Do Tinctures Get You High?

There are many different types of tinctures, each with a unique set of ingredients, flavorings, and cannabinoid concentrations that determine the extent of its effects.

Can these tinctures get you high? Let's find out!

What Is A Cannabis Tincture?

Cannabis tinctures are alcohol or oil-based marijuana extracts, but most dispensaries sell oil-based tinctures due to regulations.

Medicinal preparations of marijuana became widely available in American pharmacies in the 1850s until cannabis became illegal. Modern, oil-based tinctures are available for medicinal and recreational use and offer users an alternative to smoking or vaping marijuana.

Since alcohol-based tinctures can taste bitter, vegetable glycerin, sweeteners, and flavoring may be added to improve the flavor.

Commercial tincture producers may add other natural ingredients like vitamins, supplements, and herbal extracts.

It’s a versatile product that can be added into food or drinks or taken on its own by applying drops under the tongue.

Benefits Of Using Cannabis Tinctures

Regardless of what type of cannabis tinctures you try, there are numerous benefits of using them.

Cannabis tinctures are discreet. There’s none of the smoke or vapor associated with inhalation methods.

You also eliminate the smell associated with lighting up, which is a dead giveaway.

Cannabis tinctures can come in discreet packaging that makes them look like any other wellness product.

Tinctures can last for months or years, depending on the frequency of use and storage practices. If kept in a cool, dry, and dark space, tinctures can have a long shelf life without losing too much potency. Some users store their tinctures in a refrigerator or freezer to slow down the natural degradation process.

Best of all, you can use tinctures in many ways. Add it into any food or beverage. Smoothies, juices, cocktails, and other foods are fair game. The possibilities are endless.

Or, you can take it alone. Simply ingest your desired dose or add it under your tongue for faster absorption. It’s all up to you!

Cannabis tinctures are also easy to dose. They usually come with a dropper so you can easily dose and consume them as needed throughout the day.

Tinctures also provide you with a quick onset of effects compared to other delivery methods.

Sublingual dosing can take effect within minutes while ingestion takes up to an hour to take effect. If you’re looking for a high or a non-intoxicating experience, cannabis tinctures are the way to go.

Do THC Tinctures Get You High?

Cannabis-derived THC tinctures can definitely get you high. THC and CBD are the two most common cannabinoids available. THC, however, is responsible for producing hallucinogenic and euphoric effects.

The more THC you consume, the higher you’ll feel. However, higher THC doses can increase the risk of its side effects including dizziness, anxiety, and paranoia. THC tinctures can contain anywhere from 300mg to 1000mg per bottle.

It’s important to make a distinction between THC and its acid/non-activated form: THCA. THCA can be found in the raw cannabis plant, but decarboxylation methods such as heating weed in the oven at a certain temperature can convert the acid-based precursors into the active THC compound.

THCA tinctures are non-intoxicating and have potent anti-inflammatory, analgesic, neuroprotective, and anti-emetic properties.

Tincture Ratios

Your ideal cannabinoid ratio depends on your marijuana tolerance. For new users, a low-THC ratio can provide an entry-level experience without the heavy narcotic effects.

Any CBD:THC ratios greater than 10:1 are helpful for users who don’t want to experience a debilitating high. 2:1 or even 3:1 CBD:THC ratios also offer a balanced experience with a slight high.

Common Cannabinoid Ratios

• 2:1 – Relatively balance effect for individuals who can handle moderate doses of THC
• 4:1 – High CBD for individuals who have mild tolerance for THC
• 8:1 – High CBD for first-time users or those who don’t want to experience intoxicating effects

What Effect Do Terpenes Have?

When shopping for cannabis tinctures, consider the types of terpenes (aromatic oils) included in the formulation.

Are they synthetically derived? Are they derived from cannabis? What other botanical sources are they derived from? Having a complete profile of terpenes in your tincture can work to enhance the effects of every cannabinoid.

How To Consume Cannabis Tinctures

Once you’ve picked your ideal cannabis tincture, the way you consume it can also determine if and when you get high.

If you’re new to tinctures, start off by dosing one milliliter under your tongue. Sublingual delivery is fast-acting due to its quick introduction into the blood vessels and the brain. If one mL isn’t enough, try two mL the next day and so on until you’ve reached the ideal dosage level and high.

If sublingual delivery isn’t your preferred method of consumption, you can also infuse your meals and drinks with your CBD or THC tincture.

Ingesting tincture-based edibles isn’t as fast-acting as sublingual delivery because they must go through your digestive system. It can take about an hour to feel anything compared to about a 20-minute onset with sublingual tincture consumption.

When you consume your tincture sublingually, its effects can last longer than if you’d smoke or vaporize cannabis.

Tinctures’ effects, including their high, can last for up to four hours. When ingested, tinctures’ (or any other edibles’) effects can last longer than most other consumption methods. Edibles' effects can last from six to eight hours.

How to Make Cannabis Tinctures

Making a cannabis tincture at home is super easy and affordable. Cannabis plant material and high-proof grain alcohol are the main ingredients.

