For those of us who grew up thinking that cannabis was only something you could smoke, the idea of taking a cannabis tincture may sound novel. But, believe it or not, for much of the country’s history medical tincture containing marijuana was a common sight on most pharmacy shelves!
These days, we’re grateful that cannabis tincture and other products are available once again. Why? The list of tincture benefits is long and only growing, and if you’re looking for a reliable, convenient, and smoke-free way to access cannabinoids like THC, CBD, CBN and CBG, you’re in the right place.
In today’s post, we’ll share our guide to cannabis tincture, including tips on how to get the most from your medicine and even how to make your own medical tincture.
Ready? Let’s get rolling!
Cannabis Tincture: The Basics
If you’ve ever shopped at a dispensary you’ve likely heard the term “cannabis tincture” before. But just what is a tincture?
Tinctures are very similar to CBD and THC oils: They’re a liquid containing extracts of cannabinoids, and they usually come in the same style of small glass bottle with a dropper included for dosing.
These concentrated liquid extracts are most commonly made using either alcohol, glycerin, or MCT as a base liquid. Short for “medium-chain triglyceride,” MCT is one of the most popular tincture base options and may even deliver its own benefits on top of those potent cannabinoids.
Speaking of benefits, tinctures have a lot going for them. For one thing, they allow more consistent and predictable dosing than smoking or vaping do. On top of this, they’re shelf-stable and discreet. And unlike smoking or vaping, they don’t introduce any potentially irritating smoke or vapor into our lungs.
Traditionally, tinctures were made by placing cannabis plant material (aka “flower”) and alcohol or glycerin together in a glass jar. The jar was then sealed and the mixture left to settle for a number of months, being occasionally shaken or stirred. The liquid solvent effectively absorbs the cannabinoids, terpenes, and other plant compounds, leaving only the spent plant matter to be filtered out. The final product is a liquid that imparts the effects of cannabis without the plant matter itself.
As we hinted earlier, medical tinctures are one of the oldest ways of consuming cannabis (among many other concentrated plant compounds) for medicinal purposes. Before prohibition, tinctures were the most popular form of medical cannabis found in the U.S.
Nowadays, we have more sophisticated methods of creating tinctures that can more effectively extract the crucial cannabis compounds without letting it sit in alcohol for months. As a result, the terms “oil’ and “tincture” are often used interchangeably when it comes to cannabis.
If you’re looking to avoid alcohol, be sure to check the label of your tincture for more information about its contents and how it was made.
Cannabis Tincture Benefits: Why Use a Tincture?
There are many advantages to using tinctures. For starters, cannabis tinctures can be dosed accurately and consumed discreetly. Thanks to quick and easy sublingual application, tinctures are a great option for private and discreet dosing that won’t draw undue attention. And thanks to the dropper application method, it’s easy to know exactly how much you’re consuming. Again, this is especially important in medical applications, in which taking a consistent dose is important.
Not only this, taking a consistent dose can save you money! Believe it or not, research indicates that the majority of people actually derive greater benefit from lower dosages of cannabis. Try it and see for yourself; you may well find that smaller amounts deliver more impactful results.
Like you, we all love cannabis edibles here at Exclusive! But if you’re looking to keep an eye on your caloric intake, tinctures are a potentially healthier alternative to edibles. And unlike many edibles, tinctures are shelf-stable and can also be safely stored for long periods of time. Light and oxygen are the enemies here; if stored in a cool, dark place, cannabis tinctures can easily last for a year and even beyond.
How to Use THC Tincture
Most commonly, you’ll find cannabis tincture sold in small glass bottles with a cap-mounted dropper. To dispense the tincture, simply squeeze the dropper to load it, making sure to keep an eye on the graduated lines so that you can assess your dose. Volumes vary by manufacturer, but a full dropper is often equivalent to one milliliter.
Some people blend their tinctures into foods or beverages, or simply swallow the tincture right out of the dropper. In this case, the medicine typically takes effect within about an hour. But there’s a faster way to get those cannabinoids moving through your bloodstream: Taking a cannabis tincture sublingually.
How to Take Cannabis Tincture Sublingually
Sublingual application is preferred by many people due to how quick, easy, and convenient it is. To take a tincture sublingually, just place the oil under your tongue using a dropper. Allow it to sit there for at least sixty seconds so that it can be absorbed through the blood vessels beneath the tongue. Then swish the remaining oil around your mouth, making sure to coat the inside of your cheeks with it before swallowing. For best effects, we advise you to wait another five to ten minutes before eating or drinking anything else so as to ensure that the contents of the tincture have been absorbed in the mouth before washing them down.
Sublingual vs. Swallowed Tincture: What’s the Difference?
Is there a functional difference between swallowing a medical tincture or taking it sublingually? Yes! When applied sublingually, the contents of a tincture are absorbed by membranes under the tongue and on the insides of the cheeks. From there they are carried into the bloodstream and within a few minutes are already well on their way to producing effects.
By contrast, when tinctures are swallowed they pass through the digestive system like any other food or liquid. Because this process takes longer to happen, the effects of swallowing a tincture take longer to kick in, but will likely also be felt for a longer time (more on that in a moment). Additionally, swallowing tincture is believed to have lower bioavailability (meaning it’s less able to be fully metabolized by the body) due to a phenomenon known as the first-pass effect. This means it may be a bit less effective than sublingual application.
When a tincture is applied sublingually before its remains are swallowed, it works through both of these processes, giving you a little bit of both worlds.
Cannabis Tincture: How Long Do the Effects Last?
The effects of a tincture can last for different amounts of time depending on how you take the tincture. This is an especially important consideration when it comes to decisions around operating a motor vehicle, planning your work day, or other responsibilities. And while it’s important to note that everyone’s physiology reacts somewhat differently to cannabis medicines, there are some general guidelines to consider.
When taken sublingually, the effects of a tincture usually begin within fifteen to forty-five minutes, and last for about two to four hours.
When ingested orally or mixed into a food or beverage, you can expect a cannabis tincture to begin working within forty-five minutes to two hours. The effects typically last between four to six hours, though it’s not unusual for them to last even longer. For this reason, we recommend you wait at least two hours before taking another dose of cannabis tincture.
Again, everyone’s body is slightly different, so these figures are meant to provide a rough guideline. We recommend that everyone using THC tinctures for their medical benefits keep a cannabis journal noting the effects, their duration, and other pertinent details so as to make future dosing decisions even more consistent and predictable.
Beyond THC: CBD Tinctures and Tips for DIY Tinctures
Throughout this post, we’ve used the term “THC tincture” from time to time. But there are plenty of tinctures that only contain CBD, a cannabinoid that, unlike THC, doesn’t impart any intoxicating effects. These high-CBD tinctures and oils have risen to become some of the most popular cannabis products around, and for good reason: They work well, quickly, and efficiently. If you’re looking for a smoke-free CBD dosing option, our friendly budtenders are happy to guide you towards options.
Interested in how to make cannabis tincture at home? If you have the materials and the patience, making your own tincture is not only easy, but a fun craft-type project! Do keep in mind that it takes time, typically a month or more. Want to know more? Here’s a handy guide on how to make cannabis tincture at home.
Cannabis Tincture Benefits and Tips: Wrapping Up
We hope today’s post provides food for thought on how cannabis tinctures can deliver long-lasting relief in an easy-to-use and consistent format. If you have any other questions about how to use cannabis tincture (or any other marijuana-related topics), just ask! We’re here to help.
