Waste not, want not—the mantra of many cannabis growers. With the often discarded parts of marijuana like the leaves and stalks containing a wealth of cannabinoids, what would usually be relegated to compost actually has a whole spectrum of applications.

THE POWER OF CANNABIS TRIMMINGS

While considerably lower in THC potency, cannabis leaves still hold untapped resources. The following list is but a small suggestion of how nearly every part of our favourite herb can be utilised and enjoyed. If taking advantage of a milder THC concentration—the perfect aid to staying productive while high—sounds like a stroke of genius, read on. Here are ten uses for trimmings you probably never thought of.

1. MAKE CANNABUTTER

The cornerstone of various cannabis edibles recipes, cannabutter is integral for budding chefs to incorporate all the goodness of weed into their favourite dishes. By using the trimmings, you can save your prized buds for smoke sessions. Best of all, cannabutter is easy to make and long-lasting; although given its benefits, your cannabutter might not last that long, especially when you consider any recipe using butter can be replaced with your euphoric variant.

2. VAPE THE LEAVES

Not as powerful nor as potent as buds, cannabis leaves can still be vaped to great effect. If times are tough and your last grow needs to stretch that little bit further, chopping or grinding the leaves into a powder will keep those vape cravings at bay. With enough trimmings, would-be thrifters can even make their own cannabis vape liquid. The only thing left to do now is to make sure your vaporizer is charged.

3. EXTRACT YOUR OWN CANNABIS CONCENTRATE

Butane hash oil (BHO) is a solvent-based extract of cannabis that comes packed with terpenes and THC for a truly impressive experience. Although your cannabis concentrate might not match the innovation and purity of commercial offerings, a solvent extraction tube can put your trimmings to good use. The resulting high is perfect for those afternoons where productivity is still a factor, but you want mild relief from daily troubles. Homemade extracts make a great everyday concentrate alternative.

4. A REFRESHING CANNA-SMOOTHIE

What tastes better than a freshly made smoothie? A freshly made smoothie rich in cannabinoids and other health-boosting compounds courtesy of your unused trimmings. The refreshing element of canna-smoothies is that they retain terpenes and cannabinoids, without inducing a high. This is because the critical precursor THCA of the cannabinoid responsible for doing so, THC, has not been decarboxylated. If all these benefits haven't sold you on the idea, smoothie recipes are rife. The only limiting factors are personal taste and the contents of your fridge.

5. HONOUR TRADITION, MAKE HASH

A manual process passed down through the ages, traditional hashish or charas involves rubbing sticky plant material together until it forms small, brittle balls; a result of the trichomes binding together. Several how-to guides exist, providing a slightly more modern and efficient approach to the age-old method of vigorous rubbing. With the trichomes retrieved from your trimmings, the resulting hash can be broken off and crumbled into a joint or vaporizer.

6. TURN TRIMMINGS INTO CANNABIS OIL

Using the same principle as cannabutter, THC is oil-soluble, meaning it binds to any fat-based substance. For those that don’t like to slather everything in butter, cannabis-infused coconut oil represents an excellent, versatile, and healthier alternative. In fact, numerous recipes exist for cannabis-infused cooking oil. Or, you could add it to a salad dressing, much like you would traditional olive oil. Retaining many of the terpenes that provide the taste and aroma weed-lovers desire, cannabis-infused oil can be incredibly flavoursome.

7. MARIJUANA TOPICALS

The latest range of products to hit consumers are marijuana topicals. CBD in particular is gaining traction in the cosmetics industry for its ability to relieve symptoms of various skin conditions. These creams, balms, or lotions offer a means of applying the pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties of cannabis directly to the skin. Although a slightly lengthy process, creating your own salve is well worth the weekend-long effort. Alongside a hit squad of beneficial essential oils like lavender, lemon, or rosemary, the subsequent cream can be a useful addition to any skincare routine.

8. TRUE OG, USE THE LEAVES AS ROLLING PAPERS

Attempted by many and mastered by few, using cannabis leaves as a substitute for rolling papers is a skill reserved for the sleight of hand and masters of patience. If your favourite weekend pastime is rolling swans out of regular papers, then putting your trimmings to good use could be the next challenge. Various techniques opt for using fresh leaves, while others suggest letting the leaves dry out flat first. Whichever you choose, know you will be the envy of the party with this expert trick.

9. CANNABIS MILK

How much more impactful would the “Got Milk” campaign have been if it featured one extra special ingredient. With breakfast considered the most important meal of the day, pay it the homage it deserves by using cannabis milk on cereal, in porridge, or as an addition to tea and coffee. Crafting your cannabis milk is simple, and achievable in under an hour. Just be sure to retain the expiry date of your original milk carton to prevent any nasty surprises. Cannabis can do a lot of things, but stopping milk from going bad is not one of them.

10. CREATE THC OR CBD-RICH CAPSULES

Microdosing is an effective means of staying medicated throughout the day, without cannabis having a detrimental effect on productivity. The key to practical dosing becomes the responsibility of your discarded trimmings. By first using them to create cannabis-infused oil, gelatine capsules can then be filled to provide an ultra-discreet method of consumption. Fortunately, there is no smell once the oil is inside the capsules, and passersby will assume you are taking regular medication. Utilising the leftover trimmings leaves you free to experiment with the potency of dosage until you find the correct concentration for you.