By: Kelly Graham
More commonly seen in the CBD world, tinctures are multi-use alcohol-based cannabis extracts — or basically cannabis-infused alcohol.
While THC tinctures are lesser-known it today’s world, that was not always the case.
In fact, tinctures were the main form of cannabis medicine until the United States prohibited cannabis in the 1970s.
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Known for their potency and ease of use, tinctures are a great entry point for both recreational and medical users looking to explore smokeless consumption methods.
With their wide range of uses, it is no surprise that cannabis-lovers have started to make their own at home. With this guide at your side, you will be able to make your very own THC Tincture in no time.
How to make a THC tincture at home:
Tincture Basics
If you don’t have a full kitchen or just prefer simple, clean-up free preparation techniques, cannabis tinctures are a great at-home project.
You can make a tincture with a jar, alcohol, strainer, and of course, cannabis. That’s it!
Alcohol vs. Glycerin Based Tinctures
If you are someone that does not want to consume alcohol or are simply curious about alternatives, it is possible to make a tincture with glycerin.
Glycerin is a plant-based oil that is safe to consume that binds with THC in a similar way to alcohol.
With that being said, using glycerin for your base does have a few negatives.
First, glycerin makes a less potent tincture than alcohol because it does not bind to THC as efficiently.
Some try to address this issue by attempting to burn off the (incredibly flammable) alcohol and introduce glycerin to the mix later.
While this may work for some, we do not recommend this at Miss Marijuana because it has the potential to be very dangerous.
If alcohol is a viable option for you, try our method to keep things safe and sound.
Choosing the Right Alcohol
Not just any old bottle will do for your tincture: The objective is to find a high-proof alcohol that is safe for consumption.
The higher the alcohol content, the better as it will dissolve cannabis resin easily. Everclear is a popular choice when making a tincture, as it is both safe to consume and ultra-potent.
If you find yourself reaching for a bottle of isopropyl alcohol, save that for cleaning your glass pipes.
This type of alcohol is not intended to be consumed and should never be used when making a tincture.
THC Tincture Recipe
What You Need:
- Mason jar
- Strainer
- Cannabis flower*
- Alcohol*
*Notes: While the ratio of ingredients is entirely up to you, I usually go for the following ratio: every ounce of weed gets 750 ml of alcohol (that’s roughly 3 fluid ounces for every eighth of weed).
Depending on the strength of your weed, this is an approachable place to start. Lessen the alcohol if you want something stronger.
Instructions:
-First, you will need to decarb your flower. Preheat your oven to 235°F. Cover a cookie sheet with aluminum foil, lightly grind up your flower, and place on the cookie sheet in an even layer.
-Cover with aluminum foil and allow to toast in the oven for 45 minutes, shaking halfway through.
Once your weed has decarbed, Mix your flower in a mason jar with the high-proof alcohol of your choosing.
-Close the jar and let it sit for a few weeks, shaking it once a day.
-After a few weeks, strain it through a coffee filter or cheesecloth. Voila!
Now that your tincture is ready, you can use it sublingually, or try it in your food and drink for a THC kick.
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Kelly Graham is a writer and cannabis chef.