Answered: How to Make, Use, and Dose Cannabis Tinctures
“Answered” is a blog series from THC University that answers the internet’s most sought-after questions related to cannabis. We cover everything from cultivation to making edibles to smoking to finding a job in cannabis.
Looking to learn about cannabis tinctures? This short blog will answer all your tincture-related questions.
What are cannabis tinctures?
Crafted through a process of soaking the cannabis plant in alcohol or solvent, cannabis tinctures are potent liquid extracts that contain cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD. These extracts can be taken orally with a dropper or simply added to food and beverages for quickly created edibles.
Cannabis tinctures are available in a variety of strengths and appealing flavors, making it easy to find one you like. Some are flavored to make them more enjoyable, while those who prefer no added taste can opt for unflavored versions.
Making your own full-spectrum cannabis tincture is surprisingly easy—all it takes is a few simple ingredients and steps to get started. Read on to discover how simple it really is!
How tinctures are made
Crafting a cannabis tincture requires only a few steps. Begin by decarboxylating your cannabis, which involves heating ground cannabis flower in an oven at around 220 degrees for 30-40 minutes. You can also use raw cannabis flower instead to keep cannabinoids like THCA and CBDA intact.
Next, pour the decarboxylated cannabis into a mason jar with food-grade ethanol, glycerin or a carrier oil, such as coconut oil and stir.
The mixture should be allowed to sit for four weeks before it’s ready –– be sure to shake the jar once a day to keep it mixed!
Strain out any large particles with a filter or cheesecloth, and your resulting cannabis extract is now ready to use –– you’ve just created your own custom tincture!
Benefits of tinctures
Cannabis tinctures offer an array of advantages compared to other methods of consuming cannabis. The most attractive aspect? Their condensed composition requires very little in order to produce the desired effects.
Tinctures are primarily used for medical purposes because of their simple, sublingual application and ability to contain high levels of terpenes and cannabidiol (CBD) oil. This means the benefits of cannabis tinctures are often related with medicine to treat things like nausea, pain, or anxiety without smoking cannabis.
Moreover, their fast-acting nature paired with precise dosing capabilities make it desirable for anyone just starting out with marijuana products or those who wish to better manage their dosage.
Plus, topical and ingestible tinctures have a long shelf life when compared to traditional cannabis edibles, gummies, and cannabis flower.
How to use tinctures
Tinctures are one of the easiest cannabis products to use. To take a dose, simply place a few drops under your tongue and hold for 30 to 60 seconds before swallowing. Keep in mind that you can always add tinctures to food and drinks, such as smoothies or salad dressings, for a more discreet way to consume cannabis.
Not only does doing so make the taste of cannabis more palatable, but it also allows you to get creative and experiment with different flavors.
Finally, remember that tinctures come in a range of strengths, so it’s important to start with a low dose and work your way up until you find the right amount for your needs and personal preferences.
Proper dosing of tinctures
An important benefit of THC tinctures is the ability to easily dose the exact amount of oil-based cannabis you’d like. Meaning the psychoactive, intoxicating effects can be as intense or mild as you would like.
When using cannabis tinctures, the best practice is to begin at a low dose and increase slowly. Start off by taking only a few drops and wait patiently for thirty minutes to an hour before you consider adding more.
You can gradually modify your dosage as needed in order to experience the ideal effects. Remember that potency levels vary between different types of tinctures, so it’s important that you find out which one works best for you through experimentation!
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THC University’s Budtender Basics and Marijuana 101 courses will give you more detailed knowledge about tinctures so you avoid beginner mistakes! These courses also cover other product types and consumption methods!
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