Best way to make cannabis tincture

Tinctures are basically alcohol infused with some sort of medication — in this case, cannabis. They’re a simple, smokeless way to dose, and very popular because they are easy to make, store, transport, and use. In addition to the cannabis plant, a tincture may also be made from herbs. Dandelion is one popular herb that may be an ingredient in tinctures. 

Consuming a tincture sublingually is the most straightforward method and allows users to feel the full effects quicker because the medication is absorbed directly into the bloodstream. Finding the right dose is relatively simple, but it requires trial and error and a bit of patience. Most, if not all, tinctures come with a dropper that allows consumers to measure how much they consume. Because all consumers are different, its best to start with a 1mL dose. Place the drop under your tongue, hold for 30 seconds, then swallow. Cannabis tinctures are fast-acting and will deliver the desired effects quickly.

When mixing into foods, the onset effects will take longer than consuming sublingually because the medication is absorbed through the digestive process. The onset time is similar to medicating with an edible.

How to make cannabis tinctures

Making tinctures isn’t difficult, but it can take weeks — so if you’re going the homemade route, you can’t be in a hurry. Here’s a basic cannabis tincture recipe with detailed instructions and tincture dosage. 

The ingredients are dried, ground flower or extract and high-proof ethyl alcohol to use as a solvent. The higher the proof, or double the percentage of alcohol by volume, the more cannabinoids will be absorbed. Add a few other household supplies (including a mason jar, some coffee filters, and a measuring cup) and you’re off and running.

Note: In order to feel the euphoric, intoxicating effects of cannabis in the tincture, the cannabis flower must be decarboxylated by heat to break down tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) into tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) before it’s mixed with alcohol. 

Mix the cannabis and alcohol in the jar, then seal it and put it in a freezer. It can soak anywhere from a week to six months, but the jar will need to be shaken for one minute each day to keep the cannabinoids evenly distributed.

To complete the process, filter out the cannabis plant matter from the remaining tincture liquid using the coffee filter. The tincture will be usable for years if kept in a cool, dry place out of sunlight or direct light.

How to make CBD tinctures

Supplies:

• ⅛ ounce cannabis that contains high levels of CBD, such as Sour Tsunami or Ringo’s Gift 
• 2 ounces 190 proof grain alcohol
• Mason jar and lid
• Coffee filter
• Eye dropper

Instructions:

1. Decarb the cannabis
2. Combine cannabis and alcohol in mason jar 
3. Cover the jar and leave it for 3 weeks, shaking at daily intervals 
4. After 3 weeks, use the coffee filter to remove the cannabis from the liquid

Old-School Method (aka Green Dragon)

This is the slowest method, but it’s also the most famous. You’ve probably heard of “Green Dragon” if you haven’t already had it. The fact that it takes almost no extra materials can’t be hurting its popularity…

Supplies:

• Weed
• High-Proof Alcohol
• Amber or Cobalt Blue Mason Jar w/ lid

Steps:

1. Decarboxylate 1oz of weed.
2. Add the weed to a glass container like a mason jar.
3. Add about 300ml of alcohol to the jar. Close the jar tight.
4. Place the jar somewhere cool and dark for about 3 months. Shake up the jar when the mood strikes you.
   1. Alternate Method: Shake the heck out of the jar over the course of an hour; many people believe this is just as effective as waiting for 3 months. I don’t know if it’s just as effective, but I tested the 60-minute method and it definitely works. It’s like a less-quick quick-wash.
5. Old-School “Green Dragon” takes a long time to make! Make sure to shake your Green Dragon every so often.

The Ed Rosenthal Method

I’m a fan of Ed Rosenthal. He seems to come up with original (or least original to me) ways of doing things, but even better, he always has a reason behind his methods. This technique is from his newest book on concentrates/edibles (Beyond Buds: Next Generation) and I suggest you pick up a copy. It has good info and I’m sure you’ll learn something new!

Supplies:

• Weed
• High-Proof Alcohol
• Amber or Cobalt Blue Mason Jar w/ lid
• Blender/Food Processor
• Mesh Strainer
• Large Metal Bowl
• Another Large Bowl (Metal or Glass)
• Coffee Filters

Steps:

1. Decarboxylate 1oz of weed
2. Add the weed to your strainer, then put the strainer in the large metal bowl
3. Fill the bowl with water until the weed floats, and let it sit for 90 minutes.
   1. This should help leech out some of the chlorophyll from your bud.
4. Pull the strainer from the bowl so the water drains.
5. Collect your wet weed into a ball and squeeze the water out with your hands.
6. Break up the squeezed weed and add it to your blender.
7. Add about 300ml of your alcohol to the blender and blend on low for 5 minutes.
8. Let the mixture sit for an hour, then blend again for 5 minutes.
9. Pour the mixture through the strainer making sure to collect the used weed material.
   1. Make sure to squeeze any tincture out of the material.
   2. The mixture you just filtered is a potent cannabis tincture! Put it to the side so you can store it later.
10. Put the used weed material in a container with fresh alcohol to soak for another hour.
11. Pour the mixture through a strainer again, but this time you can discard the used weed.
12. Pour your tincture through a coffee filter over a bowl to filter out the tiny particulates.
    1. This step isn’t necessary, but it looks nicer.
13. Pour your tincture into an amber or cobalt blue jar that can be sealed.
14. Your tincture is ready!

