What are Cannabis Tinctures & How Do You Use Them?

High Points

• Marijuana tinctures are liquid cannabis extracts, usually made with alcohol, that offer a discreet and fast-acting way to consume THC.
  
  

• There are many ways to consume cannabis tinctures: you can take them sublingually (under the tongue for quicker effects); mix them into drinks; or add them to food.
  
  

• Remember that dosage matters! Tinctures can range from microdoses to strong THC percentages, so beginners should start low and increase gradually to find the right balance.
  
  

Cannabis Tincture

Also: THC Tincture

A cannabis tincture is a solution that contains extracts of the bioactive and psychoactive compounds in the cannabis plant. These products are made by soaking marijuana flower in food-grade alcohol, oil, or glycerin. The plant material is then pressed and the liquid is strained to create the finished tincture.

A THC tincture is a solution of extracts from the cannabis plant that have been suspended in a type of liquid, often alcohol, oil, or glycerine. These tinctures can come loaded with cannabinoids, terpenes, and other bioactive compounds, but you can also purchase single-cannabinoid solutions.¹

What makes tinctures a unique cannabis product is that they’re meant to be absorbed sublingually, instead of eaten, smoked, or dabbed. Whether you’re microdosing or taking a full dose, the liquid is dropped under the tongue and left to absorb through the thin skin of your mouth. This allows the cannabinoids and terpenes to enter the bloodstream faster than a digested edible.

Tinctures can be taken orally or sublingually, and some can even be applied topically to the skin.³

• Oral: If you swallow a tincture or mix it with food, it will be digested and metabolized through your liver. This means the onset time will be longer, taking approximately 30 minutes to one hour before effects are felt.¹
  
  

• Sublingual: Many consumers apply tinctures sublingually, holding the liquid under their tongue for about 30 seconds before swallowing. Taken sublingually, some report that tinctures usually take effect in 10 to 30 minutes. It’s important to remember that you may have another onset around two hours later as the rest of the swallowed THC goes through your digestive system, similar to oral consumption.² 
  
  

• Topical: Applying a marijuana tincture to your skin doesn't produce a psychoactive effect, as the cannabinoids are not absorbed into your bloodstream. However, topically-applied cannabinoid solutions are being studied for potential effects on skin and other organs.³
  
  

Tinctures give you the freedom to customize your dose. You can ingest a small amount and discover its effects–from microdoses to stronger doses–in order to discover what's right for you. How you'll absorb the various cannabinoids in the tincture will depend on if you've consumed food or if you mix the tincture into food. Cannabis experts recommend starting with a low dose of 2.5 milligrams and gradually increasing.⁴

How much THC tincture is considered a strong dose? This dosage chart* gives approximate ranges, but remember to start low and slow if you are a beginner.¹ 

Tincture Amount
0.10 mL

Approx Amount of THC
3 mg

Reported Effects

Little-to-no effect

Tincture Amount
0.25 mL

Approx Amount of THC
7.5 mg

Reported Effects
Minor effects may be noticed

Tincture Amount
0.50 mL

Approx Amount of THC
15 mg

Reported Effects
Light effects may be noticed

Tincture Amount
1 mL

Approx Amount of THC
30 mg

Reported Effects
Strong effects may be felt

Tincture Amount
2 mL

Approx Amount of THC
60 mg

Reported Effects
Potent, very strong effects

*Based on a 30 milliliter tincture bottle containing 300 milligrams of THC.¹ Please note that individual responses to marijuana dosage may vary, and it’s important to consult with a healthcare professional before altering your consumption habits.

Tinctures can be flavored or unflavored, and can also include full-spectrum or broad-spectrum extracts of the cannabis plant, including THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids.⁵

Full spectrum tinctures include the full range of chemically-active compounds found in the cannabis plant. They are typically made using alcohol to extract the terpenes and cannabinoids from the cannabis plant.⁵

Broad spectrum tinctures include a specific, broad range of chemical compounds contained in the cannabis plant. This category is most-often found in CBD tinctures as opposed to THC tinctures. A broad spectrum CBD tincture will contain no THC.⁶

Isolate tinctures contain only specific cannabinoids. For example, there can be THC-only isolate tinctures as well as CBD isolates.⁶

THC tinctures contain psychoactive THC as well as other cannabinoids, including CBD. A CBD tincture will contain CBD and minimal to no amounts of THC, but it may also contain other cannabinoids. Both types of tincture can contain terpenes and flavonoids. Each tincture may provide different effects, but CBD tinctures are bioactive, not psychoactive.⁷

THC tinctures are not complicated to make–if you’ve ever decarboxylated your flower, you’re already halfway there! Check out the below recipe for full directions.²

Ingredients:

• 1 eighth of decarboxylated marijuana flower

• Food-grade, 190-proof alcohol (like Everclear)
  

Equipment:

• Mason jar

• Coffee filters

• Measure cup

• Funnel

• Tincture bottle with eyedropper
  
  

Tinctures are one of the oldest methods of ingesting any plant-based compound and they have their own appeal when compared to other cannabis products. Here are some examples of how various cannabis products compare to tinctures:

Tinctures vs Edibles: Tinctures often contain no sugar or artificial sweetener, which appeals to various consumers. When taken sublingually, they can also take effect more rapidly than edibles.¹

Tinctures vs Sublinguals: You can take a tincture sublingually, but there are other products that can also be placed under the tongue, including lozenges.

Tinctures vs CBD Oil: THC tinctures contain THC as well as CBD, while CBD oil is an extract which contains CBD and potentially other cannabinoids, but minimal to no amounts of THC.

As with all of our cannabis products, there are questions we get pretty frequently about tinctures. Here are their answers:

Can you cook with THC tinctures?

Technically, you should not cook with a tincture. This is because the cannabinoids have already been decarboxylated, so if you heat them again, you can end up ruining your product by destroying the cannabinoids. That said, you can add tinctures to food and beverages that have already been made. In general, as long as you’re not heating the food, you can add tinctures to just about anything.¹

How long do tinctures take to work?

When taken sublingually, tinctures can take effect in 15 to 30 minutes, and when taken orally, approximately 45 minutes to one hour.¹

Are tinctures more potent than edibles?

Tinctures have the same potency as edibles with an equivalent amount of THC.¹

How long should I hold the tincture in my mouth?

If you are taking the tincture under your tongue, hold it there for 35 to 45 seconds.¹

Are THC and CBD tinctures different?

Yes, they are different because THC tinctures will cause psychoactive effects and CBD tinctures will not, depending on your own individual endocannabinoid system. Depending on where you purchase your tinctures, there may be differences in the amount of THC in the tincture—even when it’s a CBD tincture. For example, if you purchase a CBD tincture outside of a dispensary, it comes from the hemp plant, not the marijuana plant, and it has to have less than 0.3% THC in it. CBD tinctures purchased in a dispensary will be from a marijuana plant and can have varying amounts of THC in them. (This is called full-spectrum.)

Can you make tinctures without alcohol?

Yes. Tinctures can be made with oil and glycerine.¹

Purchasing Tinctures

From terpene-rich to THC-only tinctures, you can find a full selection at your local dispensary. Ask the budtenders any of your tincture-related questions or for recommendations on tinctures available in stock.