What to Do with Weed Stems? 10 Leftover Tips You Can Try

Ever rolled a joint or packed a bowl, only to be left with a pile of leftover stems and no clue what to do with them? Instead of tossing them out, you might be wondering if there’s a way to squeeze some extra use out of what’s left.

The good news? While they won’t get you high on their own, there are plenty of ways to turn scraps into something useful—whether it’s an infusion, an extract, or even a DIY project.

Can I Use Weed Stems for Anything?

Yes. While they don’t have as much THC as the buds, they can still be repurposed in several ways, from making infusions like cannabutter and tea to extracting kief or using them in DIY projects. Instead of tossing them out, you can get creative and turn them into something useful with the right techniques.

What Can I Do With My Leftover Weed Stems?

A lot, actually. You can make cannabutter, edibles, or add them to alcohol, tea, coffee, juices, or smoothies. There are plenty of ways to experiment with your leftover stems—it just takes a little creativity to get started.

That said, here’s the list we’ve made just for you.

1. Cannabutter or Edibles

Even though scraps don’t have as much THC as the buds, they still contain cannabinoids. Infusing them into butter or oil helps extract whatever potency is left, giving you a versatile base for edibles like brownies, cookies, or even savory dishes. It’s an easy way to make use of leftovers instead of tossing them out.

How to do it:

1. Decarb first – Spread the scraps on a baking sheet and heat at 220°F (105°C) for about 45-60 minutes to activate the cannabinoids.
2. Infuse into butter or oil – Simmer the decarbed pieces in butter or coconut oil on low heat (160-200°F or 70-95°C) for 2-3 hours. Stir occasionally.
3. Strain and store – Use a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to separate the solids. Store the infused butter in the fridge and use it in any recipe that calls for butter or oil.

2. Infused Alcohol

Alcohol is great at pulling out cannabinoids and terpenes, creating a tincture that can be used in drinks, added to food, or even taken sublingually (under the tongue). This method preserves every bit of potency, and the final product can last for months.

How to do it:

1. Decarb for better potency – Just like with edibles, heat the scraps at 220°F (105°C) for 45-60 minutes before infusing.
2. Choose your alcohol – High-proof alcohol like Everclear (190 proof) or strong vodka works best.
3. Combine and let it sit – Place the scraps in a jar and cover with alcohol. Store in a dark, cool place for at least 2-4 weeks, shaking the jar daily.
4. Strain and store – Use a fine strainer or cheesecloth to remove solids. The tincture can be taken as drops under the tongue, added to cocktails, or even used in cooking.

3. Add to Tea or Coffee

Herbal tea is an easy, relaxing way to extract the cannabinoids while also enjoying a warm drink. Unlike smoking, this method is smoother on the lungs, and when paired with a fat (like coconut oil or milk), it helps activate the THC.

How to do it:

1. Decarb for better effects – Heat at 220°F (105°C) for 45-60 minutes to activate the cannabinoids.
2. Steep in hot water – Add to a pot of boiling water along with a fat source (milk, butter, or coconut oil) to help extract cannabinoids. Simmer for about 20 minutes.
3. Strain and enjoy – Remove the plant matter and mix in your favorite flavors like honey, cinnamon, or lemon for a better taste.
4. For coffee lovers – Add some infused milk or butter into your coffee for a wake-and-bake experience without the smoke.

4. Fresh Juices or Smoothies

If you’re into health-conscious cannabis use, blending scraps into smoothies or juices is a creative way to get some benefits without smoking. While scraps don’t have a lot of THC, they still contain cannabinoids and terpenes that can contribute to an overall wellness boost. Plus, blending them with fruits and veggies masks any bitterness and makes them more palatable.

How to do it:

1. Decarb for potency (optional) – If you want a psychoactive effect, heat at 220°F (105°C) for 45-60 minutes before blending. If you’re just after the nutritional benefits, skip this step.
2. Soften them up – Boil for 10-15 minutes to break down the fibers and make blending easier.
3. Blend with your favorite ingredients – Add to a smoothie with bananas, berries, spinach, or nut milk. For fresh juices, mix with citrus fruits or ginger to help balance the flavor.
4. Strain if needed – If the texture is too fibrous, strain before drinking.

