Can you smoke weed stems? What you need to know

Quick Answer: Weed stems can burn, but they are not a useful substitute for cannabis flower. Stems generally contain far fewer cannabinoids than buds, and burning them still produces smoke. Remove larger stems when preparing flower rather than expecting them to provide the same experience as the buds.

Whether it is rolling a joint or packing a bowl, it all starts with cannabis flower, and that’s what everyone wants. Though the spotlight is often on those sweet buds, have you ever wondered what about the backbone of the plant– the weed stem? 

Can you smoke weed stems? What happens when you smoke weed stems, or are there any potential risks associated with smoking weed stems? In this article, we’ll answer these questions and offer alternative uses for weed stems. 

Ready? Let’s get into it!

What are Weed Stems? 

Before we discuss whether you can smoke weed stems, let us begin with the basics and first learn what weed stems are. Weed stems are stick-like parts of the hemp or cannabis plant attached to the weed flower buds. 

Small stems can remain attached to cannabis buds after harvesting and trimming. They provide structure for the plant and generally contain much lower levels of cannabinoids than the flower. The amount varies, so stems should not be described as universally containing no THC or CBD.

Can You Smoke Weed Stems? 

Technically, weed stems can be burned and smoked, but they offer little reason to include them in a joint or bowl. Their woody material is not equivalent to the resin-rich flower, and their cannabinoid content is generally much lower.

Remove larger stems before preparing your cannabis flower. There is no reliable basis for assuming that stems always burn faster, produce a fixed amount of smoke, or cause a specific set of symptoms.

Can weed stems get you high?

Stems generally contain much less THC than cannabis flower, so they are not a reliable way to produce the same effects as buds. Any resin or flower remaining attached to a stem can also affect what is present.

A study comparing cannabis flower, leaves, stem bark, and roots found that cannabinoid content decreased from flower to leaves and stem bark. It does not establish a universal THC percentage for every leftover stem, so a fixed range should not be applied to all products.

What happens when you smoke weed stems:

Can smoking weed hurt you? Smoking stems is useless in terms of getting high or benefiting from the cannabinoids. The smoke of weed stems is harsh on the lungs and can lead to several potential health risks, including:

• coughing

• soreness 

• nausea

• abdominal pain

• headache

• sore throat

What are the alternative uses for weed stems?

Wondering what I can do with weed stems instead of smoking? As they are not entirely useless, you can use them if you get creative. So instead of tossing them in the garbage, you can do a couple of things to get the most from the weed stems.

• Brew cannabis tea:

  

You can use weed stems to make cannabis tea, as it helps you derive the cannabinoids present in the stems without having harmful toxins. Before making cannabis tea with weed stems, make sure to decarb them. 

For decarboxylation, bake the weed stems for 45 minutes at 225°F. During decarboxylation, heat converts THCA to THC. 

When done, let them cool and grind them up. Then boil ground weed stems in a tea diffuser or pot for 10 minutes, and strain through a cheesecloth before drinking. 

• Make cannabutter 

Just like cannabis flower, you can use cannabis stems to make cannabutter or weed butter and enjoy the benefits of cannabis in various delicious recipes, such as classic weed brownies, cookies, cakes, and more. The process of making weed butter with cannabis stems is the same as you use to make cannabutter from weed flowers. 

Remember to use more grounded weed stems than flowers, as they contain less CBD and THC. If you are new to cannabis cooking and want to know how to make cannabutter at home, check out our step-by-step guide to making cannabis butter.

• Make cannabis tincture and topicals:

Just as you can use weed stems to make cannabis edibles and tea, you can also use them to make tinctures. Always decarboxylate the ground weed stem before you begin the process. Use twice the amount of weed stem powder to make effective tinctures. 

You can use tinctures you made from the stems to make cannabis-infused cocktails. Weed stems are also a good choice for making cannabis topicals that can be applied to the skin to alleviate sensitive skin conditions and relieve joint pain.

Frequently Asked Questions About Weed Stems

Should I remove stems before grinding cannabis flower?

Remove larger stems before grinding. This helps keep woody material out of the prepared flower and makes it easier to handle the buds. Small stem fragments may still be present, depending on how the flower was trimmed.

Does stem tea have a predictable amount of THC?

No. The cannabinoid content of stems and the amount extracted during preparation both vary. A homemade stem tea cannot be assigned a reliable THC serving based only on the quantity of stems used.

Does finding a stem mean the cannabis flower is low quality?

Not necessarily. Buds grow on stems, so a small attached stem does not by itself establish poor quality. Assess the overall flower, trimming, freshness, packaging, and available batch information rather than judging the product from one stem.

The bottom line:

Weed stems are part of the plant's structure, but they are not a useful replacement for cannabis buds. Their cannabinoid content is generally low and variable, and homemade preparations made from them do not have a reliably known potency.

When you order from Smoakland using our same-day cannabis delivery in California, you’ll get top-quality flower at an unbeatable price. That means you can keep your stash stocked with the best without feeling the need to smoke weed stems. With exclusive discounts and daily deals, we make sure your stash is plentiful. Shop now!

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