How to Make Homemade Cannabis Tincture
- In today's article, we'll describe everything about cannabis tinctures – what they are, how to make them, and how to use them correctly
What are cannabis tinctures?
Cannabis tinctures are essentially active substances derived from medicinal cannabis extracted using alcohol. We can say they are alcohol enriched with cannabinoids. Interestingly, cannabis tinctures were the main form of cannabinoid medicine in the United States until the federal government declared all forms of medical cannabis illegal.
In our previous article, we mentioned cannabis tinctures as one of the non-smoking forms of cannabis application, and indeed, tinctures are one of the best application methods for both beginners and advanced patients seeking a highly effective treatment method.
How to dose and use cannabis tinctures
Using and dosing cannabis tinctures is very easy – simply start with one milliliter of tincture, which you drop directly under the tongue. If you're satisfied with the effect, great, you've found your dose. Otherwise, wait until the next day and try a two-milliliter dose, continuing the method until you feel the desired effect. Proceed carefully with dosing, especially with tinctures with high THC content.
According to information in the book "The Herbal Medicine-Maker's Handbook", herbal tinctures can be stored in a dark and cool place for many years. The long shelf life combined with extremely simple dosing makes cannabis tinctures one of the most unrivaled forms of medicinal cannabinoid application. You can relatively easily produce a supply of tinctures and have quality medicine available in any situation.
Moreover, if you want to apply cannabis through the digestive tract, it's an excellent low-calorie option. On average, it will be about 7 calories per 1ml, which is almost nothing. Compared to an average brownie with about 112kcal (hand on heart, your delicious homemade brownies will have at least twice as much), it's minimal.
Furthermore, tinctures can be added to many types of foods and drinks:
- Juices
- Ice creams and popsicles
- Sauces
- Jellies
- Mashed potatoes
- Salad dressings
How to make your own cannabis tincture
If you don't have a highly equipped kitchen or laboratory, or simply prefer easy production methods, don't despair, homemade cannabis tincture production isn't complicated. You'll absolutely manage with a sealable glass jar, alcohol, a strainer, and prescription medicinal cannabis. That's all you need to make a cannabis tincture!
Depending on your personal needs, time requirements, and available equipment, you can choose from the following verified and effective recipes.
Recipe 1 - Traditional Cannabis Tincture aka "Green Dragon"
- Decarboxylate your medicinal cannabis (More information in the article "Tea from Industrial and Medicinal Cannabis by Prescription")
- Combine cannabis in your chosen container with high-quality alcohol
- Close the container and set aside for several weeks, shaking daily
- After several weeks, filter the resulting mix and start administering with the first dose of 1ml
Recipe 2 – Green Dragon Tincture in Master Wu's Style
This recipe was first published in 2006 on cannabis.com and remains one of the most popular cannabis tincture recipes. Master Wu's production process differs from the classic Green Dragon mainly in the faster availability of the resulting medicine, achieved through thermal influence. Unlike the first recipe, you won't need to wait weeks, but one "cooking evening" will suffice.
- Decarboxylate your medicinal cannabis
- Combine cannabis in your chosen container with high-quality alcohol
- Place the container in a pot of water and let it boil for 20 minutes at 76°C
- Filter the resulting mix and it's done
Recipe 3 – "Modern Green Dragon" Cannabis Tincture
This recipe is perfect for those who really don't have time to wait even one evening and need effective medicine immediately. It might sound almost too simple, but many people praise its results.
- Decarboxylate your medicinal cannabis
- Combine cannabis in your chosen container with high-quality alcohol
- Thoroughly stir for 3-5 minutes
- Filter and you can administer or store
Frequently Asked Questions About Cannabis Tinctures:
How to correctly use a cannabis tincture?
You can drop your medicinal tincture directly under your tongue, where cannabinoids (THC and others) are immediately absorbed into the body. You can also consume the tincture in various foods (see above), but it will take longer for cannabis to be absorbed through the liver and start working.
How long does a cannabis tincture last?
You can expect a longer effect than with classic smoking or vaporization, and simultaneously shorter than when applying through cannabinoid-enriched treats.
You can only produce cannabis tincture from medicinal cannabis if you have dried cannabis issued by eRecipe.
Author: Philip Bjorge
Translation: Filip Maral
Source: leafly.com
Images: amazonaws.com