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What Are Cannabis Tinctures?

Tincture bottle with cannabis leaves

Cannabis tinctures are cannabinoids suspended in alcohol or water that can be dosed orally, sublingually (in the cheek), or added to food, drinks, and more. Marijuana tinctures are popular because they’re discrete, easy to dose (including microdosing), and smokeless, and if dosed sublingually, quickly effective. In this guide, we’ll share all the details about cannabis tinctures, including:

  • How Are Tinctures Made?
  • How Do Tinctures Work?
  • What’s The Difference Between Tinctures Vs. Topicals?
  • Cannabis Tincture FAQs

Cannabinoids affect our body’s endocannabinoid system in unique ways. Learn more about how our bodies process cannabinoids today.  

How Are Tinctures Made?

Tinctures have been made for centuries, and the process for making one is relatively simple—it requires a few tools, high-percentage alcohol, and most importantly, patience. If patience isn’t your virtue of choice, we recommend just heading to your local dispensary and purchasing your tincture. It’s a budget-friendly product that can last a fair amount of time depending on your tolerance levels. Plus, because the tincture is professionally-formulated, it’s much more consistent in its THC levels. 

How Do Tinctures Work?

The way tinctures work depends on how they are consumed. For example, if administered sublingually (under the tongue or in the cheek), the tincture will enter the bloodstream quickly and the effects can be felt quite fast. If swallowed or added to food, the tincture will work much the same way as an edible, and it will take more time before you feel the effects. 

Ultimately, tinctures work the same way as any other cannabis product. You must consume them and then wait to feel their effects, which can take anywhere from minutes to an hour depending on how you consumed the tincture. For that reason, we recommend you start low and go slow when first trying any tincture. 

What’s the Difference Between Tinctures vs. Topicals?

While tinctures and topicals are both cannabis products, that’s the end of their similarities. Here are some of the main differences between tinctures vs. topicals: 

  • Tinctures are made to be ingested orally or sublingually. 
  • Topicals are meant to be applied to the skin. 
  • Tinctures will cause psychoactive effects as long as they contain THC.
  • Topicals generally do not have psychoactive effects because THC can’t pass through the skin (the only exception to this being a patch). 

It’s important to note that you can purchase cannabis oil tinctures and cannabis oil topicals. One is meant to be ingested (tinctures) and the other is not (topicals). Always check the label when purchasing your product to ensure you have the right product for your consumption method. 

Answering Cannabis Tinctures FAQs

Tinctures are growing in popularity, and because of this, our budtenders are answering questions about them every day across the country. To ensure you can find the information you need, we’ve added the most frequently asked questions—and their answers!—here.

What Are Tinctures Used For?
For recreational marijuana consumers, tinctures are typically consumed for their psychoactive effects. For medical marijuana patients, tinctures can be purchased as part of a recommended regimen.

Are Tinctures More Potent Than Edibles?
Assuming they are ingested the same way, tinctures and edibles have varying THC potencies. You will need to check your products when purchasing them to ensure you have the right potency for your tolerance level. Then, simply dose appropriately. 

Purchasing Marijuana Tinctures

While only you can answer the question “What marijuana products are right for me?”, there are cannabis experts available to help you explore your options in our licensed dispensaries around the country. Our budtenders can answer your questions, share their knowledge about products and the industry, and more. Visit us today. 

Recreational Cannabis is not available in all states. Cannabis is for medical use only and may only be used by certified patients in Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvania. State laws impact what dispensaries can and can’t sell to recreational customers and medical marijuana patients. Not every type of product, consumption method, dosage form, or potency mentioned on this blog will be permitted in all locations.


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