Cannabis Tincture OR THC Tincture A Complete Guide to Tinctures

With a rise in cannabis-based offerings from gummies to vape pens, are there any classic options for users to try? That’s where tinctures come in. A tincture is essentially an extract that is easy to consume and feel the cannabinoids and terpenes within the formulation.

Tinctures have actually been used for as long as distilled alcohol has been around. Ancient cultures created and used tinctures for a variety of cosmetic and medical purposes. However, as time has passed we have largely removed ourselves from these practices. But the cannabis industry seems to be changing that. Tinctures may be the older method for THC extraction, but that could be the right method for your consumption.

Don’t worry if you're still on the fence about tinctures - we’ve got you covered with our complete guide to THC-based tinctures.

If you are interested in trying quality delta products, check out our sister brand, Otterspace.

A THC tincture is similar to CBD oil as they both derive from hemp, also known as the Cannabis sativa plant, but they are not interchangeable. The great difference between the two is the method of extraction.

To extract CBD oil, manufacturers use a process of carbon dioxide to extract the oil from the plant. However, a THC tincture utilizes alcohol to extract the THC from the plant. Manufacturers create the tincture by soaking the cannabis plant in alcohol, vegetable glycerin, or oil then heating the mixture.

It’s interesting to note the difference between an edible and a THC tincture. An edible has to be digested in the stomach and processed through the liver. However, tinctures are more immediately felt because they do pass through the liver immediately and are first absorbed into your body under the tongue.

Tinctures vary depending on the manufacturer, but many use some sort of extraction process that pulls the oil from the hemp plant. At BATCH, we use an ultra-cold ethanol extraction process. We exclusively extract hemp flower which is where the vast majority of cannabinoids and terpenes reside in the plant.

These therapeutic compounds are selectively extracted using ultra-cold, food-grade ethanol. The ethanol is then removed through a series of vacuum-assisted distillations. This proprietary process was designed in-house by our team of chemical engineers. 

While there are numerous tincture formulations to consider, they generally only come in three forms including:

• THC - THC produces the psychoactive effect that many users look for when wanting that “high” feeling. 

• CBD - CBD does not produce a psychoactive effect and it is legal to sell CBD tinctures in the U.S. with less than 0.3% THC. This will provide that calming effect that CBD is known for, but it does not get you high when compared to a greater THC product. 

• Combination Tinctures - This means that there is a combination of THC and CBD usually at a ratio like 1:1.

Whatever you choose you should always ensure that the manufacturer has proper lab and extraction methods. BATCH uses ultra-cold, food-grade ethanol to extract hemp flower. Our hemp strain is called Umpqua which produces multiple pounds of flower per plant. After the formulas are tested, we package in a glass tincture bottle and also test with third party labs. We test for pesticides and heavy metals to ensure that every product is safe. 

Many tinctures also include a terpene blend. Terpenes determine the smell of a plant or herb, but there is more to it than that. Researchers believe that terpenes can be used to classify cannabis products and their effects.

Take our Dream CBD Oil Tincture at 1,000 mg or 3,000 mg you can choose your strength, but still receive the dream terpene blend (Terpinolene, Myrcene, Linalool). Our ingredients also include organic hemp seed oil, raw hemp extract, organic black seed oil, and organic peppermint oil.

Healthline has broken down some common terpenes and potential effects to help you better understand what purpose they serve.

• Limonene - A common terpene that has a citrus smell. It has been shown to have anti-anxiety properties in mice.

• Linalool - Smells similar to lavender. Researchers are looking into if it could potentially help to alleviate stress.

• Myrcene - Actually found in mangoes and has been found to have antifungal and antibacterial properties. 

Most users orally ingest tinctures as they often come in a bottle with a dropper. This helps with administration and is an easy option for those looking to control their dose. Leafly has even provided a THC tincture dosage guide based on a 300 mg THC, 1 fl oz (30 mL) tincture. You can refer to this guide to better understand the dosage and the effects.

