Cannabis Gummies

How to Make Cannabis Gummies: ~400 Precisely Dosed CBD, CBG & THC Gummies for Under 15¢ Each

By Mellow Moose | Updated 08/23/2026

Quick Answer

This is our full production-style gummy recipe: 10g of CBD or CBG isolate (or 5g of decarbed THCa isolate for the THC version) dissolved into a gelatin base makes ~400 gummies at roughly 24mg CBD/CBG — or ~10mg THC — each. All-in cost lands under 15¢ per gummy, versus $1–2 apiece for comparable store-bought gummies. Active time is about 2 hours; curing takes 1–2 weeks and is what separates homemade-looking gummies from professional ones.

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Why Make Your Own Gummies?

Two reasons: cost and control. Retail cannabinoid gummies commonly run $1–2 per piece. This batch uses half a 20g jar of CBD or CBG isolate (~$30 worth) plus around $15–20 in grocery-store ingredients — call it 12–15¢ per gummy for the same milligrams. And because you're starting from lab-tested isolate at a known purity instead of an extract of unknown strength, every gummy in the batch carries a predictable, even dose.

This isn't a shortcut recipe — it's the real method, cure time and all. Follow it once and you'll have a candy-shelf-stable stash that lasts most of a year.

Recipe Overview

• Yield: ~400 gummies
• Prep time: 30 minutes
• Cook time: 90 minutes
• Cure time: 1–2 weeks
• Difficulty: Intermediate

Equipment

• Sous vide machine (optional, for keeping the mixture warm)
• Candy thermometer
• Double boiler or microwave
• Gummy molds (~400 cavities)
• Large mixing bowls
• Spatula
• Mason jar with lid
• Ketchup bottles with funnels
• Soup pot for a warm water bath
• Kitchen scale that reads to 0.1g

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

• 84g gelatin
• 10g citric acid
• 4 boxes Jell-O (84g each, any flavor)

Wet Ingredients

• 342g corn syrup
• 320g room-temperature water
• 2.5mL LorAnn mold inhibitor

Extract Mixture

• 10g CBD Isolate or CBG Isolate — or, for the THC version, 5g of a THC source: THCa isolate (decarbed first), THC distillate, or another dabbable extract (see the THC section below before you start — potency and prep differ by source)
• 20mL food-grade propylene glycol (PG, USP grade)

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare molds. Dry gummy molds in the oven at 300–350°F for 5–10 minutes. Set aside on a towel-covered counter.

Step 2: Make the extract mixture. In a mason jar, combine the PG with your cannabinoid source — CBD/CBG isolate as-is, or your already-active THC source (decarbed THCa, distillate, or decarbed extract; see the THC section). Seal and shake well. If needed, place the jar in a warm double boiler until the solution is fully dissolved and clear. Set aside.

Step 3: Make the dry mix. In a large bowl, combine gelatin, citric acid, and Jell-O. Mix thoroughly with a spatula. Set aside.

Step 4: Make the wet mix. In another bowl, combine corn syrup, water, and mold inhibitor. Stir until fully blended.

Step 5: Combine dry & wet. Gradually add the wet mix into the dry mix, stirring continuously until fully incorporated. Do not add the extract mixture yet.

Step 6: Heat the base mixture. Transfer to a double boiler and heat gently while stirring until it reaches 120°F. Alternatively, microwave in 10–15 second bursts, stirring between each, until at temperature.

Step 7: Add the extract mixture. Once the base is at 120°F, add the PG/cannabinoid solution. Stir thoroughly for at least 3 minutes — this is the step that determines whether every gummy gets the same dose. Uneven stirring here is the #1 cause of one-strong-gummy syndrome.

Step 8: Maintain heat. Keep the mixture warm at ~120°F during molding. Pro tip: transfer to ketchup bottles and keep the bottles in a warm water bath so the mixture stays pourable.

Step 9: Fill molds. Squeeze the warm mixture into molds. Tap gently to remove bubbles and ensure consistent fill — fill level is dose level, so aim for uniform cavities.

Step 10: Dry & cure. Air dry in a cool, controlled environment (≤80°F, ~45% humidity) for ~1 week, then cure another week to stabilize moisture. Optionally coat in sugar after curing — but test first (below).

Important coating note: Only coat a small test batch at first (5–10 gummies) and give it 1–2 days to make sure the sugar doesn't melt into the gummy. If gummies aren't fully cured and still hold moisture, a sugar coating will dissolve them. Gummies are fine to eat while curing, but they taste better and last longer once fully dried and coated.

Dosage Math

CBD or CBG version: 10g isolate at ≥97% purity ≈ 9,700mg total → ~24mg per gummy across 400 gummies. A typical serving is 1–2 gummies depending on your tolerance — check your range with our dosage calculator.

THC version: depends on your source — 5g of decarbed THCa isolate or ~85% distillate lands at ~10.6mg THC per gummy; 5g of a decarbed 75–80% dabbable extract lands closer to ~8.5mg. Full source-by-source breakdown in the THC section below. Either way, that's a full-strength serving for most people — many will want to start with half a gummy.

