Short answer
Homemade cannabis gifts are legal in some US states if you give them to an adult 21 or older at no cost. Cash, trade, or barter turns a gift into a sale. A sale requires a state license. Federal law still lists cannabis as a Schedule I drug, so the rules come from your state.
Gift ideas
Infused honey
Decarboxylate 1 gram of flower at 240 F for 40 minutes. Steep it in 8 ounces of honey at 160 F for 2 hours. One gram of flower at 15% THC yields about 132 mg of THC after conversion loss. That is about 2.7 mg per teaspoon.
Cannabis Gift Card Options Buying Guide
Cannabutter
Use 1 ounce of trim per pound of butter. Simmer for 3 hours, then strain. Write the THC estimate per tablespoon on the lid.
Tincture
Cover decarboxylated flower with 151-proof alcohol. Shake the jar each day for 5 days, strain, and store it in a dropper bottle.
Labeled pre-rolls
Roll joints and write the strain, THC percentage, and date on a card. Skip this if your state requires retail-only packaging.
Dosing and labels
Homemade edibles vary in strength. No two batches match. Put these items on every label:
- THC milligrams per serving
- Number of servings in the container
- Date made
- Ingredients
A common starting amount is 2.5 mg. Effects start in 30 minutes to 2 hours and last 4 to 6 hours. Wait 2 hours before a second serving.
Packaging
Use an airtight glass jar. Store it in a cool, dark place. THC degrades with light, heat, and oxygen. Use a child-resistant lid. Keep the jar away from children and pets. Do not repackage edibles in candy wrappers. Some states ban cannabis products that look like commercial candy.
What not to gift
- Do not mail it. USPS and private carriers prohibit cannabis shipments.
- Do not carry it across a state line.
- Do not sell it or trade it for goods or services.
- Do not give it to anyone under 21, unless your state medical program says otherwise.
State limits
California allows a gift of up to 28.5 grams of flower or 8 grams of concentrate to an adult 21 or older with no payment. Colorado allows a transfer of up to 1 ounce to an adult 21 or older with no payment. Other states have no gift exemption. Check your state statute before you make anything.