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Apart from smoking or vaping cannabis, there are many other ways to enjoy it recreationally. One popular option is cannabis tincture. It can be taken under the tongue, mixed into beverages, added to homemade edibles, or used in certain topical applications.
If you're thinking about making your own cannabis tincture at home, the good news is that the process is relatively simple when you follow the right steps. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced cannabis user, learning how to make a tincture can give you more control over its ingredients, potency, and usage.
This guide explains what cannabis tincture is, whether it's possible to make it at home, how long the process takes, the ingredients and equipment you'll need, and the step-by-step methods used to create a homemade cannabis tincture.
Cannabis tincture, also known as weed tincture, is a concentrated liquid cannabis extract made by soaking decarboxylated cannabis flower in a base solution, most commonly high-proof alcohol. During the infusion process, cannabinoids such as THC and CBD dissolve into the liquid, creating a potent extract.
While glycerin and oil can also be used as base solutions, high-proof ethanol is generally preferred because it extracts cannabinoids more efficiently.
Cannabis tincture has been used for centuries for recreational purposes, and even today, it is mainly popular because it’s easy to dose, mix with food and beverages, or consume sublingually.
Yes, and the best part is that making cannabis tincture at home is relatively simple, although it does require patience. In most cases, you only need decarboxylated cannabis flower and a base solution such as high-proof alcohol, oil, or glycerin.
If you opt for the traditional method, you will need to soak the cannabis in your preferred base solution for about a month to allow the cannabinoids to infuse into the liquid. However, if you prefer a faster approach, you can use the freeze or warm bath method, both of which are explained later in this guide.
Let's get started with the ingredients and equipment you'll need to make cannabis tincture at home.
If you're planning to make cannabis tincture at home, make sure you have the following ingredients and equipment ready.
Ingredients:
Using fresh, high-quality cannabis flower can help maximize the potency, flavor, and overall quality of your homemade cannabis tincture. So, if you’re looking for fresh, high-quality cannabis flower, accessories like a mason jar, tincture bottle, or any other cannabis product in Grand Rapids, MI, you can explore our website or visit our store any time between 9 am and 9 pm.
If you choose alcohol as the base liquid for making cannabis tincture, it’s generally best to use the highest-proof food-grade alcohol legally available in your area. Higher-proof alcohol tends to extract cannabinoids from decarboxylated cannabis more efficiently, which can help produce a more potent tincture.
While lower-proof alcohol can still be used, it may not extract cannabinoids as effectively, potentially resulting in a weaker final product. If alcohol is not your preferred option, glycerin and oil can also be used as alternative base liquids for making cannabis tinctures.
Once you have all the ingredients and equipment ready, you can begin making your cannabis tincture. The process involves preparing the cannabis flower, infusing it into your chosen base solution, and allowing enough time for the cannabinoids to extract into the liquid.
Here’s a step-by-step guide for making your own cannabis tincture at home.
Start by removing any large stems and seeds from your cannabis flower. Once cleaned, gently break the buds apart by hand or use a grinder to achieve a coarse, even consistency. Avoid grinding the flower into a fine powder, as this can make straining the tincture more difficult later in the process.
Breaking the cannabis into smaller pieces increases the surface area exposed to the base solution, helping the cannabinoids extract more efficiently. Once the flower is trimmed or ground, spread it evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil to prepare it for the decarboxylation process.
After trimming or grinding the buds, it’s time to decarboxylate or decarb the flower. This process involves converting the THCA found in raw cannabis to THC, which is the main psychoactive compound that produces the high effect.
So, to decarb the buds, get your oven tray and place the parchment paper on it. Put the ground cannabis buds on the sheet and make sure they are properly spread out. Preheat the oven to 220°F to 240°F and then bake for around 30 to 40 minutes. Once the color of the buds becomes yellowish green, your buds have been decarbed and are now ready for the infusion process. Mix the
After decarbing the cannabis flower, place it into your mason jar and pour your 90ml of preferred base solution over it, ensuring the plant material is completely submerged. Whether you chose high-proof food-grade alcohol, glycerin, or oil, the liquid needs to fully cover the flower.
Once you have poured the base solution over the cannabis flower, close the lid tightly and shake the jar vigorously for about 1 minute to ensure the flower is evenly mixed with the liquid.
