Note: for medical questions, please always turn to your treating doctor. This article only informs you about the preparation and prescription of cannabis tea – it does not replace medical advice.

What is cannabis tea?

Cannabis tea is one of the possible ways to use medical cannabis – an alternative to inhaling flowers.

So that the effect fully comes into its own, there are a few points to note during preparation. Here you will learn step by step how cannabis tea is made, who it may be suitable for, and which details are noted on a prescription.

Preparation: leaves, flowers or stems?

Medical cannabis tea is prepared from cannabis flowers. You obtain these at the pharmacy on prescription; usually they are already chopped, occasionally a dosing spoon is included, and you will find the exact amount on the prescription or in the medical instructions for use.

For the preparation you need:

  • chopped cannabis flowers
  • water
  • honey for sweetening (optional)
  • a saucepan
  • a tea strainer, tea bag or filter pot

Step by step: making hemp tea yourself

For cannabis tea to work, it is not enough to simply pour hot water over it. The flowers have to be boiled – usually for at least 15 minutes. Only then does decarboxylation occur, i.e. the activation of the active compounds.

First put the chopped flowers into boiling water and let them simmer gently for about 15 minutes – this is how the active compounds develop. Then let the tea cool briefly and drink it while still warm.

Since the taste is often somewhat bitter, you can sweeten it as you like, for example with honey, which pleasantly balances the bitter substances.

If you want to drink several cups throughout the day, it is best to prepare the tea directly in a larger quantity and keep it warm in a thermos flask. A note: taking it together with fatty foods can change the uptake of the cannabinoids and intensify side effects.

Decarboxylation – why it is so important

In their original state, cannabis flowers contain no directly active cannabinoids, but their precursors – the so-called cannabinoid acids.

Only through the action of heat do molecular groups split off, causing compounds such as THC or CBD to pass into their active form. Without this process the tea could not fully develop its typical effects. Therefore, heating over a sufficiently long period – many sources speak of at least 15 minutes – is considered an essential step to enable the desired activation of the ingredients.

Who is cannabis tea suitable for?

Cannabis tea can make sense if you want to benefit from the effect of the flowers but do not want to inhale.

  • Onset of effect: delayed, after about 30–90 minutes
  • Duration of effect: significantly longer, about 4–8 hours
  • Particularly suitable for complaints such as sleep disorders
  • Advantage: gentle on the airways, since no smoke or vapour is produced

If a fast effect matters, inhaling via a vaporiser is the better choice.

Prescription for cannabis tea

Since 2017, doctors in Germany have been allowed to prescribe cannabis flowers for tea preparation.

The prescription for cannabis must always state the exact strain. It also often carries the note “NRF 22.14.”, which means that the flowers have already been chopped and sieved in the pharmacy – so you save yourself the tedious preparation at home. In addition, the prescription must not lack the THC amount and a clear dosing instruction, so that intake can happen safely and exactly according to plan. This ensures that patients receive the right amount in the appropriate form.

FAQs

What is cannabis tea?

Medical cannabis tea is boiled from chopped flowers. It is simmered for at least 15 minutes, left to steep briefly and drunk while still warm.

How long does it take for cannabis tea to work?

The effect often sets in after 30–90 minutes and lasts about 4–8 hours.

How much cannabis tea per day is allowed?

You will find the exact amount on your prescription or in the medical instructions for use.