Marijuana Tinctures: What Are They And How Are They Made

Tinctures are a great way for cannabis consumers to partake in all the relief marijuana provides without the smell or the need for supplies like lighters and ashtrays.

Over the last decade or so as marijuana acceptance has steadily increased, consumers have had an increasing amount of options to choose from as far as method of consumption goes. As opposed to decades ago, nowadays many marijuana consumers can simply take a stroll into their local dispensary to be greeted by a smorgasbord of edibles, cartridges, extracts, and tinctures.

Although they’re relatively new to most cannabis consumers, tinctures are actually one of the oldest ways of ingesting marijuana for medicinal purposes. In fact records reveal before cannabis was deemed illegal, it was a fairly common treatment for both people and pets.

Thanks to the growing acceptance of medical marijuana, tinctures have again become a common method of pain relief. Both CBD and THC tinctures are popular methods for both relieving pain or simply relaxing. From the way they’re made to how they’re injected, marijuana tinctures are probably far from what you’re used to when you think about weed. 

How Marijuana Tinctures are Made

Tinctures are typically alcohol-based cannabis extracts, although sometimes they’re made with vegetable glycerin and oil. They’re made by grinding down the bud, then decarboxylating it by heat. Afterwards the grounded, dried, bud is soaked in high-proof alcohol, in a jar-tightened lid. After it’s been stored, it ideally sits in a cool, dark area for a couple of weeks being periodically stirred or shaken. Before use, any remaining flower can be filtered out using a coffee filter. Once the grounds have been filtered out, it gets transferred into a medicine bottle with a dropper for easy injection.

How to Take Tinctures

One of the great things about marijuana tinctures is the fact that there’s really no wrong way to inject them. They’re also a relatively discrete method of consumption. While it’s common for consumers to simply take them sublingually (underneath the tongue), it’s also common for them to be injected into foods, drinks and desserts. Even though there’s nor right or wrong way to ingest topicals, taking them with food may provide a different sensation than taking it on its own. That’s partly why it’s recommended that consumers who are new to marijuana tinctures may be better off starting with a lower dosage. 

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Effects of Marijuana Tinctures

Marijuana tinctures are typically felt within the first fifteen minutes or so after ingesting them sublingually. The physical effects should last anywhere from a half an hour up to 3 hours. When they’re taken with food, it’s common for consumers to feel similar effects to that of eating an edible.

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One of the reasons it’s suggested for newer consumers to start by taking a lower dosage is because a higher one could lead to unwanted side effects like paranoia and anxiety. By starting off with a lower dosage, consumers can always go back and take more if they’re after a stronger sensation.

Tinctures are a great way for cannabis consumers to partake in all of the relief marijuana provides without the smell or the need for supplies like lighters and ashtrays. Taking that into consideration, it wouldn’t be surprising to see more medical cannabis users trying tinctures as an alternative to smoking or vaping.