Tinctures are mixtures of alcohol and medicine that can be placed under the tongue or smoked. They’re a simple, smokeless method to dose, and they’re particularly popular since they’re quick and easy to produce, store, transport, and consume. A tincture may also be prepared from plants other than the cannabis plant. Dandelion is a well-known herb that may be used in tinctures.
Sublingually Consuming a tincture is the most straightforward technique, allowing users to feel the whole effects faster since the medicine is absorbed directly into the circulation. Finding the proper dose is simple enough, but it takes some trial and error as well as patience. Tinctures, like all other cannabis extracts, come with a dropper that allows customers to measure how much they take. Because each customer is unique, it’s recommended that you begin with a 1ml dose. Place the drop under your tongue and hold for 30 seconds before swallowing. Cannabis tinctures are fast-acting and will provide the desired effects in a hurry.
When mixing medicines into meals, the onset effects will take longer than if you took them sublingually since the drug is absorbed via the stomach. The onset time is comparable to that of ingesting an edible.
How to make cannabis tinctures
Making tinctures, on the other hand, isn’t difficult, but it might take weeks. This implies that if you’re going the homemade route, you can’t be in a rush. Here’s a straightforward cannabis tincture recipe with precise directions and tincture dosages for reference.
The end product is a tincture that may be taken as a drink or applied topically. The base ingredients are dried, ground flower or extract and high-proof ethyl alcohol, which is used as a solvent. The greater the proof, or the twofold proportion of alcohol by volume, the more cannabinoids will be absorbed. You’re ready to go after adding a few easy items from your kitchen (including a mason jar, some coffee filters, and a measuring cup).
Note: To experience the euphoric, intoxicating effects of cannabis in the tincture, the cannabis flower must first be decarboxylated by heat to break down tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) into tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Mix the cannabis and alcohol in a jar, then seal it and put it in the freezer. It may take between one week and six months to soak, but the jar should be shaken for one minute each day to ensure an even distribution of cannabinoids. To finish up, use the coffee filter to clean out any cannabis plant matter from the tincture liquid. If kept in a cool, dry location away from sunlight or direct light, the tincture will last for years.
How to make CBD tinctures
Supplies:
- ⅛ ounce cannabis that contains high levels of CBD, such as Sour Tsunami or Ringo’s Gift
- 2 ounces 190 proof grain alcohol
- Mason jar and lid
- Coffee filter
- Eye dropper
Instructions:
- Decarb the cannabis
- Combine cannabis and alcohol in mason jar
- Cover the jar and leave it for 3 weeks, shaking at daily intervals
- After 3 weeks, use the coffee filter to remove the cannabis from the liquid
Old-School Method (aka Green Dragon)
This is the slowest method, but it’s also the most famous. You’ve probably heard of “Green Dragon” if you haven’t already had it. The fact that it takes almost no extra materials can’t be hurting its popularity…
Supplies:
- Weed
- High-Proof Alcohol
- Amber or Cobalt Blue Mason Jar w/ lid
Steps:
- Decarboxylate 1oz of weed.
- Add the weed to a glass container like a mason jar.
- Add about 300ml of alcohol to the jar. Close the jar tight.
- Place the jar somewhere cool and dark for about 3 months. Shake up the jar when the mood strikes you.
- Alternate Method: Shake the heck out of the jar over the course of an hour; many people believe this is just as effective as waiting for 3 months. I don’t know if it’s just as effective, but I tested the 60-minute method and it definitely works. It’s like a less-quick quick-wash.
- Old-School “Green Dragon” takes a long time to make! Make sure to shake your Green Dragon every so often.
The Ed Rosenthal Method
I’m a fan of Ed Rosenthal. He seems to come up with unique (or at least creative) methods for accomplishing things, but he also always has a rationale behind his techniques. This method is from his newest book on concentrates/edibles (Beyond Buds: Next Generation), and I recommend you get a copy if you haven’t already. It has useful information, and I am sure you will discover something new!
Supplies:
- Weed
- High-Proof Alcohol
- Amber or Cobalt Blue Mason Jar w/ lid
- Blender/Food Processor
- Mesh Strainer
- Large Metal Bowl
- Another Large Bowl (Metal or Glass)
- Coffee Filters
Steps:
- Decarboxylate 1oz of weed
- Add the weed to your strainer, then put the strainer in the large metal bowl
- Fill the bowl with water until the weed floats, and let it sit for 90 minutes.
- This should help leech out some of the chlorophyll from your bud.
- Pull the strainer from the bowl so the water drains.
- Collect your wet weed into a ball and squeeze the water out with your hands.
- Break up the squeezed weed and add it to your blender.
- Add about 300ml of your alcohol to the blender and blend on low for 5 minutes.
