You can consume cannabis tinctures sublingually by placing a few drops under your tongue or adding them to food or beverages. Medical cannabis patients often use weed tinctures to potentially alleviate a variety of medical conditions, including chronic pain, anxiety, insomnia, seizures, and nausea. Recreational consumers also reach for weed tinctures because they provide a precise and consistent dose that can be adjusted based on individual needs
How do you use weed tinctures?
Explore the ways you can use weed tinctures, listed from most to least common:
Sublingual administration: For the quickest onset of effects, administer the tincture sublingually, or under your tongue. Hold the tincture there for 30-60 seconds, allowing your tongue's capillaries to absorb the cannabinoids, before swallowing. By absorbing the cannabinoids directly into your bloodstream and bypassing your digestive system, you can feel the effects of the tincture in as little as 15 minutes.
Oral administration: Oral administration of cannabis tinctures involves swallowing the tincture, where it is absorbed through your digestive system. You can swallow your preferred dose directly or mix it into smoothies, salad dressings, or soups. This method takes longer to take effect compared to sublingual administration.
Topical administration: If your cannabis tincture is oil-based, you can apply it topically to your skin to potentially alleviate mild aches and pains.
THC tincture dosing chart
When using THC tinctures, it's recommended to start with the lowest possible dose and gradually increase as needed to find the optimal dosage for your needs. A one-ounce tincture bottle typically has a dropper that can dose up to one milliliter (mL) of tincture at a time. If you're trying THC tinctures for the first time, opt for a 1-ounce bottle with 100 milligrams of THC total to make a mild dose easier to administer.
The following dosing chart provides an approximate guide based on the total amount of THC per 1-ounce bottle:
Amount of THC per 1-ounce bottle | Mild dose | Moderate dose | Strong dose |
100 mg THC per 1-ounce bottle | 2.5 mg (0.75 ml) | 5 mg (1.5 ml) | 10 mg (3 ml) |
250 mg THC per 1-ounce bottle | 2.5 mg (0.3 ml) | 5 mg (0.6 ml) | 10 mg (1.2 ml) |
500 mg THC per 1-ounce bottle | 5 mg (0.3 ml) | 10 mg (0.6 ml) | 20 mg (1.2 ml) |
750 mg THC per 1-ounce bottle | 5 mg (0.2 ml) | 10 mg (0.4 ml) | 25 mg (1 ml) |
1000 mg THC per 1-ounce bottle | 10 mg (0.3 ml) | 20 mg (0.6 ml) | 40 mg (1.2 ml) |
A brief history of weed tinctures
Cannabis tinctures have provided an easy dosing mechanism and medicinal benefits for nearly 200 years.
1843: The first official account of cannabis tinctures being used in Western medicine was recorded in a medical journal which included a recipe.
1851: Cannabis tinctures appeared in the United States Pharmacopeia, an almanac with a list of medicinal drugs, their effects, and usage instructions, under the name Extractum Cannabis Purificatum.
19th century: Apothecaries and patent medicine producers began making and selling cannabis tinctures by following the recipe in the medical journal above.
Late 19th century: Queen Victoria's personal physician prescribed a cannabis tincture to help relieve her menstrual cramps. The physician wrote, “When pure and administered carefully, [cannabis] is one of the most valuable medicines we possess."
1937: The Marihuana Tax Act in the US taxed the possession and transfer of cannabis so heavily that it essentially outlawed the plant and lead to its removal from the US Pharmacopeia four years later.
21st century: With the legalization of cannabis in many states, tinctures have become widely available again, and they are popular among people who prefer a smoke-free method of consuming cannabis. Today, tinctures are made using a variety of solvents, including alcohol, glycerin, and oil, and are available in a range of potencies and flavors.
Pros and cons of cannabis tinctures
There are several potential benefits and drawbacks to making cannabis tinctures at home.
Pros
Customization: Making cannabis tinctures at home allows you to customize the dosage, potency, and strain used in the tincture to fit your individual needs and preferences.
Cost-effective: Making tinctures at home can be more cost-effective than buying them from a dispensary or licensed producer, especially if you have access to cannabis flower or trim. If you grow weed at home and produce more flower than you can smoke or vape, tinctures can be an effective way to make the most of your harvest.
Control over the extraction process: Making tinctures at home allows you to have greater control over the extraction process, ensuring that no harmful chemicals or solvents are used in the process.
Smoke-free: Cannabis tinctures allow you to consume THC and CBD without having to expose your lungs to smoke.
Cons
Safety concerns: Making tinctures at home can be dangerous if not done properly. It's important to follow safety protocols when working with high-proof alcohol or other solvents.