5. Make Bubble Hash

Bubble hash is one of the best ways to get every last bit of resin from leftovers. Instead of tossing them, you can extract the remaining trichomes and make a concentrated, potent product that can be smoked, vaped, or added to edibles.

How to do it:

1. Freeze everything first – This helps the trichomes break off more easily.
2. Use ice water and agitation – Fill a bucket with ice-cold water and ice, then stir or shake the mixture vigorously to knock the trichomes off.
3. Filter through micron bags – Use different-sized bubble bags (73-220 microns) to catch the hash as you strain the mixture.
4. Collect and dry – Scrape out the resin, let it dry completely, and store it properly.

6. Use a Silk Screen to Collect Fine Kief

Kief is the powdery, resin-rich material that contains the most cannabinoids. Instead of letting it go to waste, using a silk screen helps separate these potent trichomes, which can then be sprinkled onto joints, bowls, or even pressed into hash.

How to do it:

1. Get a fine silk screen (around 100-150 microns) – This allows trichomes to pass through while leaving plant material behind.
2. Gently rub over the screen – Move it back and forth in a circular motion to separate the kief.
3. Collect and store – Use a card or scraper to gather the fine kief, then keep it in a cool, dry place.

7. Make Traditional Charas

Charas is one of the oldest forms of hand-made hash, traditionally produced in India and Nepal. Unlike regular hash, which is made from dried trichomes, charas is created by rubbing fresh resinous material between the hands. While it’s usually made from live cannabis flowers, scraps can still hold some trichomes, making this a fun, old-school method to extract whatever is left.

How to do it:

1. Warm up the material – Freshly harvested material works best, but if you’re using dried leftovers, slightly rehydrate them by wrapping them in a damp paper towel for a few hours.
2. Rub between your palms – Press the material between your hands and roll it gently in a circular motion. Over time, a sticky, dark resin will start forming on your skin.
3. Scrape and collect – Once enough has built up, scrape it off with a knife or card and roll it into small balls or sticks.
4. Store and enjoy – Let it sit for a few days to cure before using.

8. Create DIY Hash

If you want an easy way to turn leftovers into something smokable, DIY hash is a solid choice. By blending and filtering, you can extract trichomes and turn them into a more concentrated product without needing expensive equipment.

How to do it:

1. Freeze the material first – This makes it easier to break off trichomes during processing.
2. Blend with ice water – Add cold water and ice to a blender along with your material, then blend on low for about 30 seconds.
3. Strain through a fine mesh or coffee filter – This separates the plant material from the resin-filled water.
4. Let it settle – Let the strained water sit for an hour. The trichomes will sink to the bottom.
5. Dry and press – Carefully remove excess water, then dry the hash before pressing it into a solid form.

9. Toss Stems in Compost for a Green Solution

Instead of throwing away leftovers, composting them is an eco-friendly way to give back to the earth. Cannabis scraps are rich in organic material and can break down to create nutrient-dense compost, perfect for gardening.

How to do it:

1. Chop it up – Smaller pieces break down faster, so cut up any thick, woody parts before composting.
2. Mix with other compost materials – Combine with fruit scraps, vegetable peels, coffee grounds, and yard waste to balance the compost pile.
3. Keep it moist and turn occasionally – Compost needs the right mix of air, water, and heat to break down properly. Turn the pile every few weeks to speed up the process.
4. Use for gardening – After a few months, the compost will turn into rich soil, perfect for growing plants—maybe even your next cannabis crop.

10. Use Stems for DIY Projects

If you like crafting or DIY projects, scraps can be surprisingly useful. The fibrous texture makes them perfect for natural materials like paper, rope, or even small art projects. Instead of tossing them, why not turn them into something cool?

How to do it:

1. Make homemade paper – Blend with water and recycled paper, then spread the pulp thinly on a screen to dry.
2. Create rustic rope or twine – The fibers can be twisted and braided into a natural cord for decoration or light-duty use.
3. Decorative crafts – Use in resin art, homemade jewelry, or even as texture in paintings.
4. Eco-friendly fire starters – Dry out the scraps, mix with wax, and shape into small fire-starting pucks for camping or fireplaces.

Things to Keep in Mind When Using Leftover Weed Stems

Scraps have fewer cannabinoids than buds but can still be useful for infusions, extracts, or DIY projects. That said, not every method works the same way, and some are more effective than others.

Here’s what you should know before putting them to good use.

