How to Create Tinctures From Cannabis Roots

Think the flowers are the only way to enjoy your harvest? Actually, there are a multitude of ways to partake of this potent herb. While smoking and consuming it in the form of edibles is the most common option, there are many more creative ways to enjoy its benefits. Just like any other herb, different parts of the Cannabis plant can be used to create teas, oils, drinks, topical solutions and more.

If you are looking to try something different, then you will want to keep reading.

Why Make Marijuana Tinctures

Cannabis tinctures have been around for quite some time. It is perhaps one of the least visible ways to use this herb, and it works just as good as any other method.

A few things that makes using tinctures stand out:

• You can’t overdose, and it is easy to take

Tinctures allow the user to have more control over how much is consumed. Unlike marijuana edibles, the user is less likely to overdose. You can easily measure how much you are going to take by using an eye dropper. Tinctures are absorbed into the bloodstream instead of swallowed.

• Cut down on calories

Tinctures are lower in calories than many common edibles such as pot brownies.

• Easy Fun DIY activity

If you like taking on creative projects, making cannabis tinctures can be easy, fun and require little equipment.

• Discretion

You can enjoy a good high in public places without drawing attention to yourself like you would if you were smoking pot. It beats passing a blunt around in a crowded area, and it keeps you from smelling like weed.

• You get the full benefits of Cannabis

Unlike edibles, the tincture method means the cannabis will not have to interact with the acids in your stomach; therefore, all the beneficial chemicals in marijuana remain intake, and your body can make full use of it.

We’ve already given you some great reasons to love tinctures, but this article is going to show you how to use the Cannabis roots and stems to create them.

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How to take tinctures

Tinctures are frequently taken as drops under the tongue using an eyedropper. The method is great because the solution is consumed via the sublingual artery which is the body’s major source of blood supply to the tongue. This technique allows the solution to enter the brain very much faster.

People that are worried about the possibility of getting cancer from smoke inhalation will feel very comfortable with the sublingual method. While marijuana smoking isn’t a known cause to cause cancer, this can still be comforting to know there is no risk involved with tinctures. Some elderly or even very sick persons can greatly benefit from the medicinal use of marijuana, but due to their condition are unable to smoke the herb. Tinctures make it easy for people in this situation to use cannabis.

Tinctures require as little as 3 drops sublingually for you to get an almost equally beneficial high as you would smoking marijuana. Now, to receive the psychoactive effects of the tincture, you will have to wait longer than if you were to smoke it. It will take about 15-minutes for the high to set in but this is still faster than the time it takes with edibles.

Now, let’s get to the good stuff and learn how to make cannabis tinctures with roots, stems, and leaves.

How to Make Cannabis Tinctures

There are three main methods for making excellent DIY weed tinctures.

Green Dragon (Hot Tincture)

This method is best for stems and leaves and is the quickest method. To make a Green Dragon tincture, you will need pure grain alcohol such as Everclear. Chop your pieces very small, then put it on a cookie baking sheet in the oven for 5-minutes at 325 F. Place the decarboxylated weed in a mason jar, then mix with alcohol.

Get a pot and add 1 inch of water to it, then place the mason jar into the pot. Boil the water, then allow it to simmer until the temperature is 165 F. You will measure it using a cooking thermometer. You don’t want the alcohol to boil in the mason jar. If it does, turn the temperature down. Once the mixture is at 165F, safely remove the jar from the pot and let it cool.

Next, you will need to strain the ingredients so you can pour the liquid into dropper bottles. You can spruce up the mixture by making it sweet with a dash of honey. You can also add a few drops of the tincture to your tea or coffee in the morning.

The Simple Cold Formula

This method is perfect when you want to keep it simple and don’t want to worry about cooking the marijuana. You can use this for flower, leaves, and stems. For this method, you are going to create a sort of brew with the cannabis and vodka or brandy mixture.

Using whatever amount of cannabis that you prefer, begin by taking the dry bud and breaking it up into small pieces, but include the stems and leaves. Get a mason jar and add the cannabis pieces. Afterwards, pour vodka over the herb to completely cover it. Mix the ingredients well, then put the lid on tight. Shake the mix really well for a few minutes then place it in the freezer for 5-6 days.

Every day you will need to remove the jar from the freezer and shake it well. Eventually, the cannabis pieces will start to disintegrate. After the full 5 days are up, remove the jar and strain the mixture through a metal tea strainer. Now, pour the liquid into a dropper bottle, or however many are needed. And you are done.

Download the Free Harvesting Guide to learn more about when and how to harvest your Marijuana plants.

Long Steep Method

Get a quart glass jar and fill it with 1oz of cannabis root or stem cut into pieces, then add vodka, brandy, vegetable glycerin or Everclear until the jar is almost full. Cover the jar with a lid and store it in a dark space away from the sunlight. Every few days you will need to shake the jar. Allow the tincture to sit for 4 weeks to 1 year depending on your preference.

Of course, you can test it throughout the process to see if you feel it is strong enough for your liking. Once it is ready, strain it to separate the plant material then pour the liquid into dropper bottles.

This method does require a bit of patience, but you will end up with a potent brew. When using this technique, it is best that you create a new mixture every 2 weeks or so that you always a tincture ready once you are done consuming the other one. This way you will always have enough tincture for your needs.

Tinctures are easy to make and a nice way to enjoy your weed. They have been around for quite some time, and it is starting to become popular little by little all over again. Tinctures are a more practical approach to taking this medicine than edibles for many reasons. Enjoy making your weed tinctures and always give the sublingual drops about 15-minutes for the full effects to take place.