For our own CBD tinctures like the Clarity CBD Oil Tincture we recommend to:

1. Squeeze the rubber end of the graduated dropper.

2. Fill it halfway, then place the CBD oil under your tongue for ~30 seconds. This allows for faster absorption.

3.  It may take 1-2 hours to experience full effects. 

4. Take more as needed. Most say 1-2 times a day is sufficient. 

As the tincture must pass through the liver before reaching the bloodstream, the effect is usually delayed. It can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to feel the effects.

However, if you place the tincture under the tongue and let it sit for around 30 seconds you can generally feel the effects quicker. This is due to the fact that your body absorbs the tincture quickly and directly into the bloodstream.

While you should always discuss your medical history with your physician before beginning any new cannabis product, there have been benefits found when using THC. Insider actually broke down and medically reviewed (by Jason R. McKnight, MD, MS, assistant professor at Texas A&M College of Medicine) four health benefits of THC to consider including:

1. Pain Relief - A 2015 review of cannabis studies found that THC increased the odds of pain improvement by about 40% in patients with chronic pain. While this is not an exhaustive study it does suggest that more studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of THC for pain relief.

2. Reduction in Nausea for Chemotherapy Patients - There are actually two THC drugs used in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (nabilone and dronabinol). But, in 2010 researchers also found that chemo patients who took THC in combination with normal treatment experienced stronger protection against nausea and vomiting compared to chemo patients who merely took the normal treatment. 

3. Reduction in Muscle Spasms - A 2015 systematic review found that THC in combination with additional cannabinoids improved self-reported muscle spasms more than a placebo. While this needs to be broken out more, it suggests growing interest toward the entourage effect. The entourage effect suggests that different cannabinoids work together to yield better results for users. 

4. Sleep Improvement - Sleep is often difficult for researchers to track. There is still a lot we don’t know about sleep and how other health problems have an impact as well. Studies of people with MS and chronic pain have shown possible improvement with short-term sleep problems, a reduction in sleep disturbances, and the time it takes to fall asleep. However, it’s still unclear whether the THC actually improved sleep or if it lessened the chronic symptoms.

A CBD tincture does not contain THC over the legal 0.3% allowed. This means that the effects you will experience will be based on the product’s cannabinoid and terpene profile, along with other essential oils if added. Essential oils have their own benefits for taste and help to round out the whole product for better consumption.

A THC tincture contains more than 0.3% THC and may be illegal in some states. However, as mentioned above you should always discuss either option with your physician before beginning a new cannabis product. You should weigh the options of one over the other depending on your medical history and intended effects.

We also recommend starting small with any new tincture to see how you feel before continuing use. You may find that a small dose suits you perfectly, but if not, you can always dose up from there.

A THC tincture could be an effective way to store and consume a cannabis product. Weed can be messy to handle and the smell is off-putting to some. And gummies may take longer to feel an effect.

A tincture is known to be fast-acting, especially when held under the tongue for ~30 seconds. But aside from the easy dosing there are a few other benefits to consider tinctures over alternate methods of cannabis products. This includes:

• Easier than smoking - This is great for those who do not enjoy smoking or vaping, but still looking for a THC product for consumption.

• Faster absorption - Gummies take a bit longer to metabolize and smoking/vaping is usually quite immediate, but tinctures provide a nice middle ground of easing you into fast-acting benefits especially depending on how much you consume.

• More precise than edibles - You know what you’re getting with tinctures whereas certain edibles may contain food allergens or a higher calorie content than you wanted to consume. 

Tinctures provide an easy option for users looking to try a cannabis product, but not looking to smoke or to eat an edible. They also vary in offerings. You could go for a THC tincture to get the full effect that THC has to offer. However, you could also go for a CBD tincture to start. We have a few great options with a variety of effects to try.

If you are interested in trying quality delta products, check out our sister brand, Otterspace.