What is a Tincture?

When you walk into your local dispensary, you’ll find hundreds of products in dozens of different formats — medicated lotions, baked goods, candies, concentrates, flower, cartridges, even bath salts! One type of product, however, is often overlooked: tinctures.

While your first instinct may not be to select the tiny bottle of cannabis solution over a delicious looking brownie, tinctures are an ancient form of medicine that have been used for centuries. In fact, before cannabis prohibition, tinctures were the most popular form of medicinal marijuana.

Cannabis Tinctures

Tinctures refer to a solution of medicine or botanicals dissolved in a liquid, usually alcohol or oil. They usually come in Tinctures are a solution of medicine or botanicals dissolved in a liquid. By definition, a true tincture uses alcohol as its solvent, though these are not recommended for those in recovery. Oils like MCT (coconut) oil are commonly used in the cannabis space.  Tinctures typically come in small bottles with droppers and are taken orally. Cannabis tinctures can include cannabinoids like THC, CBD, or even THCA and CBDA (and combinations of the four!). Try Mota THC Sleep Tincture and know the benefits of cannabis tincture.

Here’s generally what you can expect from the three main types of tinctures:

CBD Tinctures derived from hemp are chosen by users who want to avoid the intoxifying effects of THC. A CBD-only tincture may contain traces of THC, but by law the amount must be less than 0.3%. CBD tinctures can even be found in states that haven’t legalized medical or recreational marijuana yet. Because hemp-derived CBD is a largely unregulated industry (besides the monitoring of THC levels), always be sure to request a Certificate of Analysis (COA) to ensure there are no traces of pesticides or heavy metals.

CBD Tinctures derived from cannabis, too, are chosen by those who want to avoid the psychoactivity of THC. When extracted from the cannabis plant, there is typically a higher level of THC traces, but the high levels of CBD mitigate any potential high feelings. Cannabis-derived CBD Tinctures have the added benefit of additional testing conducted due to state laws.

THC Tinctures are derived from the marijuana plant, and are often chosen for their euphoric effects. THC tinctures will also likely contain concentrations of CBD, but much lower than the THC amounts.

CBD:THC tinctures provide the best of both worlds by leveraging the benefits of both cannabinoids in varying ratios. THC targets the perception of pain, while CBD addresses the underlying cause of said pain.

How Does a Tincture Work?

The most common way to take a tincture is to do so sublingually. This means you’ll use the dropper to measure your solution, then drop the liquid under your tongue. It’s generally recommended to hold the solution under the tongue for 30 seconds before swallowing.

The tincture is then absorbed into the mucus membrane under your tongue, where it’s dispersed directly into your bloodstream. This is what differentiates a tincture from an edible: edibles must be digested and processed by the liver, which often takes several hours. When taken sublingually, tinctures bypass the liver, meaning users often feel the effects within 15 minutes to an hour after dosing and for 5-6 hours after consuming. Unlike smoking, the benefits from tinctures come gradually, rather than all at once.

We’ll provide more information on dosing and best practices, but know that you should approach tinctures with the same caution you do edibles. Ensure you allow ample time for your first dose to take effect before taking more.

What are the Benefits of Tinctures?

Because tinctures are a smokeless consumption method that doesn’t impact your lungs, they provide a happy medium between smoking or vaporizing and edibles, which take longer to set in than a dose of tincture. They’re generally considered odorless (the tincture itself may have a hemp-y smell, but it usually isn’t detectable from an open bottle) and thus discreet. And they’re mighty convenient — no rolling papers, lighter, or any accessories are needed.

Tinctures are also some of the lowest-calorie edible products carried in most dispensaries, making them an ideal product for users with diabetes or other dietary restrictions. They can  be used to make your own edibles, too – just add your tincture to drinks (if encapsulated), baked goods, gelatin, or even to infuse butter or oils. Infusing with tinctures up the possibilities for less conventional edibles, such as salad dressing, pasta sauce, ice cream toppings, soup, whatever! Get creative — the possibilities are endless.

Just keep in mind that edibles made with tinctures take the same amount of time to set in as regular edibles. It’s also in your best interest to pay attention to the type of tincture you’re using for cooking — one made of coconut oil might work great in brownies, but stirring it into your drink may not be ideal.

What Kind of Tincture Should I Buy?

Luckily, there is a huge selection of tinctures available on the market. Not only can you find tinctures with a variety of doses, they also come in a variety of ratios. If a tincture has a ratio on the package, it usually refers to the amount of CBD:THC. For example, a 4:1 tincture has four parts of CBD for every one part THC.

This specificity makes tinctures an ideal product for medical use– rather than supplementing your THC regimen with CBD, you can get all your medication from one product. Here’s a general rundown of what the cannabinoids found in tinctures can help with:

THC: calms the nervous system, stimulates appetite, provides pain relief

CBD: balances the immune system, calms anxiety, regulates serotonin

THCA: anti-inflammatory, pain relief

CBDA: anti-inflammatory, calms anxiety, reduces nausea

It’s also worth considering what your solution is made of. Alcohol-based tinctures can sometimes have a harsher taste and cause tingling under the tongue, but some users report more potent effects with the carrier. Oil-based tinctures can be easier to swallow, but may not pack as much of a punch. As mentioned earlier, your base material is also important when you’re making edibles.

You can also try and buy magic mushrooms online in Canada.