Ask Cheri

What Can I Do With Leftovers After Making Cannabutter or CannaOil? 

By Cheri Sicard
July 17, 2019

Dear Cheri, 
What can I do with leftovers after making cannabutter or cannaoil? There is a lot of plant material leftover after making marijuana infusions.  I hate to waste it.  Are there uses for plant leftovers after making infusions?


This is a question I get often, and I do applaud the thrifty spirit behind it. However, if you have successfully made marijuana butter or cannabis oil, you have gotten its intended use out of your cannabis.

Think of the leftover plant material as the cannabis equivalent of a used tea bag after it has already made a cup or two of tea. It is used. Bless it and let it go.  At least that is what I do most of the time.

If you happen to be a gardener with a compost pile, you can rinse it well and leftover cannabis on the compost pile.

There are some trichomes left.  Not a lot but some.  Some folks like to steep the leftovers to make tea.  I don't as I find it gives me a headache, but try it, you might like it.

What to NEVER Do with Infusion Leftovers

However, I can tell you one thing to NEVER do with the your marijuana plant leftovers, and that is to put them down the garbage disposal! I learned this the hard way!

This was years before legalization and I was living in close proximity to nosy neighbors, so I did not want to throw the leftover plant material after making marijuana butter in the trash. So I got the bright idea to just grind it up and send it down the garbage disposal.

Never do this!

The fibrous plant material instantly froze the disposal and the sink began to fill with green, plant-flecked water. A $300 plumber bill and an angry roommate later I learned to never do that again!

Thankfully, the plumber was discreet. I offered no explanation, and he asked no questions. Although we did exchange some knowing glances and sly smiles.

What Can I Do With Leftovers After Making Cannabutter

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About the author

Cheri Sicard is the author of Mary Jane: The Complete Marijuana Handbook for Women, and The Easy Cannabis Cookbook.  Her online courses at Cannademy.com have educated 1000s of students about marijuana, cannabis cooking for home cooks, and making infused topicals.

  • Hi Cheri – I just came across your site while looking for some cannabis recipes. I am a novice at making edibles and from reading about you and your knowledge of cooking w/ cannabis, I think you’ve got just what I need. I have 2 questions for you: 1. which of your books would you recommend for me as a beginner? and, 2. Is it possible to shortcut the “removing water from butter” part of the process by just using clarified butter or ghee? if yes, then what? (ok – 3 questions 🙂 )
    Thanks very much. I’m looking forward to learning from you.

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