Heat Stems First to Activate Their Good Stuff

Before you turn leftovers into butter, tinctures, or tea, you need to activate the cannabinoids through a process called decarboxylation (or decarbing). Without this step, the THC and CBD in stems remain in their raw, inactive form, meaning you won’t get much effect from any infusion or edible you make.

Lower THC Content Means Less Potency

Let’s get this out of the way—leftover scraps aren’t packed with THC like the buds.

They do have small amounts of cannabinoids, but the potency is much lower. This means if you’re planning to make butter, tinctures, or tea, don’t expect the same kick you’d get from using flower.

If you want a stronger effect, it’s a good idea to mix in some kief or leftover trim to boost the potency.

Expect a Strong, Earthy Flavor

Unlike buds, scraps have a woody, fibrous texture, which means they don’t exactly taste great.

If you’re making tea, tinctures, or edibles, expect a more bitter, plant-like flavor. There are ways to tone it down, though—adding honey, lemon, or cinnamon to tea can help, while strong flavors like cocoa or spices can mask the taste in edibles.

If you’re infusing alcohol, tossing in vanilla beans or citrus peels can give it a smoother finish.

Breaking It Down Helps With Extraction

If you’re making bubble hash, blender hash, or any type of infusion, breaking up the material first can make a big difference.

Grinding it or chopping it into smaller pieces increases the surface area, making it easier for cannabinoids to be extracted.

This is especially important for alcohol or oil infusions since larger chunks don’t absorb as well.

Smoking Isn’t the Best Option

Technically, you can smoke it, but it’s not a good idea.

It burns harshly, doesn’t taste great, and won’t get you very high. The small amount of THC isn’t worth the throat irritation and headache it can cause.

If you’re looking to make the most out of what you have, stick to infusions, extractions, or composting instead.

What’s the Best Thing to Do with My Leftover Stems?

Not all methods will give you great results.

If you’re looking for the best way to get something useful out of your scraps, making cannabutter, oil, or tinctures is a solid option. Turning them into bubble hash or kief also works well if you want something to sprinkle on top of a bowl or joint.

However, certain methods—like smoking them or making tea without a fat source—don’t really work as well and might not be worth the effort.

Final Thoughts

Don’t let your leftover stems go to waste—turn them into something useful! If you’re making cannabutter or infused tea, enhance the potency by mixing in premium flower or save time with our pre-made cannabis oils and edibles.

Want a faster option? Skip the DIY and try our ready-to-use tinctures or infused drinks instead. Looking for extra potency? Boost your homemade creations with high-quality kief or hash for a stronger kick.

That said, our blog here on BMWO has more informative content that you might find useful. How Much Water Should You Put in a Bong? and CBD and THC for Women’s Fitness are great reads if you have the time.

No need to toss out leftovers when there are plenty of ways to make them useful. You can infuse, extract, or compost them to get the most out of what you have.

They may not be as strong as flower, but with a little creativity, you can still put them to good use.

FAQs

Can you get high from weed stems?

Not really. Leftovers contain very little THC compared to the buds, so smoking or consuming them on their own won’t give you the same effects. However, when properly infused into butter, oil, or alcohol, they can release whatever cannabinoids are left, though the potency will still be much lower than if you were using actual flower.

Is it safe to smoke weed stems?

Technically, you can, but it’s not recommended. They burn much harsher than flower, producing a hot, unpleasant smoke that can irritate your throat and lungs. Plus, they don’t have enough THC to make it worth the effort. If you’re looking for the best way to use them, stick to infusions, extractions, or composting.

Do weed stems have any nutritional benefits?

While they don’t have much THC, they do contain fiber and some minor cannabinoids that might offer mild benefits. Some people blend them into smoothies or juices for this reason. That said, the fibrous texture can be tough to process, so softening them by boiling first can make them easier to consume.

Can you use weed stems for CBD extracts?

Yes, but only if they come from a strain high in CBD. If your cannabis has a significant amount of CBD, the stems will contain trace amounts that can be extracted into oil or tinctures. However, since the concentration is low, you might not get much out of it compared to using buds or trim.

How should you store weed stems for later use?

If you’re not using them right away, store them in an airtight container in a cool, dark place to prevent them from becoming too dry and brittle. If they dry out completely, they lose whatever little potency they had left, making them less effective for infusions or extractions.