2 Unconventional Ways to Make a Cannabis Tincture

Cannabis tinctures are one of the most concentrated and easiest ways to consume the herb, and can be consumed via drops or in recipes for both foods and drinks. They’re fashioned using alcohol as its extraction method, and can be purchased at your local dispensary if it’s a product they’ve decided to sell.

This article expresses three ways to make a tincture, two of them being slightly less conventional.

First, Know Your Dose

If you’re making your own cannabis tincture, start with these measurements for each pint (2 cups) of alcohol used:

Leaf: 3-4 ounces
Trim: 2 ounces
Kief or Hash: 6-8 grams

Once you know your tolerance levels after creating your tincture and trying it, you can make a second batch with either more or less depending.

Make A Cannabis Tincture: The Traditional Way

The easiest but most time-consuming manner to create a cannabis tincture.

1. Decarb your cannabis See: How to Properly Cook with Infused Ingredients
2. Mix decarbed flower in mason jar with Everclear (or any high-proof alcohol being 80 proof or more)
3. Close jar & shake once a day for up to three weeks
4. Filter tincture using a coffee filter
5. Assess potency by consuming 1mL to start

Make A Cannabis Tincture: Master Wu's Green Dragon

Another easy but fast, and sometimes debatable manner to create a tincture. Ensure you have a culinary (candy) thermometer and the water bath is done in a wide & edged pan. Do NOT place the lid on the mason jar during the water bath!

1. Decarb your cannabis
2. Mix decarbed flower in mason jar with Everclear (or any high-proof alcohol being 80 proof or more)
3. Simmer filled mason jar in water bath at 170 degrees F for 20 minutes
4. Filter tincture using a coffee filter
5. Assess potency by consuming 1mL to start.

Make A Cannabis Tincture: The Modern Technique

With this method, you’ll need a cream whipper and nitrous oxide chargers. See also: Why Every Canna-Chef Should Have a Cream Whipper & Nitrous Oxide Charger

1. Decarb your cannabis
2. Place cannabis in whipper bottle with liquor
3. Close canister & follow whipper instructions to charge with two charges of N2O
4. Allow mixture to sit for 5-10 minutes
5. Vent pressurized gas according to whipper instructions
6. Open and stir, let sit until the gas evaporates
7. Filter tincture using coffee filter or cheesecloth
8. Assess potency by consuming 1mL to start

That’s all there is to making a cannabis tincture. You can either drip one mL under your tongue to try out your tincture (which should be felt between 15-45 minutes), or drop one mL in a drink or on some food (which will take effect between 45-90 minutes). You can also try baking or cooking with it, adjusting the amount used according to tolerance levels and servings. Just remember not to vaporize the cannabinoids by overdoing the heat. See: How to Properly Cook with Infused Ingredients