What To Do With Leftover Fan Leaves And Trim

Adam Parsons

Cannabis Journalist & Staff Writer at Zamnesia

Adam Parsons

Last updated: September 21, 2021

When we think about cannabis, it's easy to assume that the buds are the only source of cannabinoids and terpenes, and the rest goes to waste. However, this is simply not the case. There's plenty of goodness in those leaves, offcuts, and trimmings that, more often than not, we decide to discard. Well, next time you think about throwing those bits away, don't! Instead, read on to find out exactly how to make the most of your cannabis leaves and trim.

Make Your Own Hash

It may sound like an obvious direction to go in, but it's also one that many unfortunately neglect to take advantage of. Sometimes viewed as a bit of hassle, the truth is, it's actually very easy. If you're a keen smoker or vape enthusiast that regularly reaches for their grinder, chances are you've got pretty much everything you need without even realising it.

Pollen Hash

Made from compacted kief, this type of hash is effortless to produce. But what is kief, you ask? Well, essentially, it's the trichome-populated “pollen” that covers your buds and contains all the cannabinoids and terpenes. There are a couple of ways kief can be collected. One method is to use a grinder with a pollen sieve. This will catch and separate the errant kief from the rest of the plant material.

If you're looking to gather larger amounts of kief, you can recreate a pollen sieve using a silkscreen frame. Simply rub your cannabis leaves against the screen, and a fine layer of kief will fall through for easy collection. Make sure to put a collection tray or piece of baking paper under the screen to keep your kief clean and in one place.

Once you've collected as much pollen as you need, it's time to press it into pollen hash blocks. This can be achieved with the help of a pollen press. Put your collected kief into the press, turn the handle, and it will be compacted and ready to use when you are.

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Bubble Hash

Another way to put cannabis leaves and trimmings to good use is to produce bubble hash. This is achieved by using ice-cold water to agitate and dislodge the trichomes, and then filtering them through a series of increasingly fine mesh pouches. Products such as Ice-O-Lator make this process easy to achieve, rendering a fine supply of kief for you to use.

Once collected and left to dry, it can then be pressed into hash blocks, or used as it is. As the bubble hash method makes for some incredibly pure kief, the material collected from the bags with the finest mesh should melt and bubble when heated. This is a sure sign of quality hash. Low-quality bubble hash, however, will burn quickly and be much harsher to smoke.

Make Homemade Topical Cannabis Creams

More and more beauty companies are producing cannabis-infused skin creams and salves. This is no fad or happy accident. It turns out that cannabis constituents have a long history of topical application, partly because they are efficiently absorbed by our largest organ. Why not get in on the action and make your own top-quality cannabis creams from home?

By turning your cannabis into a salve or cream and applying it directly to the skin, you can treat your body to the all-natural care it deserves. What's even better is that trim is a perfect source of cannabinoids for topical formulas. As topically applied THC doesn't get you high to begin with, you don't have to worry about a potential lack of potency from your leaves and trim.

After decarboxylating and finely grinding your leftover plant material, you need to infuse it into your other ingredients, such as beeswax and coconut oil. Make the salve to your liking by adding essential oils such as lavender or sandalwood to relieve tension, lemon or cinnamon oil to boost immunity, and rosemary or peppermint to enhance energy. Get creative with it!

Vape It With a Vaporizer

Vaping is thought to be a healthier option than smoking, and it's gaining many converts. As the heat doesn’t burn your herb, you can vape sugar leaves to harness their viable cannabinoids and terpenes while avoiding the harsh, chlorophyll-filled smoke. However, keep in mind that sugar leaves are far less psychotropic than the buds. As such, consider mixing your stash—using some buds and some trim—to make your supply last longer.

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Use Trim and Leaves for Cannabutter

Butter is simply a superb vessel for cannabinoids. If you're a big fan of edibles, then cannabutter should well and truly be on your radar. With enough trim, it's entirely possible to create some pretty potent delights. And once you have your cannabutter, the sky's the limit. You can use it in any recipe in place of normal butter, giving you plenty of options when it comes to cooking. You can even spread it on some toast for an ultra-easy edible.

All that’s required of you is to decarboxylate your trim, infuse it into the butter, and strain it through a sieve to separate the plant material from the good stuff. Moreover, if you're looking for a vegan approach, it's entirely possible to add trim and leaves to coconut oil to give it that cannabis-infused edge.

Craft THC-Infused Cannabis Drinks

Cannabis trim and leaves aren't just good for edibles; they can be used to make drinks too! Create everything from milk and tea to bhang and hot chocolate. Not only do cannabis-infused drinks taste great and hit hard, but they also are easy to create.

Cannabis Milk

Making your own cannabis milk is extremely easy, and you can even substitute non-dairy alternatives such as soy, oat, and coconut milk, to name a few. Basically all that's required is to bring your milk to a simmer and add your decarboxylated cannabis leaves and trim.

Stir and let it infuse for a good 30–45 minutes, adding more milk if needed. You'll notice that the milk will turn yellowish-green as it takes on the cannabis goodness. Lastly, strain it, let it cool, and store it in the fridge in a sealed container.

