A Guide to Marijuana Tincture

The cannabis plant is incredibly versatile, with a wide range of forms that offer the ultimate in variety. One popular form is a marijuana tincture, which is infused with cannabis and has been used for generations. Tinctures are convenient and user-friendly, and they don’t produce any smoke, making them appealing to both new and experienced consumers.

A marijuana tincture is a “liquid gold in a bottle” containing all of the benefits of cannabis without none of harshness. In this article, we’re going to explain what it is and if you should try it so that you can make an informed decision about using cannabis.

Smokeless Delivery Methods

You won’t feel compelled to smoke if you don’t want to. You can make infused cannabis edibles and topical solutions that provide the same relief as smoking but without the smoke by extracting it from a variety of cannabis products. Cannabis may be encapsulated, pillowed, suppositoriesed, tinctured, bathed in salves, creams, and lotions.

The acute effects of smoking may be rapid, but it may also have a more sinister side. Many individuals are worried about the COVID-19 epidemic, given that regular marijuana users seem to be at greater risk than the general population. Because smoking boosts the amount of receptors a virus can attach to, it’s recommended that you at least temporarily switch to a smokeless therapy in case you need help protecting your lungs.

Marijuana tinctures, for example, work without smoke by bypassing the inhalation process, which is also advantageous if you have respiratory issues such as asthma. Inhaling smoke and vapor can cause cannabinoids, terpenes, and even contaminants and carcinogens to enter your airways and irritate them, causing coughing and shortness of breath in the worst-case scenario.

Without causing a high, topicals can provide localized pain relief and comfort for inflammation. Edibles are eaten and digested, with the psychoactive THC being converted into its metabolites by the liver, resulting in longer-lasting effects that are more noticeable. Marijuana tinctures work faster than edibles to produce results.

What Is a Marijuana Tincture?

Sometimes called cannabis oils, tinctures are a type of marijuana extract that uses either alcohol or oil as its base (though many dispensaries use oil-based tinctures because it’s against the law to combine alcohol and tincture). Marijuana tinctures can have different concentrations of cannabinoids and terpenes, so you can choose a THC-rich, CBD-rich, or Balanced (THC:CBD) ratio. Some may even come with terpenes derived from the plant.

Tincture formulations are most often dispensed in opaque dropper vials with a clearly readable dropper that can hold between one and one milliliter (mL). Marijuana tinctures may contain as little as 300 mg of cannabinoids or up to 1,000 mg of their therapeutic components for strong pain relief. Depending on the amount of pain they’re looking for, medical and recreational users can simply change their tincture dosage.

Why Marijuana Tincture?

Cannabis tinctures have a lot of advantages over smoking or vaporizing cannabis or other edible choices out there. Marijuana tinctures are a more flexible solution than traditional edibles such as cookies, brownies, capsules, and other infused items since they aren’t restricted to one meal. Introduce them into your morning, lunch, and dinner dishes or drinks, or add a few drops under your tongue for fast absorption and relief.

Discreet

Not only do marijuana tinctures have long-lasting and rapid effects, but they are also discreet and convenient to dose. In terms of discretion, cannabis tinctures don’t create any smoke or scent. Tinctures are practically odorless unless you choose a bottle infused with natural flavors and terpenes. Even then, others won’t be able to smell your tincture from your purse, bag, or pocket.

Convenient

Tincture oils are more convenient to use than extracts because they come in small and amber-hued bottles that look like other health aids or supplements, which is handy when traveling domestically. Marijuana tincture bottles fit easily in pockets and other portable travel bags without spilling or requiring additional smoking equipment such as lighters, pipes, or bulky rigs. There’s no need to light a fire at all. All you have to do is put the dropper into your mouth.

Sanitary

Tinctures have several advantages that make them more hygienic than smoking and sharing pipes, vapes, and other smoking equipment. Sharing personal smoking devices with others can drastically raise your risk of acquiring or passing on germs, not just the type that causes a common cold. Tinctures avoid the problem of contamination by using dropper bottles that never touch the saliva glands or unclean hands.

Fast-Acting

You can add oil tinctures to food or consume them directly. Many people choose the latter method, known as taking their tincture sublingually. To do this, simply place 1 full dropper (or your preferred amount) under your tongue and let it sit for 30 seconds so that the oil can be absorbed into your bloodstream. This is a more efficient way of ingestion since it bypasses the digestive system altogether.

