Over a century ago, tinctures were one of the most popular ways of using cannabis, and now that it’s legal again, they’re making a significant comeback. Cannabis tinctures are easy to spot because of their distinctive glass bottles and dropper caps, and not only are they easy to use and dose, they’re also a great alternative to vaping and smoking
So let’s find out what tinctures are, how to use them, and even how to make your own.
What Are Tinctures?
Essentially, tinctures are an oil or alcohol solution infused with cannabinoids like THC or CBD. Tinctures are smoke-free, portable, and easy to dose- just a few drops of a cannabis tincture is usually enough to feel the effects.
Tinctures are potent herbal medicines and have been used for generations to treat a variety of ailments, and they have a long shelf life, as alcohol is an effective way to preserve medicinal herbs.
Although they are aren’t as popular as smoking flower or concentrates anymore, tinctures were once the most common form of medicinal cannabis in North America, and they are starting to regain their popularity.
Even better, the tinctures’ glass bottles discreetly blend in with any medicine cabinet and they don’t have a strong cannabis smell either, making them an easy way to consume THC or CBD when out and about.
Types of tinctures
There are three main types of tinctures:
- THC only
- CBD only
- THC and CBD
Tinctures containing THC will get you high, but ones with only CBD will not. The tinctures with both THC and CBD come in different ratios- such as 1:1 and 3:1- and the mix of cannabinoids can have psychoactive effects while also allowing you to experience the entourage effect.
How to Use Tinctures
Although tinctures generally take effect more quickly than edibles, their speed and effectiveness depend on how you consume them.
The three most common ways to consume cannabis tinctures are:
- Sublingually
- Orally
- As an addition to food or beverages
The fastest way to consume a tincture is sublingually (aka “under the tongue”)- you’ll feel the effects within 15 – 30 minutes. That’s because taking tinctures sublingually bypasses the digestive system, allowing the cannabinoids to enter your bloodstream more quickly. Simply drop a dose under your tongue, wait for thirty seconds to allow the tincture to get absorbed, and swallow.
Consuming a tincture orally takes longer to kick in than sublingual administration, but the method is very similar. Just take a few drops of the tincture into your mouth and swallow. This is similar to taking a cannabis edible, with the only difference being that tinctures may kick in slightly faster since their liquid form means they’re more easily digested than solid food edibles.
Finally, you can add a dose of tincture to almost any food or beverage. This method is easy but takes about as long as an edible to take effect, which can be upwards of an hour. You can even make your own liquid edibles by adding a couple of drops of tincture to your cup.
Cannabis Tinctures vs. Oils
Cannabis tinctures and oils are two products that often get mixed up, but there are some distinct differences.
As you know, cannabis tinctures contain cannabinoids dissolved in alcohol or oil and typically come in glass bottles with a dropper cap. Tinctures are fluid with a consistency similar to water.
Cannabis oils, on the other hand, have a thicker, more viscous consistency and are extracted using a solvent such as butane or CO2. Typically, solvents come in syringes for easy dosing, and you can vape, smoke, or dab many different kinds of cannabis oils. Due to these consumption methods, cannabis oils kick in much faster than tinctures- sometimes within seconds!
Cannabis tinctures and oils each have their own distinct purposes, and the question of which is “better” simply depends on your individual needs.
Tinctures give you more options when it comes to cooking and beverages, but oils kick in faster and give you a more potent high.
How to Make a Cannabis Tincture
These instructions will show you how to make a marijuana tincture with alcohol. First, you’ll want to gather your tools and ingredients.
- A half-ounce of cannabis flowers
- Liquor with an alcohol level of at least 80 proof, such as Everclear
- A grinder
- Mason jar
- Cheesecloth
- Aluminum foil
- 2-cup measuring cup
- Baking pan
- Gloves
- Tinted glass bottles with droppers
Decarboxylation
Your first step is called decarboxylation, which activates the cannabinoids. The easiest way to do this is through heat. Sometimes called “decarb” for short, it’s the reason why we burn cannabis in the first place. If you already have decarbed weed, proceed to the next section.
Here’s how to decarboxylate your weed:
- Grind up your flower
- Cover a pan with aluminum foil to protect the cannabis from burning
- Bake it for 45-60 minutes in an oven heated to 230 degrees Fahrenheit.
Making your own tincture
Once your cannabis is decarboxylated, it’s time to prepare your tincture.
- Put the decarboxylated cannabis in a Mason jar and fill it with liquor. Depending on how potent you want your tincture to be, let it sit for anywhere from three days to two weeks. Take the jar out once a day and shake it.
- Place the contents of the jar onto a cheesecloth and squeeze it over a 2-cup measuring cup until no more liquid comes out. If you’d like, you can use gloves for this step.
- If you’re planning to use your tincture soon, pour it into tinted glass bottles with droppers. If you’d like to store it long-term, put it back in the Mason jar and tape dark paper around the jar.
- To maintain freshness and potency, store your tincture in a cool, dark place like a pantry shelf away from direct sunlight.
Keep track of how much cannabis and alcohol you used in your tincture. This information is vital for figuring out the appropriate tincture dosage.
Cannabis Tincture FAQ
How quickly does a tincture work?
If taken sublingually, it takes between 15 and 45 minutes for the effects of a tincture to take effect. You’ll feel it after about one hour if you take the tincture in food or a beverage.
Can I make an alcohol-free cannabis tincture?
Yes—simply substitute vegetable glycerine for the alcohol. You’ll make it exactly the same way as a tincture with alcohol as the solvent, except that it will need to sit for 6 to 8 weeks. Just be careful to keep the bottle and dropper uncontaminated, as mould can grow easily without alcohol’s preservative qualities.
Can I get drunk from using a tincture?
While some tinctures are made using a very strong, 190 proof alcohol, if you’re taking small doses using the dropper, it’s a negligible amount of alcohol that won’t get you drunk.
With that being said, we advise that you never take a full tincture bottle at once.
