Quick answer
Make THC lozenges at home by decarboxylating cannabis, infusing it into a carrier oil or tincture, calculating milligrams of THC per lozenge, and cooking a sugar syrup to the hard-crack stage before adding the infusion and pouring into molds. The dose calculation matters more than the candy recipe because oral THC has delayed onset and a narrow margin for error. Store-bought lozenges win on convenience; homemade lozenges win on dose control and cost, if you do the math.
Prerequisites
- Legal jurisdiction for homemade cannabis edibles
- Decarboxylated cannabis or lab-tested cannabis extract
- Carrier oil (coconut or MCT) or high-proof alcohol tincture
- Sugar, corn syrup, water, lecithin, flavor, food coloring
- Candy thermometer, silicone molds, dusting starch
- Scale accurate to 0.01 g
Steps
- Decarboxylate the cannabis. Spread ground flower on a baking sheet and heat at 240°F for 40 minutes. Let it cool.
- Infuse the carrier. Combine decarbed flower with coconut or MCT oil at a ratio of 1 g flower to 10 mL oil. Heat at 160-180°F for 2-3 hours, then strain through cheesecloth. For tincture, use high-proof alcohol and a freezer method; keep away from open flame.
- Calculate dose per lozenge. Use: (grams of cannabis × 1000 × THC percentage × 0.85 decarb efficiency) ÷ number of lozenges. Example: 1 g at 15% THC gives about 127 mg THC; 30 lozenges give about 4.2 mg each. Start with 2-5 mg per piece.
- Prepare the molds. Set silicone molds on a level surface and dust lightly with cornstarch or powdered sugar.
- Cook the syrup. Combine 2 cups sugar, 2/3 cup corn syrup, and 3/4 cup water in a saucepan. Stir once, then heat without stirring to 300-310°F (hard-crack stage).
- Add the infusion off heat. Remove the pan from the burner. Let it cool to 250°F. Stir in the calculated amount of infused oil plus 1 teaspoon lecithin. Add flavor and color. Stir until uniform.
- Pour and set. Pour the mixture into molds. Cool at room temperature for 30-45 minutes. Remove lozenges and dust with starch to prevent sticking.
- Label and store. Record THC milligrams per lozenge, batch date, and ingredients. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.
Dosing and safety
Oral THC can take 30-120 minutes to peak and effects can last 4-8 hours. Do not eat more lozenges because the first one has not kicked in. Keep lozenges labeled and locked away from children and pets. Homemade products are not lab-tested, so treat the calculated dose as an estimate and test a small piece first.
Where to Buy THC Lozenges Online: A Convenience-First Buying Guide
Common mistakes
- Adding tincture to hot syrup: alcohol can flash. Use oil or add tincture after the syrup drops below 200°F.
- Skipping lecithin: oil and sugar syrup separate without an emulsifier.
- Under-decarbing: raw THCA has little psychoactive effect.
- Cutting lozenges unevenly: dose becomes inconsistent.