Cannabis tinctures are one type of cannabis people can buy that are infused with alcohol. The key to tinctures is to know how to use them and what their best use is. Medical users may look to try it for health reasons while others may use it to help with various ailments. Find out more about tinctures, how they work, and how to use them for maximum benefit.
What is a Tincture
Tinctures are made with a higher percentage of alcohol and come in glass bottles with droppers. Cannabis tinctures are a great way to boost consumption for dosing. Tinctures use a solvent to extract terpenes and cannabinoids from the rest of the plant. Alcohol is used as the solvent and is in the final product. Cannabis oils have solvents purged because the final product will be inhaled or consumed orally. Tinctures can be edibles. Cannabis tinctures are not widely discussed because most attention goes to other methods of consuming cannabis like smoking and the cannabis concentrate market. Interest in alternative forms of consumption has grown over the past few years.
Benefits of Tinctures
Tinctures have some really amazing benefits people may not be aware of until they look into them. Instead of using edibles alone, they provide a distinct form of dosing that is unique to tinctures. Some of the benefits may include:
- Specific dosing: just a single drop or two can provide the right dose. It is harder to get this from baked goods, flowers, or concentrates
- Tinctures minimize the dosage to smaller amounts. This can save money, lower cannabis tolerance, and help select for potency
- Sublingual application: direct, under-the-tongue application can ensure these tinctures go into the bloodstream. It helps be more discreet and without the smell associated with smoking or vaping
Comparing Tinctures
With all the varieties of ways available to use cannabis, it may be difficult to know which to use for what reason. From vaping to smoking to topicals, there are many ways to use it, with different benefits for them all. Many people think of smoking cannabis but forget tinctures and other ways exist. Here are just a few:
- Edibles: food and drink infused with cannabis are called ‘edibles.’ The effects are usually delayed by 30-90 minutes. Onset time is directly related to the digestive process and are absorbed through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The effects may last longer than other methods, up to 10 hours post-consumption. It may not provide instant relief or get confused with ordinary food for those with kids in the house
- Vaping: vaporization involves heating cannabis flowers or concentrates on a specific temperature. The effects hit around 2-5 minutes after inhalation, with instant effects and easier to dose. One drawback is it may be expensive or require hours of recharging
Tinctures, on the other hand, are available in a variety of flavors or potencies. The best thing is the rapid onset within 15 minutes. Cannabis tinctures can be added to food or drink for maximum effect. There are fewer calories and may be taken anywhere without raising suspicions. It might have an unpleasant taste, but for people who desire faster onset, this may be a good alternative.
Deciding how to ingest or smoke cannabis is an individual process. It helps to meet with dispensary professionals who understand all the methods available and make it easier to navigate all the different methods, how they work, and what will be best for a specific person’s use.
