Cannabis Tinctures: A Cleaner, Healthier Way to Use Cannabis

Cannabis tinctures are becoming much more widely known and widely used. But in our opinion, this cannabis product is still a bit underappreciated! Cannabis tinctures are a delightfully simple way to use cannabis. Using it is discreet, fast, and incredibly easy. Tinctures are an excellent option for people who want a quick, no-fuss cannabis experience, whether they want that for their every day or just want a faster option for when they’re in a rush. And in addition to being simple and discreet, tinctures are a great smoke-free cannabis option, which many people see as a major benefit.

To celebrate this underrated cannabis product, below we’re going over everything you need to know about cannabis tinctures. We’ll cover what cannabis tinctures are, the advantages and how to use them. Then, at the end of this post, we’ll also highlight some of our current favorite cannabis tinctures to help you find a tincture you’ll love.

What is a Cannabis Tincture?

First and foremost, let’s talk about what a cannabis tincture is. It is a type of cannabis edible. Tinctures are a liquid product that generally comes in a glass bottle with a dropper lid. The liquid that makes up a cannabis tincture consists of cannabis extract from the cannabis plant that has been dissolved in a liquid (which is usually ethyl alcohol or oil). The concentration of cannabis within a tincture can vary. Then, the cannabinoid ratio and terpene profile within a tincture can also vary. So much like with other edible cannabis products, you can get a wide range of effects from cannabis tinctures depending on the specific tincture.

A Note on the History of Cannabis Tinctures

To many people, cannabis tinctures may seem like a new and novel type of product. With the ever-spreading legalization of recreational and medical marijuana in the United States, it has recently become widely available, widely used, and widely discussed. But though it may seem like it is a brand new product that’s just popped up on the market, cannabis tinctures are actually a very old product– they just haven’t been around since the 1930s.

In the early 1900s, before prohibition led to the 1937 cannabis ban, cannabis tinctures were the most popular way of consuming cannabis. Back then, cannabis tinctures were a staple at pharmacies across the U.S. So while cannabis tinctures may seem new to the modern consumer, they’re actually a classic that has made a comeback.

How Do You Use Cannabis Tinctures?

There are three ways to use a cannabis tincture: by swallowing it, by taking it sublingually, or by adding it to food or drink.

The easiest way to use a cannabis tincture is to simply measure out your dosage, drop the tincture in your mouth, and swallow it. If you use a cannabis tincture like this, it will work about the same way other edible cannabis products do, with a delayed onset. If you take a cannabis tincture by swallowing it, you’ll start to feel its effects around 1 to 2 hours later.

Another way to use a cannabis tincture is to hold it under your tongue and take it sublingually. To take a tincture sublingually, measure out your dosage, place your dosage under your tongue, and hold it there for about 30 seconds. Sublingual application is a favorite option of many tincture users since it leads to a faster onset than simply swallowing the tincture does. After taking a tincture sublingually, most people start to feel the tincture’s effects after about 15 to 30 minutes. Wondering why sublingual application leads to a faster onset? We all have tiny blood capillaries under our tongue. These capillaries allow substances, such as a cannabis tincture, to be absorbed by the body much more quickly they would be absorbed by the digestive system.

Lastly, another way you can use it is by placing it in a food or a beverage. You can drop your tincture into your morning coffee or tea, mix your tincture into butter to make cannabutter, or, really, mix your tincture into any other food or drink you like. For example, you can mix a tincture into juice, a smoothie, ice cream, salad dressings, soups, sauces, and so on. If you use it by mixing it into food, it will work similarly to how it would if you swallowed it, with the same type of delayed onset.

Though the food and beverage method leads to the same type of effects as swallowing a tincture, many tincture users prefer mixing their tincture into a food or drink over swallowing it. Some people like the ritual of putting their tincture into the food they eat daily, while others enjoy the novelty of mixing a tincture into new food. Then, some people may like the effects of a cannabis tincture, but they may not love the taste. So putting their tincture into a food or drink they love helps them get the effects they want, without the taste they don’t want.