This step will put your patience to the test, as you will need to steep the mixture for 30 days. This means you will have to keep the mason jar containing the mixture in a cool, dark place, away from heat and sunlight, so that the cannabinoids can properly infuse the solution without degrading.
To ensure that the cannabinoids mix well with the tincture, shake the bottle once or twice every day. The goal of this stage is to allow cannabinoids and other compounds to gradually infuse into the solution over time. Once the steeping period is complete, the tincture can move on to the filtering and bottling stage.
After waiting patiently for 30 days, your tincture is fully infused and ready for the final step. This stage involves separating the liquid extract from the leftover plant material so that your finished product is smooth and clean.
To strain the tincture, get your measuring cup or a clean glass bowl and place your cheesecloth or coffee filter over the top. Carefully pour the contents of the mason jar through the filter, letting the liquid pass completely into the container below.
Once most of the liquid has drained through, gather the edges of the cheesecloth and gently squeeze it to press out any remaining drops of tincture trapped in the flower. After filtering out the plant material, the tincture is now ready. Now, all you need to do is carefully transfer it to the ambient tincture bottles for storage and use.
While the traditional method of letting the mixture steep for a month is highly popular, it requires a lot of patience. If you don’t want to wait several weeks to enjoy your finished product, you can try preparing your weed tincture using one of the following faster alternative methods.
The freeze method, also known by extraction enthusiasts as the quick wash technique, is an excellent way to get a clean and potent tincture in just a couple of days. For this method, you will want to place your mason jar of decarbed cannabis flower and your bottle of high-proof alcohol into the freezer separately for at least 24 hours before mixing them.
Keeping everything freezing cold prevents the bitter chlorophyll, waxes, and plant lipids from breaking down into the liquid, leaving you with a lighter, better-tasting tincture. Once both ingredients are completely chilled, pour the cold alcohol over the cold cannabis flower in the mason jar, seal the lid, and shake it vigorously for about 2 to 3 minutes.
Put the jar right back into the freezer and let it sit for another 24 hours, giving it a good shake once or twice throughout the day. After the 24 hours are up, you can pull the jar from the freezer and proceed straight to straining out the plant material just like you would with the traditional method.
If you want to use your cannabis tincture on the very same day you make it, the warm water bath method is your best option. This technique uses gentle heat to speed up the infusion process, allowing the cannabinoids to bind with your base solution in a matter of hours instead of days or weeks.
To start, place your decarbed cannabis flower and your base solution into a mason jar, seal the lid tightly, and shake it well. Next, set up a water bath by filling a saucepan or a slow cooker with enough water to cover the lower half of your jar.
Place the sealed mason jar into the water and heat it slowly on low, keeping the water temperature around 150°F to 170°F. You want to let the jar simmer in the warm water bath for about 2 to 3 hours, checking on it occasionally to give the jar a gentle shake.
It is incredibly important to keep the heat low and make sure your workspace is well-ventilated, especially if you are using high-proof alcohol, as alcohol fumes can be highly flammable. Once the time is up, carefully remove the hot jar from the water, let it cool down completely, and your tincture is ready to be strained and bottled.
After bottling the tincture, the next step is to store it properly. Maintaining proper storage is crucial for the potency, flavor, and overall quality of your cannabis tincture. To help keep your tincture fresh for as long as possible, follow these storage recommendations:
The shelf life of a cannabis tincture depends largely on the base liquid used. Alcohol-based tinctures can remain fresh for up to 10 years when stored properly, while glycerin- and oil-based tinctures typically stay fresh for about 1 to 2 years. If you notice significant changes in the tincture's color, smell, taste, or consistency, it may be a sign that it’s already starting to degrade.
Fresh cannabis tincture typically appears as a golden-to-green liquid with an earthy, herbal, and piney aroma. Depending on the base liquid used, it may have a sharp, tangy, or slightly bitter taste.
However, if you notice significant changes in the tincture's color, smell, taste, or consistency, it may be a sign that the product has begun to degrade. Specifically, if the tincture develops a sour smell, a dark cloudy appearance, or a harsh metallic taste, it should no longer be used, and you should discard it immediately.
Once your homemade cannabis tincture is ready and properly stored, learning how to use it properly will help you get the most out of your batch. The best part is that using cannabis tincture for recreational use is a whole different experience. Here are some common ways to use cannabis tincture.
