Cannabis Milk: How to Make Cannamilk at Home

What is cannabis milk?

Cannabis milk, or "cannamilk," is milk infused with decarboxylated weed, simmered low and slow so the cannabinoids bind to the milk fat. You can drink it straight or use it as an ingredient in other cannabis recipes. That makes it a super versatile way to consume, whether for recreational or medical use.

As the name suggests, cannabis milk is just milk infused with cannabis. In fact, it's very similar to other edibles like cannabutter or cannabis tea.

It's an easy recipe, but it's not as simple as tossing some weed into milk and calling it a day. Weed doesn't work that way, because raw cannabis straight off the plant isn't psychoactive.

That's because your body can't process the raw plant in a way that gets the cannabinoids into your bloodstream and brain, where they have the biggest effect. To make cannabis kick in and actually use its compounds, you need to decarboxylate it first.

Another thing worth knowing: when it comes to infusions, the higher the fat content, the stronger your cannamilk or cannabutter will be. Cannabinoids like THC, CBD, CBG and CBN bind to fat much more easily than to other liquids (except alcohol and certain chemicals like hydrocarbons). The more fat in the milk, the more cannabinoids it'll absorb and hold onto in the final product.

You can also swap dairy for alternatives like soy milk, almond milk or coconut milk, among others. If you want to try one of these vegan options, pick one with at least three grams of fat per serving. That helps the cannabinoids absorb and gives you a more potent final product.

Cannabis milk ingredients and tools:

7-10 grams (about 1/4 to 1/3 oz) of your favorite strain

2 cups of milk

Baking sheet

Parchment paper

Grinder

Large saucepan

Whisk

Fine-mesh strainer

Storage container with a lid

Kitchen thermometer

How to make cannabis milk, step by step

First, grind your already-decarbed cannabis into small pieces and put it in a large saucepan. Turn on the burner, add the milk and whisk the two together. Keep the heat low and watch your kitchen thermometer: bring it up to just under a boil, never past 100 °C (212 °F), and don't let it bubble. From there, hold it at that gentle, steaming-but-not-boiling heat for 45 minutes, stirring every five minutes or so.

After 45 minutes, take the pan off the heat and let the cannabis milk cool to room temperature. Slowly strain it into your storage container. You can strain it more than once to make sure no plant material is left. Store your fresh cannamilk in a covered container in the fridge.

However you decide to take your cannabis milk, start with a small dose, go slow and be patient waiting for the effects. That goes for all edibles, since they can take an hour or more to kick in. When edibles hit, they hit hard, so it's always better to take small doses and ease into it. 

For top-quality cannamilk, use high-quality buds. If you use low-grade flower, you'll get a low-grade final product, and that can dull the psychoactive or medicinal effects.

What are the effects of cannabis milk?

When the cannabinoids in weed dissolve into the milk fat, they can have certain effects on the body. There isn't much data on cannabis milk specifically, but you can expect effects similar to consuming cannabis in other ways.

When you drink cannabis milk, the effects can vary depending on how much weed you used, the strain and your personal tolerance. Possible effects include the classic high, like euphoria, relaxation, mood shifts and the munchies, especially if the milk has enough THC.

Cannabis milk can also have a sedating effect and help you feel relaxed and calm, especially if it's high in CBD, a cannabinoid people often use to unwind. And since both THC and CBD are being studied for pain relief, cannabis milk may help ease pain in some cases.

How much cannabis milk should you take?

There's no standard or universally recommended dose for cannabis milk, because the cannabinoid concentration depends on how much weed you used and how good it was. Your own tolerance and goals also play into the right dose. Keep in mind that cannabis milk can have both psychoactive and medicinal effects, so it's smart to start low and adjust gradually based on how you respond and what you're after.

If you're making cannabis milk at home, start with a small amount of cannabis and test its potency before upping the dose. A common approach is about 1 gram of cannabis per 250 ml (1 cup) of milk. That ratio can shift depending on your tolerance and goals, though.

How do you make cannabis milk with fresh leaves?

Making cannabis milk with fresh leaves works a lot like making it with buds, but keep in mind that leaves have lower cannabinoid levels than buds. Here's a basic recipe for cannamilk made with fresh leaves:

Ingredients:

• 15-20 grams (about 1/2 to 2/3 oz) of fresh cannabis leaves
• 1 liter (about 1 quart) of whole milk
• 1 teaspoon of soy lecithin (optional, it helps boost cannabinoid absorption)

Instructions:

1. Rinse the fresh cannabis leaves well to get rid of any dirt or residue.
2. Chop the leaves finely.
3. In a pot, warm the milk over medium-low heat until it's hot but not boiling. Don't let it boil, or you'll risk degrading the cannabinoids.
4. Add the chopped leaves to the hot milk and stir well.
5. Let the milk and cannabis mix heat over low for about 1 hour. Stir now and then so it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot.
6. If you're using soy lecithin, add 1 teaspoon during the last few minutes and stir well.
7. Take the pot off the heat and let the mix cool.
8. Once it's completely cool, strain the cannamilk through a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth to separate out the leaves. Squeeze the leaves hard to get every last drop of milk.
9. Pour the strained cannabis milk into an airtight container and keep it in the fridge until you're ready to use it.

Remember, cannabis milk made with fresh leaves will have a lower cannabinoid concentration than milk made with buds, so the effects will probably be milder.

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