Water Bath Method

The water bath method is a fast way to make tinctures, but it also requires the most care since you have to make sure the water bath doesn’t get too hot.
Oddly enough, this method is the lower-budget version of using a Magical Butter Machine since it does all the same things but needs you to be there to take action and monitor for safety.

Important: Do not perform this method with any open flames anywhere in your house! Evaporating alcohol creates a flammable vapor, and having an open flame anywhere near flammable vapor is a recipe for firey disaster. Please be safe!

Supplies:

• Weed
• High-Proof Alcohol
• Mason jar (for cooking)
• Amber or Cobalt Blue Mason Jar w/ lid (for storage)
• Coffee Grinder/Food Processor
• Mesh Strainer
• Large Metal Bowl
• Coffee Filters
• A pot for cooking (not for smoking)
• An accurate candy thermometer or another cooking thermometer

Steps:

1. Decarboxylate 1oz of weed.
2. Grind up your cannabis.
3. Add the weed to your mason jar.
4. Add about 300ml of your alcohol of choice to the jar.
5. DO NOT CLOSE OR SEAL THE JAR!
6. Fill the pot with 1” of water and place on an electric stove (no gas stoves!) on medium.
7. Use your thermometer to make sure the water is no hotter than 165°F.
8. Place the unsealed mason jar with your weed and alcohol into the pot.
   1. This is called a water bath. See the picture below to see what it looks like.
9. Adjust the temperature as needed until the alcohol/weed mixture gets to 165°F and let it cook for 30 minutes.
   1. Stay next to the water bath and make sure it doesn’t get too hot (above 165°F).
10. Remove the jar from the water bath and let it cool for about 30 minutes.
11. Pour your tincture through a coffee filter over a bowl to filter out the tiny particulates.
    1. This step isn’t necessary, but it looks nicer.
12. Pour your tincture into an amber or cobalt blue jar that can be sealed.
13. You’re done!

Making Tinctures with a Magical Butter Machine

The Magical Butter Machine is the way to make tinctures. It stirs it more, it constantly heats the material, and it has infinite patience, unlike a human being. It can stir and heat your tincture for 8 straight hours with no work on your part past the initial setup.

Supplies:

• Weed
• High-Proof Alcohol
• Magical Butter Machine
• Amber or Cobalt Blue Mason Jar w/ lid (for storage)
• Mesh Strainer
• Large Metal Bowl
• Coffee Filters

Steps:

1. Decarboxylate 1oz of weed.
2. Add the weed to your Magical Butter Machine without grinding it.
3. Add 2cups (or more for a less potent product) of your alcohol to the machine.
   1. 2cups is the bare minimum you can add.
4. Set the temperature to 130°F.
5. Set the timer to 4 hours (tincture)
   1. …or set it to 8 hours for a stronger product.
6. Let the machine finish, then unplug it and let your mixture cool for 30 minutes.
7. Pour your tincture through a coffee filter over a bowl to filter out the tiny particulates.
8. This step isn’t necessary, but it looks nicer.
9. Pour your tincture into an amber or cobalt blue jar that can be sealed.
10. Tincture time!

How to Use Tinctures

There’s no perfect recipe for how to try tinctures since everyone has different tastes and tolerances. Here’s the best advice I can give for how to try your product:

• Get “Boston Round” jars with droppers. These make it much easier to measure out doses with your tincture so you can repeat what works for you.
• Don’t try tinctures for the first time if you have important things to do. Testing is best done on a free day at home just in case it’s too strong.
• If your tolerance is low, or If you don’t know your tolerance, start with a drop or two of tincture then wait 1-1.5 hours to see how it affects you.
• For those with higher tolerances, try a full dropper and wait 1-1.5 hours to see how you feel.
• You can also add tinctures to drinks with strong flavor such as cranberry juice.

Storing Tinctures

• Alcohol tinctures last multiple years if kept in an amber/cobalt glass bottle in your refrigerator. The amber/cobalt coloring keep light from degrading the cannabinoids in your tinctures.
• Glycerin tinctures can last a few months if refrigerated.