The experiment from High Times Magazine sought to answer the question, which substance absorbs the most THC? Five separate fats were tested by two separate laboratories; clarified butter, coconut oil, avocado oil, bacon fat, and olive oil. The experiment also used a sous-vide cannabis infusion.
This question is a consistent point of debate for cannabis chefs across the world. This experiment is rather limited, however, it does give a good insight as to which fat absorbs THC the most efficiently. Learn more below.
Which Fat Absorbs The Most THC? The Experiment
The experiment to find out which fat absorbs the most THC was carried our under these conditions, many of which can influence the final results:
- 3.5 grams of cannabis trim was infused into one cup of the carrier substance
- The total THC available in the cannabis material was was 507.5mg
- As mentioned, the sous-vide immersion cannabis infusion method was used
- Samples were sent to two separate labs in the USA
- There are no regulations in cannabis testing with regards to uniformity in testing procedures
- The method for infusion, decarboxylation, the amount of cannabis used, the potency of the cannabis, and how much fat is infused will influence the final results of any cannabis infusion
More studies are needed surrounding this topic in order to truly find the best methodology for cannabis infusions, and more importantly, the carrier substance that absorbs the most THC.
Which Fat Absorbs The Most THC? The Results
C4 Labs
Clarified Butter Yielded: 2.58mg of THC per gram = 469MG of THC Per Cup
Olive Oil Yielded: 2.15mg of THC per gram = 406MG of THC Per Cup
As seen in the above results, clarified butter is the most efficient means of absorbing THC into a fat substance.
The difference of 63mg per one cup of fat can make a massive difference in the final cannabis edibles in terms of potency.
The other lab, SC Labs, found that olive oil absorbed the most THC. This can only be explained due to the lack of consistent testing standards for cannabis. Clarified butter came second in the SC lab’s testing procedures. Coconut oil and bacon fat performed reasonably well across both labs. Surprisingly, avocado oil absorbed the least amount of THC in both tests.
How to Infuse Oil, Butter, and More With Cannabis
One important takeaway from the High Times study is that there is little to no effect on the THC content of an infusion if it is left to cook for longer than four hours. Therefore, there is no need to infuse fats with cannabis for longer than four hours.
Click on the appropriate recipe below and it will open in a new tab
How to Make Cannabis Coconut Oil
How to Make a Test Batch of Cannabis Oil
How to Make CBD & THC Tinctures
Our cannabis infusion recipes for butter and oil are designed to be as simple as possible, no matter your level of experience in the kitchen. Butter and coconut oil are perhaps the most versatile cannabis infusions that can be used for sweet or savoury dishes.
The Importance of Dosing Cannabis Edibles Correctly
After infusing a fat or carrier substance with cannabis, it is time to make cannabis edibles. Dosing these cannabis edibles are an incredibly important piece of knowledge for any consumer to have.
What is a “Flower to Oil” Ratio?
There are several factors that will influence the potency of any cannabis infusion and they are:
- The Amount of Cannabis Used
- The THC Content of the Cannabis
- Decarboxylation and the Infusion Process
- The Amount of Oil Infused
- How Much Oil (or Other Substance) You Will Use
- How Many Servings You Make
Cannabis infusions are easily made at home, however, it is important to know an appropriate dosage for anyone who consumes it.
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