How to Make Cannabis Vodka: 2 Easy Infusion Methods

To make cannabis vodka, you infuse decarboxylated weed in vodka over a low-temperature water bath (double boiler) for 2 to 3 hours, keeping the liquor below 60 °C (140 °F), then strain it and bottle it. A second route blends cannabis-infused coconut oil and honey into the vodka. Cannabis plays well with all kinds of food and drink, from sweet treats like brownies and cookies to savory dishes and even coffee, so it's no surprise it ends up in the liquor cabinet too.

One option is to make your own infused spirits, specifically vodka. So how do you make vodka with cannabis? Making "weed vodka", or cannabis-infused vodka, is surprisingly easy.

Below we walk you through two pretty simple ways to make it. And remember: you can use either recipe with any other spirit, too.

Cannabis vodka recipe

Method 1: a simple cannabis vodka infusion

The first method is about as simple as it gets, no fuss: you just let the cannabis steep in the vodka for a couple of hours. The one catch is that you need to keep an eye on the temperature the whole time, since alcohol starts to evaporate at around 80 °C (176 °F). That's why you'll want to keep the heat low for this recipe.

Cannabis vodka ingredients

• 250 ml (about 1 cup) vodka (or any other spirit, ideally a high-proof one at 75-95% ABV)

• 1-3 g of dried cannabis buds

• Equipment

• 200-micron nylon mesh bag

• Double boiler (water bath)

• Thermometer

How to make cannabis vodka, step by step

First, set up the double boiler over very low heat while you gather your ingredients and keep them close at hand.

Next, prep the herb by grinding it to a medium consistency, then wrap it in the mesh bag to make a small bundle. If you want the vodka to have a psychoactive effect, remember to use dried, decarboxylated weed. Fresh cannabis won't give the vodka the same effects, though it will give it a nice color and aroma.

Then pour the vodka into the double boiler and add the cannabis bundle. Let it infuse for 2 to 3 hours, using a kitchen thermometer to make sure the vodka never goes above 60 °C (140 °F). If you want a stronger product, leave it on the heat longer, but keep in mind you risk cooking off some of the alcohol.

Finally, pull the weed out of the vodka and pour the liquor into a glass container. Don't seal it right away: let it cool first, then store it somewhere cool and dark. For a clearer final product, strain the vodka through a coffee filter.

Method 2: cannabis honey vodka

This second method makes a delicious weed vodka with amazing honey notes, because this time we're using cannabis-infused honey to give it a different twist.

To make the honey, you first need to extract the cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant. You'll do that with coconut oil, then mix the infused oil into the honey. Keep everything at a low temperature, especially during extraction, so you don't burn off the cannabinoids.

Fair warning: this method gives you a much less uniform result, and you may notice a few drops of coconut fat floating on top.

Ingredients for cannabis honey vodka

• 2 g of dried, decarboxylated bud

• 150 g (about 1/2 cup) honey

• 1/4 cup coconut oil

• 500 ml (about 2 cups) vodka

• Equipment

• 1 glass jar

• Pot of boiling water (double boiler)

• Thermometer

• Blender

• Cheesecloth

How to make cannabis honey vodka

Start with the cannabis honey. Grind the cannabis to a medium consistency, then put it in a glass jar with the coconut oil. If you want the honey to be psychoactive, make sure you use decarboxylated cannabis.

Close the jar and set it in the double boiler. Let it sit over low heat for about two hours so the cannabis infuses into the oil.

Once the infusion is done, strain the oil through the cheesecloth to remove the leftover plant matter. Be sure to squeeze every last drop out of the cloth.

Mix the oil with the honey, add the vodka and blend until it's well combined. Then pour the vodka into a bottle, seal it and enjoy whenever you like.

What should you know before making cannabis drinks?

It might not seem like it, but mixing alcohol and weed is really common. Still, it's very important to know that the combo can have downsides: each one amplifies the other's buzz, which can lead to nausea, dizziness, impaired coordination and vomiting (a classic way to end up with the spins or greening out).

One study, for example, found that drinking alcohol alongside cannabis can raise the concentration of THC in the blood, which suggests alcohol can boost weed's psychoactive effects. One possible reason: alcohol dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow, letting more THC pass from the alveoli in your lungs into your bloodstream.

On the flip side, some research suggests cannabis may help protect the body from certain effects of alcohol, like neurotoxicity. Some studies also point to it reducing oxidative stress in the liver after heavy drinking.

So if you decide to mix weed and alcohol, that's your call, and it's what plenty of people do anyway. Just take it slow and pay close attention to how your body reacts to the combination.

On top of that last tip, the best way to know how much you're actually dosing is to get your batch lab-tested. Better safe than sorry.