How to Use Cannabis Tinctures – Different Ways to Consume Cannabis

Cannabis dispensaries sell an array of different products. There are cannabis flowers, edibles, topicals, oils, and tinctures. If you are taking cannabis for its therapeutic effects, you may be interested in smokeless consumption methods. Medical marijuana often comes in dropper bottles. These products are called cannabis-infused tinctures. What are they, why should you use them, and how should you use them? Let us learn more about cannabis tinctures and answer these questions.

What are Cannabis Tinctures?

Cannabis tinctures are cannabis-infused liquids that come in dropper bottles. These products use alcohol extraction to separate the active cannabinoids and terpenes from the cannabis plant. The resulting product is alcohol infused with THC, CBD, and terpenes.

Technically speaking, cannabis tinctures are alcohol-based cannabis extracts. However, cannabis oil packaged in a dropper bottle is often commercially marketed as a cannabis tincture. Cannabis oils are cannabis infusions. Nevertheless, many cannabis users already refer to tinctures because they usually come in tincture bottles.

CBD tinctures are derived from hemp (cannabis plants that contain less than 0.3% THC). They are pretty popular in the tincture market because they offer many potential therapeutic benefits. Also, they are considered legal on a federal level and are available to most people in the US. CBD tinctures are not intended to deliver psychoactive effects but to provide therapeutic value, especially to people experiencing pain, anxiety, insomnia, depression, etc.

Some tinctures feature cannabinoids, such as Delta 8 THC, CBN, CBG, THCV, CBDV, THC-O, etc. These cannabinoids offer different effects. For instance, CBN provides sedative effects that may help people with insomnia. Delta 8 THC and THC-O give a psychoactive effect. These tinctures are often made using hemp-derived extracts. Hence, they are technically legal in many states.

How are Tinctures Made?

There are different methods of making tinctures. For instance, cannabis-infused alcohol tinctures are made by soaking cannabis buds in alcohol. The solvent dissolves the cannabinoids and terpenes and separates them from the plant matter. The cannabis-infused liquid is then separated from the plant matter.

Modern-day tinctures are now made by infusing cannabis extracts in carrier oils, such as MCT oil, hemp seed oil, and olive oil. The most common method used today is supercritical CO2 extraction. It is an extraction method that yields better extracts free from solvents and other contaminants. The terpenes and other compounds are usually left intact, but the cannabinoids can be isolated using distillation methods.

Types of CBD Tinctures

CBD tinctures come in three different types depending on what compounds are present.

CBD isolate tinctures contain pure CBD and a carrier oil (e.g., MCT oil).

EXCEPT for THC, broad-spectrum CBD tinctures contain CBD, other cannabinoids, and terpenes.

Full-spectrum CBD tinctures contain all the cannabinoids and terpenes from the hemp buds, including less than 0.3% THC.

Because of the scientifically-based entourage effect, many people prefer to take CBD with other cannabinoids and terpenes. Research indicates that the other compounds found in hemp (including THC, CBG, CBN, and terpenes) help enhance the potential therapeutic benefits of CBD.

CBD Vs. THC Tinctures

There are two kinds of cannabis plants based on THC content. These are marijuana and hemp. Marijuana contains more than 0.3% THC, while hemp contains less than 0.3% THC. Although all cannabis plants contain CBD, they are found in higher hemp strains concentrations. Hence, CBD tinctures are derived from hemp, while THC tinctures are derived from marijuana.

Some CBD tinctures contain THC, but mostly in less than 0.3% to abide by federal law. In states where marijuana is legal, you may find THC tinctures that contain CBD. Some people prefer to take THC tinctures that contain CBD to mitigate the adverse effects of THC. Similarly, some users prefer to take CBD tinctures that contain THC to get the full benefits of cannabis.

Whether you choose to use CBD or THC tincture depends on your goal and the legality of the cannabinoids in your location. Usually, users prefer to use CBD tinctures for therapeutic reasons and take THC tinctures for recreational purposes.

Cannabis prohibition is already a thing of the past. The 2018 Farm Bill has made hemp legal. However, if you live in an area where THC is illegal, you may still experience the euphoric high of cannabis by taking tinctures that contain Delta 8 THC, HHC, or THC-O. However, you have to ensure that the tinctures you purchase are 100% hemp-derived products.

How to Use Tinctures

There are different cannabis consumption methods, including smoking, vaping, ingesting, and topical application. In the same manner, you can use a tincture in various ways. The fastest method is to take tincture sublingually. Let us look at these consumption methods and learn how to use a tincture effectively.

Oral Ingestion

The most straightforward way to consume tinctures is to take a measured dose (e.g., 1 ml) orally and swallow it as it is. Some tinctures come with a nice flavor, so you can savor them in your mouth for a little bit before swallowing. However, some tinctures have a bland or earthy flavor, and you may want to swallow them directly.

If you swallow a CBD tincture as it is, expect the effects to start manifesting after 45 minutes to two hours. The onset of effects depends on various factors, including how fast you digest the liquid, your metabolism levels, and your overall body chemistry. The effects will last for at least four to six hours, depending on the product’s potency.