Want a different strength per gummy? Run your exact grams and mold count through our Edible Dosage Calculator — it handles the THCa decarb conversion automatically and works in both directions (batch strength, or grams needed to hit a target dose).

The THC Version — Pick Your Source (Read Before Starting)

Any concentrated THC source works in this recipe. What changes is the potency and whether you need to decarboxylate first — because only active THC works in an edible, and some sources arrive active while others don't:

• THCa isolate (~97%+ purity) — needs decarb, highest yield. Hemp-derived THCa isolate is the inactive precursor to THC. Spread 5g in a small oven-safe glass dish and bake at 240°F for 30–40 minutes — it melts and bubbles, and it's done when the bubbling stops. Let it cool into its amber-glass form, then dissolve it in the PG in Step 2. THCa converts to active THC at ~87.7% of its weight: 5g → ~4,250mg active THC → ~10.6mg per gummy.
• THC distillate (~85–90% THC) — already activated, no decarb. Distillate has been decarbed during processing, so it goes straight into the warm PG. At ~85%, 5g → ~4,250mg → ~10.6mg per gummy — conveniently, almost identical math to decarbed THCa.
• Other dabbable extracts — shatter, wax, badder, rosin (~75–80% total cannabinoids) — usually still need decarb. Unless the label specifically says "decarbed" or "activated," these are mostly THCa and need the same 240°F treatment as the isolate. After decarb, 5g at ~78% works out to ~3,400mg → ~8.5mg per gummy. They work fine, but expect more hemp/cannabis flavor carryover and a slightly less clean dissolve in PG than isolate or distillate — extra heat and stirring helps.

Whatever the source, run your exact grams and potency through the Edible Dosage Calculator (THCa mode applies the decarb conversion automatically; for distillate or extracts, use "I know my total mg" or enter the potency directly).

THC gummy safety, non-negotiable: at ~8–11mg each these are full-strength edibles. Onset is 45–120 minutes and effects can last 4–8 hours — wait a full 2 hours before eating more. Start with half a gummy if you're newer to THC. And because the finished product looks exactly like candy: store THC gummies in a labeled, sealed container, locked away from anyone under 21 and from pets. Never drive after consuming.

Notes & Texture Tuning

• For firmer gummies, increase gelatin by 10–15%. For softer gummies, slightly reduce gelatin or increase liquids.
• Fill consistency = dose consistency. If some cavities run half-full, those gummies carry half the dose — keep the pour even.
• Adding potassium sorbate at the mold-inhibitor stage extends shelf life further.

FAQs

How do these compare to store-bought gummies? On cost, it's not close — under 15¢ per gummy versus $1–2 retail for comparable milligrams. On consistency, starting from ≥97% pure, third-party-tested isolate (COAs here) means you know exactly what went into the batch, which is more than most gummy labels can say.

Do I need to decarboxylate? Not for CBD or CBG — our isolates arrive already active. For THC it depends on the source: THCa isolate and most dabbable extracts (shatter, wax, badder, rosin) must be decarbed first (240°F, 30–40 minutes); distillate is already activated and skips the step. When in doubt, check whether the label says "decarbed" or "activated" — if it doesn't, decarb it.

Why propylene glycol? Food-grade (USP) PG dissolves cannabinoid isolate cleanly and distributes it evenly through the water-based gummy mixture — the whole batch uses 20mL, which works out to ~0.05mL per gummy. Make sure yours is labeled food grade / USP.

Why is curing important? It stabilizes texture, prevents stickiness, and improves shelf life. Skipping the cure is why homemade gummies sweat, stick, and mold; giving them the full two weeks is why these hold up like retail gummies.

What's the shelf life? Up to 8 months stored in airtight containers in a cool, dark place. Potassium sorbate at the mold-inhibitor stage extends this further.

Can I make a smaller batch? Yes — everything scales linearly. Halve every ingredient (including the isolate and PG) for ~200 gummies at the same per-gummy strength. Use a kitchen scale for the isolate at any batch size, and verify your numbers in the Edible Dosage Calculator.

Are homemade cannabinoid gummies legal? Hemp-derived CBD and CBG gummies made from federally compliant isolate (≤0.3% Delta-9 THC by dry weight) are legal federally under the 2018 Farm Bill and in most states, though some states restrict specific cannabinoids. Our isolates — including our THCa isolate — are federally compliant hemp-derived products. Check your state's laws before making or sharing any THC-containing version.

Related Recipes & Products

• CBD Isolate (20g, USDA Organic) — one jar makes two full batches
• CBG Isolate (20g, USDA Organic) — for daytime-leaning gummies
• Cannasugar — the easiest infusion on the blog; great for coating cured gummies with an extra kick
• Canna-Lean (CBD or THC Syrup) — for liquid applications
• Cannabis Infused Honey — same precision, different sweetener