenes is extracted via the extraction tube. 

3. Heat the Extracted Liquid Solvent

It’s now time to purge the extracted liquid. Purging entails heating the solvent until you’re left with a concentrate comprising of terpenes and cannabinoids. 

Put the extracted liquid in a medium-sized bowl. Then, set the heat temperatures on your heating pan at around 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 37 degrees Celsius. Any higher temperatures than that are likely to degrade the terpenes and cannabinoids contained in the concentrate. And in the end, you may be left with a less potent and terrible-tasting concentrate.

Heating eliminates the residual solvent from the liquid through evaporation. The solvents used during extraction are hazardous and not safe for humans to ingest. Thus, vaporizing the solvents makes the resulting concentrate safer for consumption. This is another reason why this job is best left to licensed professionals. 

4. Purge in a Vacuum Oven

The extracted solvent may have evaporated after being exposed to heat, but that’s not the end. Proceed with purging the concentrate inside the vacuum oven.

There’s no definite timeframe for how long it should stay in the vacuum. The trick is to check how the concentrate shifts, which should inform you if the process is complete. Once the concentrate no longer reacts to the vacuum, that marks the end of this process.

5. Crystallization

Once the concentrate starts crystallizing, the processor whips the residual oily substance to achieve an eye-catching creamy and buttery consistency. This process is what gives budder its texture. 

In the end, collect your budder and put it on parchment paper to maintain the flavour. Then, store it in an airtight concentrate container to guarantee a longer shelf life. You can opt for either a glass or a silicone container. The container should also be opaque or light-proof. Elements like light, oxygen, heat, and moisture can affect the potency and taste of your budder concentrate. 

Budder’s Shelf Life

The majority of cannabis products, including budder, boast a shelf life of one year maximum. However, that period may vary based on your preservation techniques. So, you should store the concentrate container in a cool, dry place that’s no warmer than 70 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Over time, you can expect the flavour and potency of your budder to degrade no matter how carefully you store it. That is the nature of terpenes and cannabinoids. 

Also, those who consume budder regularly develop higher tolerance. That means they may need more hits or puffs than a novice user.

How to Use Budder

Ideally, start with a low dose of budder concentrate. Whether you’re a first-timer or a veteran user, always warm up each dabbing session. Take slow dabs throughout the session and space out the hits accordingly. 

Also, don’t mix the concentrate with other substances like alcohol. It may lead to green out, resulting in symptoms like rapid heart rate, anxiety, lethargy, nausea, and paranoia.

There are three ways to consume budder. They include:

• Dabbing rig
• Vaporizer
• Edibles

Dabbing

Because budder contains high levels of cannabinoids and terpenes, you must be careful with the temperature you use to vaporize this concentrate. Don’t go beyond 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Otherwise, the terpenes will burn and result in a less potent, horrible-tasting concentrate.

The best dab rig tool to use would be an electric dab rig. This is basically an adapted bong that features a dab nail rather than bud nugs. It allows users to fine-tune the exact temperature within the dabbing surface. 

Using your dab tool, scoop some budder and place it onto the nail. Then light up your blow torch and set the flame on the nail. Next, you can inhale as much smoke as you want.

You can also use a regular dab nail made from titanium, glass, or quartz. However, exercise caution when heating it up using a butane torch. To optimize it to the ideal temperature, heat up the dab nail for around 30 seconds. Give it another 30 seconds to cool down, after which you can then proceed to put the concentrate on the dab nail.

Vaporizers

They are also ideal for using on budder concentrates. They are not only quicker but also more accurate, thanks to their temperature pre-sets, which you can adjust depending on your preference. The most common by far is the concentrate vape pen. It is portable and user-friendly. Other alternatives to the concentrate vape pen include non-pens, E-rigs, and desktops.

Edibles

You can use budder to make different types of edibles, from cookies to candies. The first step is to decarb the butter by heating it. This causes it to melt into oil, and then you can add it to your favourite recipe.

That being said, every product has its pros and cons. Here are some of the benefits and risks associated with consuming budder:

Pros

• Budder is very pure and free of toxins. Thus vaping budder allows you to inhale more therapeutic cannabinoids and terpenes and virtually no toxins.
• Budder that’s been professionally extracted undergoes lab testing, guaranteeing its safety and purity.
• Budder features an abundance of terpenes that interact with other cannabinoids to produce an entourage effect in users.

Cons

• Budder is rich in cannabinoids like THC. Thus, overindulging may lead to powerful psychoactive effects like anxiety and paranoia.
• Budder’s strong potency may lead to couch-lock, and thus a lack of productivity. This may not be what you expected to feel.
• You shouldn’t consume budder if you are on the go. The concentrate is absorbed more quickly in the body and needs to be consumed in a safe environment like at home.

If you plan to vape or dab budder, please do so in a safe environment like your house and with trusted company. It packs a powerful punch, so be prepared for a wild ride. Your body may respond in weird ways, especially if you’re a first-time user. Having people around you is the best prevention for avoiding any potential THC-triggered issues.

Meanwhile, stay hydrated during the session. This is because THC tends to make your mouth dry, as your salivary glands don’t produce enough saliva to hydrate your mouth. Drinking water will help with such symptoms. 

Making budder through the solvent extraction method requires professional knowledge and high-tech equipment. The concentrate is extracted through solvents like propane, CO2, or butane. 

Shatter easily crumbles when you pick it up, while oils will slide on a tool. But budder is easier to scoop and serve repeated dabs with. If you’re not a sucker for shatter or oils, then budder is the perfect middle-ground alternative. 

A few hits from a dab of budder packs a serious punch compared to your ordinary blunt or joint. That’s because the budder placed on the dab rig is free of any plant material or chlorophyll, and no additives or impurities affect the potency. All that’s left for you to inhale are terpenes, cannabinoids, and flavonoids.