Cannabis Tincture: What Is a Tincture and Why Use It?
Cannabis tinctures have become a staple for medical cannabis patients and health-conscious cannabis consumers everywhere. If you haven’t tried this consumption method yet there are many cannabis tincture benefits you shouldn’t overlook. What is cannabis tincture and why should you give it a try? Let’s dig in.
What Is Cannabis Tincture?
First things first… what is cannabis tincture? A tincture is a liquid that is infused with cannabis flower or a concentrated extract. There are many different kinds of cannabis tinctures and tinctures will vary in their cannabinoid and terpene content, as well as in the other ingredients they may contain.
Tincture is usually made by leaving plant material to soak in a liquid base (heating it up can often speed the process). Traditionally, tinctures have been made with an alcohol base, but nowadays the words tincture and oil are often used interchangeably to refer to the same kinds of infused cannabis liquids.
Today most “tinctures” are made with an oil base, despite their name. Make sure to check the ingredients on your product label to find out exactly what kind of liquid base your tincture contains: MCT (medium-chain triglycerides) oils and olive oils are two popular oil bases, for example.
How Do You Use Cannabis Tincture?
The benefits of cannabis tincture are varied, but perhaps the best is how easy they are to use.
Many people use cannabis tincture by slipping it under the tongue (aka sublingual absorption). Sublingual application makes use of sensitive tissue under the tongue to absorb the cannabinoids and other active ingredients in the tincture. By holding the tincture under the tongue for a minute or two, it is metabolized and makes its way into the bloodstream within minutes.
Afterward, you can just swish the remaining liquid around your mouth and swallow it so that your stomach can process whatever wasn’t absorbed in the mouth. When applied sublingually, you can usually expect tincture effects to begin within 15–45 minutes of application, and effects typically last between two and four hours.
Another popular way to use tinctures is to mix it in with other liquids and foods. Mixing some tincture into coffee or a smoothie can make it easier to consume if you don’t like the sublingual application method. In addition, you can also swallow tincture straight out of the dropper, if you don’t mind the taste.
It should be noted that when you swallow your tincture, it will be processed by your digestive tract, and this is technically a different method of consumption than the sublingual process. Now the tincture is acting like an edible would: It will take longer for the effects to kick in, but on the other hand the effects last longer, too. It can take as long as one to two hours for effects to kick in when you swallow tincture, and effects will typically last six to eight hours.
Cannabis Tincture Benefits
With so many different cannabis products out there to choose from, what makes tincture a good choice? Actually, there are many cannabis tincture benefits that make them a versatile, easy and discreet way to consume cannabis.
For example, cannabis tincture has become a favorite among medical patients and health-conscious consumers looking to take advantage of the effects of cannabis, without having to inhale any smoke or vapor. It’s also a great smoke-free alternative for first-timers who may just be dipping their toes into cannabis.
In addition to being smoke-free, cannabis tincture is also very easy to use. You can use tincture in a variety of ways and you can use it within just a few seconds. When used sublingually, tincture effects have a relatively quick onset time and a better bioavailability than when swallowed.
Bioavailability is a measure of the amount cannabinoids that your body actually gets to use, versus what was originally in the product or dose you consumed. No consumption method is perfect: Some cannabinoids are always lost in translation. The bioavailability of cannabis tinctures taken sublingually is estimated to be somewhere between 10%-30%. This means if you take a 10 mg dose, about 3 mg will end up being available to your body for use.
Its ease-of-use also makes cannabis tincture a very discreet method of using cannabis. Not only can you apply in a matter of seconds, but most tinctures create little to no smell and require no setup or additional equipment to use.
Bottom line, if you’re looking for a discreet consumption method that is easy-to-use and health-conscious, then a cannabis tincture or oil is the way to go.
What Is a Tincture: Wrapping Up
Ready to try out a tincture for yourself? Browse our live online menus to find a thoughtfully curated selection of great cannabis products, including a variety of cannabis tinctures and oils that may be just what you’re looking for.
Lingering questions or comments about tinctures? Our friendly and knowledgeable team is always here to lend a hand. Come by one of our locations today to learn more cannabis tincture benefits and why tinctures might be a good fit for your needs.
Either way, we look forward to serving you soon!