- Let the mixture sit for an hour, then blend again for 5 minutes.
- Pour the mixture through the strainer making sure to collect the used weed material.
- Make sure to squeeze any tincture out of the material.
- The mixture you just filtered is a potent cannabis tincture! Put it to the side so you can store it later.
- Put the used weed material in a container with fresh alcohol to soak for another hour.
- Pour the mixture through a strainer again, but this time you can discard the used weed.
- Pour your tincture through a coffee filter over a bowl to filter out the tiny particulates.
- This step isn’t necessary, but it looks nicer.
- Pour your tincture into an amber or cobalt blue jar that can be sealed.
- Your tincture is ready!
Water Bath Method
The water bath method is a fast method to make tinctures, but it also needs the most attention because you must ensure that the water bath does not become too hot.
Surprisingly, this approach is the less expensive option of utilizing a Magical Butter Machine since it performs all of the same tasks but requires you to be there to take action and check for safety.
In this step, you’ll add water to the vinegar and bring it back up to a simmer. Keep in mind that you cannot do this method with any open flames in your house! Evaporating alcohol produces a combustible vapor, and having an open flame anywhere near flammable gas is a recipe for disaster. Please exercise caution!
Supplies:
- Weed
- High-Proof Alcohol
- Mason jar (for cooking)
- Amber or Cobalt Blue Mason Jar w/ lid (for storage)
- Coffee Grinder/Food Processor
- Mesh Strainer
- Large Metal Bowl
- Coffee Filters
- A pot for cooking (not for smoking)
- An accurate candy thermometer or another cooking thermometer
Steps:
- Decarboxylate 1oz of weed.
- Grind up your cannabis.
- Add the weed to your mason jar.
- Add about 300ml of your alcohol of choice to the jar.
- DO NOT CLOSE OR SEAL THE JAR!
- Fill the pot with 1” of water and place on an electric stove (no gas stoves!) on medium.
- Use your thermometer to make sure the water is no hotter than 165°F.
- Place the unsealed mason jar with your weed and alcohol into the pot.
- This is called a water bath. See the picture below to see what it looks like.
- Adjust the temperature as needed until the alcohol/weed mixture gets to 165°F and let it cook for 30 minutes.
- Stay next to the water bath and make sure it doesn’t get too hot (above 165°F).
- Remove the jar from the water bath and let it cool for about 30 minutes.
- Pour your tincture through a coffee filter over a bowl to filter out the tiny particulates.
- This step isn’t necessary, but it looks nicer.
- Pour your tincture into an amber or cobalt blue jar that can be sealed.
- You’re done!
Making Tinctures with a Magical Butter Machine
The Magical Butter Machine is the way to make tinctures. It stirs it more, it constantly heats the material, and it has infinite patience, unlike a human being. It can stir and heat your tincture for 8 straight hours with no work on your part past the initial setup.
Supplies:
- Weed
- High-Proof Alcohol
- Magical Butter Machine
- Amber or Cobalt Blue Mason Jar w/ lid (for storage)
- Mesh Strainer
- Large Metal Bowl
- Coffee Filters
Steps:
- Decarboxylate 1oz of weed.
- Add the weed to your Magical Butter Machine without grinding it.
- Add 2cups (or more for a less potent product) of your alcohol to the machine.
- 2cups is the bare minimum you can add.
- Set the temperature to 130°F.
- Set the timer to 4 hours (tincture)
- …or set it to 8 hours for a stronger product.
- Let the machine finish, then unplug it and let your mixture cool for 30 minutes.
- Pour your tincture through a coffee filter over a bowl to filter out the tiny particulates.
- This step isn’t necessary, but it looks nicer.
- Pour your tincture into an amber or cobalt blue jar that can be sealed.
- Tincture time!
How to Use Tinctures
There’s no perfect recipe for how to try tinctures since everyone has different tastes and tolerances. Here’s the best advice I can give for how to try your product:
- Get “Boston Round” jars with droppers. These make it much easier to measure out doses with your tincture so you can repeat what works for you.
- Don’t try tinctures for the first time if you have important things to do. Testing is best done on a free day at home just in case it’s too strong.
- If your tolerance is low, or If you don’t know your tolerance, start with a drop or two of tincture then wait 1-1.5 hours to see how it affects you.
- For those with higher tolerances, try a full dropper and wait 1-1.5 hours to see how you feel.
- You can also add tinctures to drinks with strong flavor such as cranberry juice.
Storing Tinctures
If kept in an amber/cobalt glass bottle in the refrigerator, alcohol tinctures can last for years. The amber/cobalt coloring protects the cannabinoids from sunlight damage. Tinctures that have been glycerinized will keep for a few months if refrigerated.