Just finished growing and have some plant matter like stems left over? Don’t throw them away! While you don’t want to smoke the plants matter like stems because the THC content is very slow to none, there are plenty of other uses for them. Get the most out of your stash and reduce waste by putting your stems to good use. Here are 7 surprising uses of cannabis stems.

1. Stem Tea

Unwind after a long day with a hot cup of cannabis stem tea. Infusing tea is one of the quickest and easiest ways to use cannabis stems.

1. You need to decarboxylate the stems (find out how to decarb stems here).
2. Take the decarboxylated stems and put them in a coffee filter or tea bag.
3. Bring a pot of water to a low boil.
4. Seep the stems for seven to eight minutes and serve.

To maximize your cannabinoid intake, incorporate a high-fat liquid like coconut oil or half half.

2. Stem Butter

Do you like cannabis butter? Then you will love stem butter. The process is very similar to making butter with flower; you just need enough stems. You will need at least ¼ oz of stems or more.

1. Grind the stems in a food processor and add them to a saucepan with butter.
2. Let the mixture simmer for about 45 minutes or until the stems are golden.
3. Next, strain the mixture.
4. Store the butter in the fridge or serve immediately.

Keep in mind stem butter is far less potent than regular cannabis butter. Stems contain some THC however, it is minimal in comparison to flower or trim. Do not expect strong psychoactive effects. However, stem butter is a great option for milder cannabis-infused dishes

3. Stem Paper

Here’s another interesting thing you can do with cannabis stems. Stop excess paper waste by making stem paper.

1. Combine ground cannabis stems with paper scraps in a blender.
2. Add enough water to evenly blend the mixture. Be careful not to dilute it too much or your paper will fall apart.
3. Blend only until the fibers begin to separate.
4. Pour the mixture over a deckle, a flat surface for making paper.
5. Let the mixture sit 24 hours before using.

While making a deckle is the most challenging part of papermaking, it’s easier than you think! A simple way to make a deckle is by stretching nylon stockings over a wooden frame.

4. Stem Tinctures

Did you know you could make cannabis tinctures using stems? You just need a Mason jar and a high-percentage grain alcohol like Everclear to get started.

1. Fill the Mason jar with stems (it should be nearly full) and top it off with alcohol.
2. Store the mixture in a cool, dark place.
3. Shake the jar daily for one week. This allows enough time for the alcohol to extract cannabinoids from the stems.
4. Strain the mixture to remove excess plant matter.
5. Store the liquid in a dark glass bottle and enjoy.

5. Stem Hemp Wick

Hemp wick is popular among health-conscious cannabis consumers who want to avoid harmful butane flames from lighters but did you know that you could be making hemp wick from cannabis stems? In fact, the process only takes a few minutes at most.

1. Using your longest cannabis stems, strip the stems down to their fibers.
2. Next, twist the fibers to form a rope.
3. Dip the rope in beeswax.

Voila! Your cannabis stem wick is ready to use.

6. Stem Hash Oil

Cannabis stems can easily be converted to hash oil.

1. Grind the stems until they reach a fine consistency.
2. Add the ground stems to a Mason jar with alcohol. Ideally, you will want to use isopropyl alcohol to extract the cannabinoids.
3. Shake the mixture for two to three minutes.
4. Strain the liquid using a sieve or coffee filter.
5. Scrape off the leftover resin. And make sure any remaining alcohol as fully evaporated before use.

That’s it! It’s important to mention though that stem resin is less potent than flower. However, it’s perfectly suitable for cooking, consuming, or using topically.

7. Stem Topicals

Swap out toxic lotions and creams for natural cannabis topicals. Cannabis stems can be used for making lotions or balms. You will only need coconut oil, olive oil, and beeswax to get started. Make any recipe your own by adding essential oils like peppermint or lavender for extra soothing relief.

Source: https://news.green-flower.com/what-can-you-do-with-cannabis-stems/