How to grind cannabis at home
Put flower in a herb grinder. Turn the lid 3 to 5 times. Stop when the pieces are the size of a peppercorn, about 3 mm. A basic grinder costs $15 to $40. Scissors and a small cup work if you do not own one.
How to Grind Cannabis to the Perfect Consistency
Tools
- Two-piece grinder: teeth on both halves. Lowest cost for small amounts.
- Four-piece grinder: adds a screen and a pollen chamber. Collects kief.
- Scissors and a cup: slow, no metal wear.
- Fingers: works, but resin sticks to skin and trichome heads break.
Steps
- Dry the flower. Stems should snap, not bend. Moisture clogs grinder teeth.
- Remove seeds and thick stems.
- Break off one piece the size of a pea to a marble. A full chamber jams.
- Close the lid and turn 3 to 5 times. Reverse a quarter turn to free stuck material.
- Open and check the pieces. Turn once more if pieces stay larger than peppercorn size.
- Empty the ground flower into a container. Tap the screen to collect kief.
Particle size by use
Joint or pre-roll: coarse, 3 mm to 5 mm. Vaporizer: medium, 2 mm to 3 mm. Oil, butter, and tincture infusion: fine, 1 mm. A fine grind releases more resin and more plant wax.
Over-grinding
Trichome heads sit on the surface of the flower. Each turn of the lid knocks some loose. A powder grind breaks most heads and leaves resin on the grinder walls and screen. The material in the chamber then holds less cannabinoid. Stop at peppercorn size for smoking and vaping.
how to grind cannabis to the perfect consistency
Cleaning
Resin builds on the teeth and screen. Soak metal parts in 91 percent isopropyl alcohol for 30 minutes. Scrub with a small brush. Rinse with water and dry. Clean the grinder every 2 to 4 weeks with daily use.
Storage
Ground flower dries faster than whole flower. Keep it in a sealed glass jar away from light and heat. Use within 1 to 2 weeks. Whole flower keeps 6 months or longer under the same conditions.
Decarboxylation for CBD flower
Raw CBD flower holds CBDA, the acid form. Heat converts CBDA to CBD. Grind the flower, spread it on a baking sheet, and heat at 230 F to 250 F for 30 to 60 minutes. Stir at 15 minutes. Ground flower decarbs in less time than whole flower. Lab-tested CBD products list cannabinoid content per batch, and that number comes from the same plant material.