Before using cannabis tincture, it is very important to understand the dosage. Ideally, it’s recommended to start with the lowest dose to understand how fast the effects kick in and your body’s overall tolerance level. As cannabis tincture contains a very high THC concentration, even a small amount can have a very strong effect.
According to Weedmaps, here’s the dosage guide based on the total amount of THC per 1-ounce bottle.
THC Quantity in 1-oz Tinture Bottle | Mild Dose | Moderate Dose | Strong Dose |
100 mg THC per bottle | 2.5 mg THC (0.75 ml) | 5 mg THC (1.5 ml) | 10 mg THC (3 ml) |
250 mg THC per bottle | 2.5 mg THC (0.3 ml) | 5 mg THC (0.6 ml) | 10 mg THC (1.2 ml) |
500 mg THC per bottle | 5 mg THC (0.3 ml) | 10 mg THC (0.6 ml) | 20 mg THC (1.2 ml) |
750 mg THC per bottle | 5 mg THC (0.2 ml) | 10 mg THC (0.4 ml) | 25 mg THC (1 ml) |
1000 mg THC per bottle | 10 mg THC (0.3 ml) | 20 mg THC (0.6 ml) | 40 mg THC (1.2 ml) |
If you are a beginner or someone exploring cannabis tinctures for the first time, it is highly recommended to stick to a mild to moderate dose. Starting in this safe range ensures you can enjoy the experience comfortably without feeling overwhelmed. Once you understand your body’s tolerance level, you can gradually increase the dose to experience stronger effects.
If you’re into infusing certain food items and beverages with cannabis tincture to experience a fast recreational high, then it can be more cost-effective to make your own cannabis tincture at home.
While preparing it at home, it’s crucial to ensure that you don’t skip essential steps like decarboxylating the cannabis. Overall, it can be time-consuming, and if it’s your first time, it can even feel a bit complicated.
However, if you enjoy making cannabis edibles and you frequently need to use tincture, then you should also make this base ingredient at home, along with cannabutter and cannaoil. On the other hand, if you’ve never used cannabis tincture before, then it’s best to first purchase a few bottles from a licensed dispensary and then try making it at home.
If you’re looking for a reliable cannabis dispensary in Michigan to purchase cannabis tincture, or the ingredients required to make weed tincture, you should explore our online menu or visit our store.
Plus, if you need help picking out the right strains or understanding the tincture recipe, our expert budtenders are always ready to provide personalized recommendations and a detailed guideline to get you started.
The best alcohol for cannabis tinctures is typically the highest-proof food-grade ethyl alcohol legally available in your area. Higher-proof alcohol is generally preferred because it extracts cannabinoids more efficiently than lower-proof alternatives. If alcohol is not an option, glycerin and certain oils can also be used as alternative base liquids.
The standard ratio for a balanced, everyday cannabis tincture is 1/8 ounce (3.5 grams) of decarbed flower to 2 to 3 fluid ounces of your base liquid (high-proof alcohol, glycerin, or oil). If you want to brew a much larger or more potent batch, you can increase this up to 1 ounce (28 grams) of flower per 1 to 2 cups of liquid.
It depends entirely on how you take them. If you swallow a tincture immediately or mix it into food, your body digests it exactly like a standard edible meaning, it will hit just as hard, bringing an intense body high that takes 1 to 2 hours to set in but lasts for several hours. However, if you take the tincture sublingually (holding it under your tongue for 30 to 60 seconds), it absorbs directly into your bloodstream. This method hits much faster, usually within 15 to 30 minutes, but the effects peak quickly and fade sooner, resulting in a more manageable, controllable experience than a heavy edible high.
Yes, cannabis tinctures can absolutely get you as high as smoking, but the type of high you experience depends entirely on how you consume them. When taken sublingually (held under the tongue), the tincture absorbs directly into your bloodstream, delivering a fast, clean head high within 15 to 30 minutes that feels very similar to smoking. However, if you swallow the tincture or mix it into a drink, your liver processes the THC exactly like a traditional edible. This converts the THC into a much more potent compound, resulting in a deeply intense, heavy body high that can actually feel significantly stronger and last much longer than smoking.
Yes, cannabis tinctures can be made from indica, sativa, or hybrid cannabis strains. The characteristics of the tincture will largely depend on the strain used and its cannabinoid and terpene profile, which can influence the overall cannabis experience.