Sublingual Consumption

Inhalation is the fastest method of delivering cannabinoids into the system. However, if you want to experience all the benefits of cannabis as quickly as possible without smoking or vaping, the best method is through sublingual administration. When the tissue absorbs cannabinoids under the tongue, they bypass first-pass metabolism in the liver and make their way directly into the circulatory system and, eventually, the endocannabinoid system.

Fill the dropper with a good amount of tincture, place a few drops under the tongue, and let the liquid sit there for at least 30 seconds to two minutes. Allow the cell membranes to absorb the cannabinoids effectively. Swallow whatever is left. The sublingual route delivers the cannabinoids quickly into the bloodstream. Expect to feel the effects as quickly as 15 minutes after consumption, which will last at least four hours.

Make Cannabis Edibles

Tinctures are made with either food-grade alcohol or edible carrier oil. Hence, you can have fun with it by making cannabis edibles. You can add them to baked products, salads, salad dressing, chocolate products, candies, gummies, and other food. You can incorporate them into your homemade recipes, but you can always search for new things to try online if you run out of ideas.

When you ingest edibles, the cannabinoids will go through your digestive system and undergo first-pass metabolism in the liver. Therefore, expect the effects to start around 45 minutes to two hours after consumption. Be careful when serving edibles. Keep them away from children, pets, and unsuspecting individuals.

Make Cannabis Beverages

You can add cannabis tinctures to any beverage as well. You can place a few drops on your morning tea or coffee or your nighttime cocktails, wine, or juice. However, be careful not to add it directly to boiling water. The intense heat can degrade the cannabinoids and decrease the tincture’s potency.

Apply Topically

You can use CBD tinctures to soothe your sore muscles and joints. You can rub the tincture directly on the skin or mix it first with your favorite lotion, balm, salve, or cream. When applied topically, tinctures are absorbed quickly. You can feel the effects as quickly as 15 minutes.

Best Practices When Using Tinctures

If you want to consume tinctures for their therapeutic value, it is good to talk to your healthcare professional first. Ask which tinctures you should take and at what dosage. If you are taking prescription medications or other dietary supplements, seek your doctor’s advice.

If you do not have a recommendation from a healthcare professional, the rule of thumb is to start with a low dose and see how your body reacts. It can be as little as 5 mg of CBD (or 1 mg of THC if legal in your area). If you wish to experience the effects of the cannabinoids quickly, it is best to take it sublingually. You will feel the effects as quickly as 10 to 15 minutes. You can also gauge if the dose is effective for you or not.

If you do not feel the desired effects with a low dose, do not increase your dose immediately. Gradually add a bit more tincture on your next take and monitor how your body reacts. As soon as you gauge your ideal dose, you can try out other consumption methods. Remember that sublingual administration is not the only way to consume cannabis. You may also add it to foods or beverages.

Why Consider Using Tinctures

You can enjoy cannabis any way you like. If you prefer to smoke or vape, you can opt for cannabis flower or vape pens. However, inhaling cannabis has its limits. Smoking and vaping are not for everybody. If you are taking cannabis for medicinal purposes, you have to take your dose at any moment, and smoking may not be the most convenient option.

Convenience

Convenience is one of the very reasons that users take tinctures instead of any other method. With tinctures, you do not need a grinder, a pipe, a dab rig, a vaporizer, or a lighter. You can fill a tincture dropper with cannabis-infused liquid and consume it. There is no need to roll a joint or any other arduous preparation.

Discreet

Smoking cannabis attracts a lot of attention. Hence, you have to go to a safe and private place to smoke weed. Afterward, the smell of weed can linger on your clothes. Therefore, not a lot of people prefer to smoke or vape cannabis. Tinctures offer a better option. They do not attract too much attention and do not have any recognizable odor. You can consume it without anyone noticing.

Precise Dosing

If you need to take the exact dosing of cannabis, it can be difficult with smoking or vaping. The best way to do it is through ingesting carefully measured tinctures, edibles, or capsules. The cannabinoids are suspended in a carrier oil or high-proof alcohol in tinctures. If you buy your tinctures from a legal source, you can know how much CBD or THC is in an ml of the tincture. Remember that authorized manufacturers have to put their products under rigorous lab testing to check for the potency of their products.

Quick Effects

Tinctures offer a quick way of experiencing the effects of cannabinoids without using inhalation methods. The cannabinoids take a faster route into your system when you take the tinctures sublingually. Hence, they do not have to go through digestion and first-pass metabolism. The cannabinoids go directly to your bloodstream. In 10 to 15 minutes, you can already feel the CBD or the THC kicking in.

Where to Buy High-Quality Tinctures?

Be sure to buy only from licensed cannabis dispensaries like CannaClear to get lab-tested potent tinctures and other cannabis products. Check out our tinctures and start your cannabis journey. If you want to experience the euphoric high of cannabis without breaking the law, shop from our delta 8 products.

Last Words

Tinctures provide a cannabis consumption method that is convenient, discreet, precise, and fast-acting. You can swallow it, take it sublingually, or add it to foods and beverages. However, always ensure that you buy it from a legitimate source.