The Advantages

Why use a cannabis tincture over another type of cannabis? Ultimately, the type of cannabis product that’s right for you is completely personal. However, it does have many advantages over other types of cannabis products, which we’ll outline below:

• Ease of Use: Using it is incredibly easy. You can just measure out your dose, take your tincture, and that’s it. So if you want to be able to just quickly use some cannabis and then move on with your day, tinctures are an ideal option.
• No Smoking or Vaping: If you don’t want to smoke or use a vape pen, tinctures are an excellent alternative, since there’s absolutely no inhalation required to feel the effects of a cannabis tincture.
• Discretion: Tinctures are a very discreet way to use cannabis. They come in small, portable bottles and they don’t create smoke, vapor, or smell when you use them.
• Quicker Onset Than Other Edibles: It can be taken sublingually, which allows them to have a faster onset when compared to other cannabis edibles.
• Less Sugar and Calories Than Other Edibles: If you like the edible experience, but don’t necessarily want to eat a brownie or a gummy every time you use cannabis, tinctures are a great way to get that experience without the excess sugar and calories.
• Precise Dosage: With a cannabis tincture, you can easily measure out a precise dosage of cannabis, so you know exactly how much you’re consuming each time.
• Long Shelf Life: When stored properly, tinctures have quite a long shelf life. Properly stored tinctures can have a shelf life of 2 to 4 years.

Featured Cannabis Tinctures

Now that you know all about cannabis tinctures, let’s go over some of our current favorites!

1. 1:5 Elevate Tincture

Name: Ratio Tinctures Elevate

Brand: Strainz

Contains: 20 mg CBD and 100 mg THC

This tincture from Strainz features a 1:5 ratio of CBD to THC, which is designed to help users get the therapeutic effects of tetrahydrocannabinol alongside the calming effects of cannabidiol. This tincture is perfectly ratioed and also quite tasty, thanks to the addition of some organic mint flavoring.

2. Vanilla Synergy

Name: Dew Drops in Vanilla Synergy

Brand: Dixie

Contains: 100 mg CBD/100 mg THC

Dixie’s Vanilla Synergy Dew Drops feature a 1:1 CBD to THC ratio that’s designed to provide balanced effects. Cannabis users who have tried these Vanilla Synergy drops say that these drops provide a euphoric and calming effect.

3. Golden Mylk Ayurvedic Tincture

Name: Golden Mylk Ayurvedic Tincture

Brand: EPC (Experience Premium Cannabis)

Contains: 500 mg CBD

Chill out with this ayurvedic CBD tincture. EPC’s Golden Mylk Ayurvedic Tincture contains 500 mg of high-quality CBD per bottle, plus some ayurvedic elements to give you a holistic wellness boost.

4. Lemon Ginger Drops

Name: Select CBD Drops in Lemon Ginger

Brand: CBD Drops

Contains: 1000 mg CBD Per Bottle

This CBD tincture from CBD Drops is made of pure CBD oil that has been blended with MCT oil and lemon ginger essential oil, which adds an invigorating element to this premium-quality tincture.

5. CBD Natural

Name: Releaf Drops in CBD Natural

Brand: Papa & Barkley

Contains: 900 mg CBD

Papa & Barkley’s CBD Natural Releaf Drops offer an additive-free way to enjoy some CBD. Their gluten-free, soy-free, vegan Natural Releaf drops are made simply of high-quality hemp oil and coconut oil.

Final Thoughts

We hope this post has helped you learn more about the simpler, easier way to use cannabis: cannabis tinctures. If you’re interested in trying it, stop into an Essence Dispensary location and our staff will be happy to assist you. One of our knowledgeable team members can provide you with a personalized cannabis tincture recommendation and answer any questions you may have about tinctures. A member of our team can also help you find any other cannabis products you may be interested in. We carry a wide range of cannabis products that includes cannabis tinctures, cannabis oils, vaporizers, edibles, flower, rosins, shatter, and more. To find the Essence Dispensary location that’s closest to you, click here.