Legal issues: The legality of making cannabis tinctures at home can vary depending on your location, so it's important to check local laws before attempting to make tinctures at home.
Inconsistent potency: Homemade tinctures can result in inconsistent potency if not done correctly, which can make it difficult to determine the appropriate dosage.
Time-consuming: Making THC and CBD tinctures at home can be a time-consuming process, as it can take several weeks to properly extract the cannabinoids from the plant material.
How to make a cannabis tincture
You don't need a lot of materials to make a weed tincture at home, but you do need time — at least a few weeks of steeping — before your tincture is ready for consumption.
Follow this basic cannabis tincture recipe to get started:
Supplies
An eighth of dried, ground cannabis flower
Baking sheet
Parchment paper or aluminum foil
Food-grade, 190-proof alcohol (like Everclear)
Mason jar
Coffee filters or cheesecloth
Measuring cup
Funnel
2-ounce, amber tincture bottle with eyedropper
Step 1: Decarb cannabis
Decarboxylation is a chemical process that converts certain cannabinoids, such as tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), into their active forms, THC and CBD.
It's essential to do this process first if you want your weed tincture to have psychoactive or intoxicating effects. To decarboxylate or “decarb" your weed, preheat your oven to 240°F (115°C). Spread the ground cannabis evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 40 minutes.
Step 2: Combine weed and alcohol
Once your cannabis is decarboxylated, place it in a Mason jar. Pour high-proof ethyl alcohol over the cannabis, filling the jar until the cannabis is completely submerged—approximately 1 - 2 fluid ounces (30 - 60 milliliters). The potency of the tincture will be affected by the amount of alcohol used. Using less alcohol will result in a more concentrated tincture while using more alcohol will result in a less concentrated tincture.
Step 3: Shake
Close the mason jar tightly and shake it to mix the cannabis and alcohol.
Step 4: Store and shake again
Store the mason jar in a cool, dark place for a minimum of three weeks, shaking it once a day. This allows the alcohol to extract the cannabinoids and other beneficial compounds from the cannabis. Let the weed infuse for longer for a more potent tincture.
Step 5: Strain liquid
After a few weeks, strain the liquid through a coffee filter or cheesecloth into a measuring cup. Squeeze the filter or cheesecloth to extract all of the liquid. Transfer the liquid to your dropper bottle or tincture bottle.
Step 6: Store tincture
Store the tincture in a cool, dark place away from sunlight and heat. If stored properly, it should last for a year or more.
Alternative approaches to making cannabis tinctures
Alcohol-based weed tinctures, also known as green dragon tinctures, are the most common type of THC tincture to make at home. However, if you would prefer to make alcohol-free cannabis tinctures, you have a few different options for solvents.
Vegetable glycerin: Glycerin is a sweet, thick liquid commonly used in food and cosmetics that you can use as a solvent for cannabis tinctures. Glycerin tinctures are usually less potent than alcohol tinctures, but they have a sweet flavor and are safe for people who don't want to consume alcohol.
Vinegar: Vinegar can be used to extract cannabinoids from cannabis, but the resulting tincture will have a strong taste and smell. Apple cider vinegar is the most popular choice for making cannabis tinctures.
Oil: Cannabis can be infused into a variety of oils, such as coconut, olive, or MCT oil, to make a cannabis tincture. You can use oil-based tinctures sublingually, orally, and topically.
Water: You can infuse cannabis flower into hot water to make cannabis tea for a potentially calming and relaxing effect. However, the cannabinoids in cannabis are not very soluble in water, so cannabis tea is usually less potent than other forms of cannabis tinctures.
Tips for making weed tinctures
Consider these tips when making weed tinctures at home:
Choose high-quality cannabis. The quality of your tincture will depend largely on the quality of the cannabis you use. Choose strains that are high in the cannabinoids and terpenes you're looking for and make sure your weed is free from mold, mildew, and other contaminants before starting the tincture-making process.
Use high-proof alcohol. The higher the proof, the more cannabinoids it will extract from the cannabis. Using the same 80-proof vodka you use for cocktails simply won't work. Use high-proof alcohol, such as Everclear, to ensure a potent tincture.
Decarboxylate your cannabis. Decarboxylation is an important step in making tinctures because it activates the cannabinoids and makes them more bioavailable. If you're looking to get intoxicating or psychoactive effects from your tincture, be sure to decarboxylate your cannabis before infusing it with alcohol.
Start with a low dose. Tinctures can be potent and fast-acting, so start with a low dose and wait at least two hours before taking more. Gradually increase the dose until you find the right amount for your needs.
Be patient. Tinctures can take several weeks to infuse properly, so be patient during the process. The longer the infusion period, the more potent the tincture will be.
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