There you have it! Just be sure to use it before the expiry date on the original milk carton, and you'll be golden. Cannabis milk is perfect for adding to coffee and breakfast cereal, and if you just want a refreshing cannabis-infused hit, take an ice-cold swig when the mood strikes.

Bhang

With documented use dating back well over a thousand years, bhang is a cannabis-infused, paste-like substance whose origins can be traced to India. Traditionally mixed with milk and other beverages, it has long been used in religious ceremonies and festivals. However, bhang is still enjoyed to this day, and is very easy to reproduce at home.

All you need are your trimmings, leaves, a few extra spices, a little milk, and you're basically there. Some more elaborate versions of bhang call for yoghurt, coconut milk, or even ground nuts and dried fruits. But the choice is completely down to you, and anything added will greatly reward those with an adventurous palate.

Tea

Of course, it should come as no surprise that cannabis tea is a great way to use your trim. Providing a mellow high, it's a popular choice for those seeking a subtle cannabis-infused fix. Add half a teaspoon of butter to your decarboxylated trim and mix well. Next, empty a teabag of your choice into the mixture and seal it all in a tea ball or infuser.

Bring some water to a simmer, add your infuser, and let it sit for around 30 minutes. This will give the tea and cannabinoids ample time to infuse into your water and bind to the butter, respectively. Once ready, strain and enjoy.

Extra tip: The butter will settle on top of the tea and not taste particularly great, which is why it is a good idea to add some milk of your choice. It also helps distribute the cannabinoids more evenly throughout the emulsion.

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Make Extracts

Making your own extracts is another awesome way to get the most out of your remaining supply of trim. Two great options include cannabis-infused oil and dabs.

Cannabis Oil

Much like cannabutter, cannabis oils have plenty of applications in the kitchen. Featuring a healthier fat content, olive oil is considered the most effective carrier oil for cannabis. However, that's not to say other options can't be used. It's very much down to personal preference.

Whichever oil you choose, the execution is the same. Keeping to a 2:1 ratio, add 2 cups of your oil to 1 cup of ground trimmings and leaves. Once combined, heat gently for a couple of hours to make sure it's carefully infused.

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Once ready, strain through cheesecloth, and you'll have some great-tasting oil that's ready to go. Drizzle it over your favourite salad or pizza, or combine it with other ingredients to make foods like THC-infused hummus.

There's simply no limit on what you can do with cannabis oil. Many even look to make some THC capsules. While this process requires a little more of a hands-on approach, once finished, it offers an easy and discreet way to dose while on the move.

Dabs

Those wanting to get their rig involved can look to produce dabs from their trimmings. Although you might suspect inferior potency when using trim, you’d be surprised how concentrated your dabs can be if you have enough plant material.

There are a few additional items you’ll need to consider for this endeavour, such as isopropyl alcohol, unbleached coffee filters, and a fine metal sieve. It may sound adventurous, but we can assure you it's worth the effort. Once you've followed our steps, you can easily enjoy some delicious wax at your leisure.

Make Your Own Rolling Papers

OK, we get it; this one might sound a little fantastical, but it's 100% real, all-natural, and a great way to use up leftover fan leaves. While it might take a little practice to get it right, it's well worth trying out. With various techniques available, many suggest using fresh leaves. This technique involves letting the wrapped bundle “cure” much like a cigar, or “cannagar”, if you will.

With the help of some tools, you can produce your own powerful cannagar that will burn for up to an hour, making it perfect for those smoking sessions where you really want to impress your friends.

Savour the Cannabis Flavour With Raw Leaves (No High)

If you want to utilise your cannabis leaves in a way that doesn't get you high, consider adding them to various dishes and drinks for flavour. Want to add a little cannabis zing to your salad? No problem, include a couple fan leaves to impart that unmistakable taste.

Much like kale and other leafy greens, many cannabis fans have taken to adding a few leaves to their morning fruit smoothies. As decarboxylation (heating) is needed to produce a high, adding raw cannabis leaves won't provide any psychotropic effects, so you can enjoy as much as you want.

However, it is said that the healthy ingredients included in a smoothie can interact with the cannabinoids in a synergistic relationship known as the entourage effect.

This theory states that other cannabis-derived compounds, such as terpenes, can increase the impact of cannabinoids. However, the research doesn’t stop there. Other plants have terpenes too; so it could mean that vitamin C-bearing fruits, for example, work well when combined with certain cannabinoids.

That said, there is no end to the possibilities when making smoothies; you can always adapt to your taste and needs. If you add hemp seeds or hemp milk, you are in for a full cannabis treat!

Use As Compost

If all else fails, you can, of course, throw the plant material away. But because it is organic in nature, it makes a lot more sense to compost it if you can. This allows the nutrients to improve the health of the soil and the organisms that depend on it.

As a cannabis grower, you should always look to reduce your environmental impact, so why not start your own composting pile? That way, the cycle of life will continue to do its work and bring you the best bud.