Easy to Dose

Tinctures are also simpler to dose than other edibles since they do not require the same amount of preparation. You’ll need to figure out how much you’re taking, though. Tinctures will display the total number of milligrams on the label, as well as the number of milligrams per serving, which you may split into smaller amounts if you consume portions of a dropper.

Fewer Calories

Marijuana tinctures may be more useful for people who need to restrict their calorie intake. Tinctures are less calorically dense than brownies and chocolate, allowing you to avoid unhealthy sweets. Tinctures can also help elders who can’t ingest as much food because of age or illness.

Accessible

Tinctures come in a variety of cannabinoid concentrations. While most states allow hemp and cannabis-infused tinctures, some jurisdictions may only accept hemp-derived tinctures high in the non-intoxicating CBD component. Tinctures are now available in many retail outlets throughout the country, including pharmacies and CBD shops. Tinctures can also be used to treat pets, who can benefit from their smokeless nature. Look for marijuana tincture varieties tailored to your four-legged friend if you want to give them a boost without smoking anything.

Understanding THC:CBD Ratios and Isolates

Marijuana tinctures are available in different THC:CBD ratios or non-psychoactive isolates such as THCA tinctures. THCA is the acidic precursor to intoxicating THC compound. You won’t get high from consuming THCA orally or sublingually. CBD-rich oil also won’t get you high. If you add some THC into the mix, though, you may feel a bit of a buzz.

You can’t always get an accurate dose of THC and CBD when smoking or vaporizing cannabis, but this is not the case with tinctures. Tinctures come in a variety of THC:CBD ratios such as 1:1, 3:1, 1:2. 1:4, 1:8, and 1::20 , among others. Less intoxication and more clarity-inducing effects are often seen with balanced ratios like 2:1 .

Cannabis-derived tinctures can have a high amount of THC and various ratios of CBD and THC. Hemp-derived tinctures are legally restricted to 0.3 percent or more THC, which is highly improbable to produce any narcotic effects even in large dosages. Tinctures derived from cannabis have the same restrictions as those derived from hemp, however they also differ in terms of CBD/THC ratio.

If you want to avoid feeling high, use a marijuana tincture with more CBD. If you’re looking to feel Sedative results however, try one with higher THC concentration. New users should start out using a product that has less THC and more CBD, then slowly increase their tolerance as needed.

Full Spectrum Tinctures for Better Results

To get the best tincture experience, go for a full spectrum option. This offers THC, CBD, and other chemicals that work together to give you a more intense high. Tinctures that only contain one cannabinoid are missing out on the benefits of the others.

Cannabinoids aren’t the only source of cannabis’ effects, according to previous studies. Minor and more temperature-sensitive terpenes, which contribute to the plant’s scent, can have modulating influences on cannabinoid binding to the endocannabinoid system. In other words, combining both terpenes and cannabinoids might help to minimize unwanted side effects while enhancing the health advantages of cannabis oil.

Some of the most common terpenes in cannabis strains are myrcene, caryophyllene, humulene, limonene, and pinene. Each terpENE has benefits for human health like reducing pain (analgesic), swelling (anti-inflammatory), or anxiety effects. There are also minor cannabinoids like CBG, CBC, CBDV ,and CBN which work together to create an even better effect known as the “entourage effect.”

It’s important not to confuse full-spectrum with broad-spectrum products. Broad-spectrum products contain every cannabinoid except for THC, including CBD, terpenes, essential fats and vitamins. The name “broad spectrum” reflects the large number of chemicals present, but not “full spectrum” because THC is absent.

In comparison to other solvents, brands that utilize a light hydrocarbon solvent such as butane hash oil to create BHO tincture may extract more of the plant’s valuable and medically-useful compounds. Furthermore, make sure your goods has been tested by an independent analytical laboratory for residual solvents, metals, pesticides, and any additional hazardous contaminants.

A tincture blend can offer a discrete, convenient, potent, and flexible experience whether you want to become more health-conscious in your cannabis usage or require an smokeless solution for your medication. The correct cannabinoid/terpene ratio might make all of the difference.