Cannabis Tinctures: What They Are and How To Use Them

There’s a number of ways to get your daily dose of medicine. A convenient, user-friendly, and smoke-free option is cannabis tinctures. These offer a hassle-free experience that appeals to beginners and seasoned consumers alike. If you’re looking to try them, here are a couple of things you’ll need to know: 

What are cannabis tinctures? 

Cannabis tinctures are liquid, alcohol-based extracts.  They’re made using high-proof alcohol as a solvent to extract the cannabinoids and terpenes from the marijuana plant. Cannabis tinctures come in glass bottles with droppers, making it easy to dose your preferred amount. Prior to the cannabis prohibition, tinctures were one of the most common forms of medicinal cannabis in the United States. 

It’s important to note that tinctures are also used interchangeably to describe cannabis oils, although technically the two are different. Cannabis oils use a carrier oil instead of alcohol. Popular choices for this include coconut oil, MCT oil, and vegetable glycerin. Although cannabis oil and tinctures can be made at home, most consumers prefer the convenience and consistency of purchasing at a dispensary. 

Different ways to use tinctures

Cannabis tinctures are most commonly used by placing a few drops under your tongue (sublingually). When taken this way, your body quickly absorbs the THC or CBD. It takes about 15 minutes compared to the 45 minutes for an edible. 

You can also use tinctures in food and beverages to make a quick canna-infused meal. Some popular ways to incorporate tinctures include adding them to coffee, smoothies, salad dressings, popsicles, etc. Need some inspiration? Check out these 5 Easy Cannabis-Infused Summer Recipes. 

That being said, if you swallow a tincture (versus letting it absorb under the tongue), it will absorb slower, similar to an edible.

What are the benefits?

While there are many forms of cannabis, all will have varying effects depending on the consumption method. Here are a few of the perks of using cannabis tinctures:

Absorption: As mentioned, cannabis tinctures absorb quickly when placed under the tongue. On top of this, some users also report better absorption of THC/CBD compared to edibles and smoking. One study found that 18% more THC was absorbed with tinctures (sublingually) compared to capsules (digesting). Furthermore, the study found that tinctures were more consistent person to person compared to the capsules. 

Diet-friendly: If you’re watching your macros, sugary weed brownies may not be the healthiest choice. Tinctures are a great option for users trying to avoid sugar or certain foods. This can also be useful for high tolerance users who ingest 100+ mg each time. For them, getting their preferred dose would require entire edibles (used for multiple doses) or even more. 

All that sugar and calories add up – which is why many choose the tincture route.

Smoke-free: Tinctures are also a great option for people with respiratory problems or who do not want to smoke. Another perk to this is that tinctures don’t require the same equipment used for smoking. No need for grinders, lighters, pipes, or papers.  

Discrete: Another benefit is that they’re discrete. Cannabis tinctures are odorless, easy to conceal, and you can use them in under a minute.

Dosing: Tinctures are also great for beginners. Because it’s in an eyedropper, you can easily increase or decrease the dose. The fast absorption can also help prevent the common mistake made by first-time edible users – not waiting enough time for it to hit. Since it only takes about 15 minutes to absorb, you can know quickly whether or not you’d like to add more. 

Where to find cannabis tinctures? 

Cannabis tinctures can typically be found at any dispensary. At Green, we offer a variety of brands including fan favorites City Trees and EPC. You can view our full menu online, alongside our flower, concentrates, edibles and more. We’d also be happy to pair you with one of our awesome budtenders in-store who will help you find your perfect product. For all additional questions, please feel free to contact us.