Here is what you need to make a cannabis tincture:

• Cannabis flower 
• Cannabis grinder
• Baking dish with see-through cover
• Oven thermometer
• Glass jar (opaque or clear)
• High-proof alcohol (190 proof grain alcohol; do not use isopropyl alcohol) – * Use 750 mL of high-proof alcohol for every ounce of cannabis flower used. Use less alcohol for a stronger tincture.
• Coffee filter
• Dropper bottle
• Funnel

Directions for Cannabis Tinctures

1. Collect all the supplies and ingredients.
2. Break the cannabis flower down into pea-sized pieces by hand, with a grinder, or with scissors.
3. Decarboxylate the cannabis material (decarbing is not necessary if you plan to remove the high-proof alcohol via heating)
4. Preheat the oven to 212º F.
5. Put the ground cannabis in a baking dish with a see-through cover. Spread the cannabis evenly across the bottom of the dish.
6. Put an oven thermometer on top of the cannabis and cover the dish with the cover.
7. Place the baking dish in the oven. Check every few minutes and take note when the thermometer reaches 212º F.
8. Once the oven reaches the desired temperature, leave the baking dish inside for one hour and 20 minutes. Ensure the thermometer reads 212º F throughout the baking process.
9. After one hour and 20 minutes, turn off the oven and use an oven mitt to remove the dish from the oven.
10. Let the dish cool for about 30 minutes before removing the cover.
11. Put the decarbed cannabis in an airtight container.
12. Add enough high-proof alcohol in the jar to completely submerge the cannabis.
13. Let the jar sit for at least 24 hours and up to three months. Shaking the mixture every day can help dissolve more trichomes. The mixture may start to turn green or brown.
14. Strain the mixture into a funnel lined with a coffee filter into an opaque dropper bottle. Note the production date. Store in a cool and dark space.

How to Use THC Cannabis Tinctures

A dose of cannabis tincture is usually dropped under the tongue and held for about 60 seconds while it is absorbed by the mucous membranes. After 60 seconds, users can swallow the cannabis oil. 

Cannabis tinctures can also be added to your favorite food or drink. Just add a few drops into your morning cup of coffee, lunch-time soup, or savory sauce during dinner. Anything goes!

As a first-time user, it is important to start with the lowest dose possible and gradually build up to your desired effects. We recommend starting off with 1 to 2 mg under the tongue, about 4 times a day.

When taken sublingually, effects should appear within minutes and last for a few hours.

Keeping a journal can allow users to track responses to the dosage. After about 4 to 5 days, increase the dose by 2 to 3 milligrams and continue to increase every 4 or 5 days until the desired dose (maximum therapeutic benefits and no adverse effects) is reached.

How to Store Marijuana Tinctures

Store tinctures in an opaque and glass bottle. Avoid clear and plastic bottles. If clear bottles are all you have on hand, make sure to keep your bottle in a cool and dark place. Exposure to heat and light can break down cannabinoids in your tincture.

In an optimal storage environment, alcohol-based tinctures can be stored for 3-5 years. 

Isn’t it hard to imagine that less than a century ago cannabis tinctures were listed in the U.S. Pharmacopeia? Now that medicinal and delicious marijuana tincture recipes are coming back into fashion (thank goodness!), we’ve decided to compile a few of the best on this list.

Cannabis Tincture with Coconut Oil

Although tinctures can be supplemented with a variety of oils, coconut oil has adequate fatty acids to perfectly bind with the cannabinoids – and gives a nice taste to it.

You’ll require:

• Saucepan
• Coffee filters or cheesecloth
• Mason jar
• Grinder
• One cup of coconut oil
• 5 g (0,12 oz) of cannabis
• Glass container
• Grinded cannabis

Directions:

1. Pour the cannabis and coconut oil into a saucepan. On medium heat, let is simmer for 8 hours. Add water if necessary, to prevent burning.
2. All done! Pour your coconut oil cannabis tincture into a container and into the fridge.

Making a weed tincture at home is simple and easy. Whether you use flower or concentrates, you can infuse the material in high-proof alcohol to create a potent. Here is the best weed tincture recipe using the freezer method.

Become a Cannabis Cooking and Extraction Expert at CTU

Learn about our cannabis extraction training at Cannabis Training University’s online marijuana college.

Interested in making cannabis edibles, cannabis topicals, and other cannabis infusions?

Our complete curriculums cover the essentials of growing cannabis, preparing it for cooking and extraction, and making various cannabis infusions, including edibles, tinctures, extracts, topicals, and more.

Whether you're totally new to cannabis or if you're looking for ways to cut down or quit smoking reefer all together, the choices can seem a little daunting, confusing and overwhelming.

Start making your own cannabis tinctures today!

Conclusion on Do Tinctures Get You High?

So, do tincture get you high? Absolutely, if you consume the right one with enough THC. If, however, you don’t want to be bogged down with its hallucinogenic effects, opt for a CBD-rich tincture to experience similar therapeutic effects without the high.

The best thing about cannabis tinctures: it’s easy to make your own tinctures. Learn how to make amazing cannabis tinctures at CTU online cannabis school!

Fred Hernandez

Fred Hernandez is a highly accomplished and versatile writer, boasting an extensive background in the cannabis industry. With an in-depth understanding of various sectors including cultivators, processors, retailers, and brands, Fred's expertise spans across the entire cannabis landscape. As a prominent contributor to CTU, he consistently delivers insightful articles exploring the latest developments, news, and regulations shaping the cannabis industry. Whether it's delving into the intricacies of cannabis products, cannabis strain reviews, or providing comprehensive analyses of cannabis laws, or sharing expert insights on cannabis cultivation techniques, Fred's wealth of knowledge positions him as an invaluable writer and educator for all cannabis-related subjects.