If you’re interested in leveraging the power of cannabis in a discreet, portable, and precise product, we’d like to point out an option you may not have considered: cannabis tinctures. Because they’re potent, consistent, shelf-stable, and easy to dose, there are plenty of tincture benefits and upsides.
In today’s post, we’ll share everything we know about this highly effective cannabis format. If you’ve been asking such questions as:
- What are tinctures used for?
- How do I use tincture?
- What’s the best THC tincture dosage?
You’ve come to the right place. Are you ready? Let’s get down to business.
THC Tincture: Introduction to a Time-Honored Cannabis Remedy
At a basic level, tinctures are any medication dissolved in a liquid—not just cannabis. But cannabis tinctures actually have a long and storied history in this country.
Before widespread cannabis prohibition in the early 20th century, THC tinctures were a fairly common sight on most pharmacy shelves. In fact, we humans have used tinctures for thousands of years, and the practice runs back at least to ancient Egypt.
Then, as now, tinctures were widely used because they’re easy to take and dose. Because there’s no combustion involved, users don’t have to worry about any telltale “weed smell,” and they also reap the many benefits of cannabis without having to inhale potentially irritating smoke.
What are tinctures used for? As we’ll see, THC tinctures are often used to help with everyday concerns such as stress, insomnia, chronic pain, low appetite, and to support everyday health and wellness.
Tincture Basics: What’s Inside the Bottle?
While tinctures have historically used alcohol as a base, today that’s less common. Many tinctures like the ones we sell use “medium-chain triglyceride” (or “MCT”), a neutral oil that may impart benefits of its own, such as potentially reducing cholesterol.
A cannabis tincture typically comes in a small bottle with an eyedropper tool. The dropper tool generally comes marked with milliliter measurements. As a result, it’s incredibly easy to use. Just measure the amount of cannabinoids you want to use and drop it into your mouth.
How to Use Tincture: Choose Your Onset Time
Because they can be swallowed on their own or added to your favorite foods or beverages, tinctures are remarkably versatile. There are two main ways to consume tincture: swallowing it and holding it under the tongue.
Swallowing (aka Ingestion)
You can swallow tincture—either on its own or mixed into a beverage or a liquid base—in which case it’s absorbed through your digestive tract. This makes it function like a typical edible, meaning that it’s processed through the stomach and liver, taking anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours to take full effect. Once it does, you can expect the effects to last anywhere from 4 to 8 hours.
If your tincture contains alcohol and you’re taking it regularly, this can lead to irritation over time. Or, if you do not like the taste of alcohol, try diluting the cannabis tincture in a small amount of water or juice. Fortunately, the possible irritation and potentially unpleasant taste are generally the only downsides to cannabis tinctures. Some people prefer to add their tinctures to meals or snacks via sauces, soups, salad dressings, or sherbets.
Under the Tongue (aka Sublingually)
Alternatively, you can place the THC tincture directly beneath your tongue. Your body has a high concentration of blood vessels in this area, and as a result, you’ll absorb the THC tincture into your bloodstream more quickly—typically you’ll start to feel effects in about 15-30 minutes. To maximize the effects, wait at least 15 minutes before eating or drinking anything. In this scenario, the effects likely won’t be as long-lasting as with swallowed tinctures, but they should last about 2-4 hours.
The bottom line is that tinctures offer you options. If you need instant relief, dose under your tongue. If you prefer that the effects last longer and do not need immediate relief, take your dose with food or liquid.
THC Tincture Dosage Guide: How Much Should I Take?
There is no standardized or “recommended dose” for cannabis. We’re all a bit different, and as a result, our bodies work with cannabinoids such as THC and CBD in different ways. In addition, variables such as our age, familiarity with cannabis, diet, and other factors all influence how we metabolize cannabinoids.
How do you know how much is enough? Study the label of your cannabis tincture carefully to see how many milligrams (mg) of THC and other cannabinoids are contained in a single milliliter, which is typically a full dropper. THC, of course, is the cannabinoid most directly responsible for the cannabis plant’s euphoric “high,” but tinctures may feature other cannabinoids such as THC, CBD, or CBN, for example.
If you’re already familiar with cannabis, you’ll probably have an idea as to how many milligrams you want to take. If you’re new to cannabis, start with a small amount, anywhere between 1-5 milligrams of THC, and increase as needed or desired until you get to a dose that works for you.
New users should also wait at least 2 hours between doses. Otherwise, they risk an aggregate effect that interferes with determining the minimum effective dose. Before your first dose, try a tiny drop under your tongue to see how the tincture tastes. If you find it seriously disagreeable, consider diluting it in water or other beverages.
The Top 4 Tincture Benefits
Tinctures offer a variety of benefits when compared to other methods of consumption. Let’s run down a list of the most compelling:
- THC Tinctures Are Discreet
Cannabis tinctures are compact and unobtrusive, meaning that most people won’t suspect you’re using cannabis at all. You can even use tinctures in public places without having to worry about drawing unwanted attention. Whether you take your dose under your tongue or add it to soup, there’s no smell like there is with smoking, using concentrates, or vaping. These are incredibly useful attributes for those who prefer discretion. - THC Tinctures Are Easy to Dose
Cannabis tinctures are great for allowing you to establish your minimum effective dose. That’s the least amount of tincture you need to help with your symptoms or goals. You are able to test with one drop at a time, something that simply isn’t possible with baked goods or concentrates. By using each drop to maximum effectiveness, you save money and heighten potency. This drop-by-drop dosing also keeps your cannabis tolerance low.
For instance, an average person with mild pain may choose to dose with 1 milliliter at a time. However, we recommend new users should proceed with caution, starting with a low dosage for the first three days.
This staged approach lets them evaluate how their body reacts. If discomfort occurs, they may want to lower the dosage for the next three days. On the other hand, if users feel no effect whatsoever, they could increase the amount. - Tinctures Have a Quick Onset
When compared to other modes of ingestion, and particularly when comparing tinctures vs edibles, the onset time for tinctures can be relatively quick. As we referenced earlier, when you place a dose of tincture under your tongue for sublingual absorption, you’ll typically begin to notice the effects within about 15-30 minutes, depending on your physiology. - They Are a Great Alternative to Edibles
If you’re watching what you eat, tinctures have a clear advantage over regular edibles. You’ll consume fewer calories than you would if eating cookies, candy or baked goods. For example, a 1-milliliter dose of MCT-based tincture contains roughly 8 calories, while a single cookie may contain as many as 200 calories or more.
Can You Smoke Tincture?
While cannabis tincture can be used in multiple ways, smoking is not one of them. However, this fact is typically cited as one of the upsides of working with a THC tincture. While potentially safer than tobacco, smoking or vaping cannabis can exacerbate health conditions such as asthma. Plus, substances such as tar are often present in smoked cannabis and can negatively impact your health.
Explore Tinctures and More with Mankind!
Interested in trying tinctures for yourself? At Mankind Dispensary, we stock cannabis tinctures containing THC, CBD, or a mixture of both. To learn more, check out our complete selection in our online menu. Plus, we make it easy to search for any product by subjective categories such as pain-free, creative, blissful, and others still. Regardless of your specific needs and goals, tinctures offer flexible, accurate, and discreet dosing.
If you can’t make it into our brick-and-mortar location, our new cannabis delivery service makes it easier than ever to get the cannabis products you want. Just click here for details, or start your journey with our delivery menu to get the ball rolling. We look forward to seeing you!
