The interesting thing about the process of making cannabis tincture is, it’s actually very easy to make, and it does not require a lot of materials. There are a bunch of different methods of making cannabis tincture, and all of them have a very similar, and simple straightforward process. 

If you are wondering whether you can make cannabis tincture at home, yes you can. Also, there are multiple methods to choose from. So, you can decide which one’s the most convenient and cost effective for you.

Whether you’re an absolute beginner, or a weed enthusiast keen explore and learn how to make cannabis tincture, this article will walk you through five easy methods. Plus, it also covers the complete list of ingredients, and equipment you will need to start making cannabis tincture right away!

What is a Cannabis Tincture?

Cannabis tincture is a highly concentrated liquid extract made by soaking decarbed weed in high proof alcohol, oil, or glycerin. Cannabis tinctures typically contain high levels of THC, the psychoactive compound that produces the euphoric effect, and CBD is the therapeutic compound known for its relaxation, pain-relieving, and sleep-promoting properties.

The word tincture usually refers to alcohol based, especially as cannabis tinctures are popularly made by soaking the plant in alcohol for several days until the cannabinoids, and terpenes fully dissolve with the alcohol in a very concentrated form.

Similarly, the flower can also be dissolved in oil or glycerin, which are non-alcoholic methods of producing the infused extracts. But as the alcohol-based method is popular, and more commonly used hence it goes by the umbrella term cannabis tincture, whether it’s made using alcohol, oil or glycerin.

Ingredients and Equipment Required to Make Cannabis Tincture

The best thing about making cannabis tincture is, it does not require a whole bunch of ingredients, and equipment. The specific ingredients can vary based on your preferred method.

If you choose the alcohol-based method then you will either need ground alcohol, or high proof alcohol. Whereas for non-alcohol-based methods you can either go for carrier oils (plant-based oil) or glycerin.

So, whether you are making it for personal use at home, or in a commercial setting, here are the ingredients and equipment you will need to make cannabis tincture.

Ingredients for Making Cannabis Tincture

· Decarbed Cannabis Flower: 3.5-14 grams

· Ground Alcohol or 190 Proof Alcohol (Like Everclear): 3.5-12 fluid ounce

· Carrier Oil (Coconut Oil or Olive Oil): 3.5-12 fluid ounce

Equipment for Making Cannabis Tincture3]

· Parchment paper or aluminum foil for decarboxylation

· Mason jar for infusing

· Cheesecloth for straining

· 1-ounce glass bottles for storing

· Dropper for pouring

How to Make Cannabis Tincture?

There are a few easy and simple steps of making cannabis tincture which typically include decarboxylating the cannabis flower, infusing it in a solvent (alcohol, oil, or glycerin), straining the mixture, and storing the final product.

Let’s start by learning the alcohol-based method, which is typically the conventional, and the most common way of making cannabis tincture. And then explore alternative, and non-alcoholic methods of infusing the decarbed weed in oil or glycerin to produce cannabis tincture.

Step 1: Decarboxylate the Cannabis Flower

The first step is to decarboxylate, or decarb in short, this process involves activating the THC compound of cannabis by baking the flower at a high temperature of 220-250 F in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes.

So, to decarb your cannabis flower, you will need a baking tray, and parchment paper or aluminum foil. First you will have to either chop the cannabis flower into smaller pieces or grind it into a powdery mix. This is important because the heat needs to evenly spread out for the weed to decarb properly.

After cutting the weed into smaller pieces, or grinding it into a powdered mix, it’s time to put it in the oven, and bake it. Now, carefully place the parchment paper or aluminum foil on the oven’s tray and put small pieces of weed or spread the grinded powder on it. 

You can use an extra parchment paper to cover the weed, if it has been grinded, especially to ensure that it doesn’t get blown off while it’s being baked. Make sure that the temperature isn’t set to more than 220-250 F, and don’t bake it longer than 30 minutes; this can burn the weed and destroy the chemical compounds.

So, after baking it for 25 to 30 minutes, you will notice that the weed’s color has changed to brownish or yellow green, that’s when you know that your flower has been decarbed. Once it is baked take the tray out of the oven, and let it sit for a few minutes until it cools down to room temperature.

Step 2: Mix the Decarbed Cannabis with Alcohol

It’s time to soak the decarbed cannabis in alcohol. Ideally, you can use 8 grams of decarbed weed in approximately 2 to 3 fluid ounces of alcohol. If you feel like there is lesser weed, then you can put 2 to 3 grams more for higher potency.

Open your mason jar, put the decarbed weed into the jar, and then fill it in with either ground alcohol, or the190 proof alcohol in proportionate amount. Now stir it well with a spoon until the plant materials totally get mixed with the alcohol solution. Make sure that the weed has completely submerged in the alcohol solution.

Keep in mind that, the lesser the quantity of alcohol, the higher the potency of the tincture. After you are done mixing the decarbed cannabis with the alcohol, close the jars lid tightly and shake it well for about a minute.

Step 3: Keep it Stored, and Shake the Bottle Over Time

By now, you can already guess that the process is quite easy, but the hard part is that it will put your patience to the test. You will have to keep the mixture stored in the jar for 3 to 4 weeks in a cool dark place. And, you will have to shake the jar at least once every day.

If you can shake the jar multiple times every day, then it will accelerate the extraction process. The more you shake the jar, the more it will agitate the weed to get absorbed with the alcohol.

Ideally, it’s best if you can shake the jar 2 to 3 times a day, but even once is enough. If you accidentally forget to shake the jar for a day, don’t worry, just shake it as soon as you notice it.

Shaking the jar is mainly essential to help it mix with the alcohol faster, if you don’t shake it then it will take longer for the alcohol to absorb the cannabis.

Step 4: Strain the Liquid and Extract the Cannabis Tincture

After storing the jar for about 4 weeks, now you have all the natural oils of the cannabis infused with the alcohol. It’s time to strain it out using a cheesecloth. Get a bowl and open the jar’s lid where you have the infused cannabis extract with the alcohol.

Hold the cheesecloth vertically with one hand, and slowly tilt jar the on top of the cheesecloth with the other hand. Now, pour the solution into the cheesecloth, you will notice the greenish plant materials getting trapped on the cheesecloth, while the fatty liquid solution is flowing through.

The liquid that’s being strained and squeezed out of the cheesecloth is your final product, the cannabis tincture. Gradually tilt the jar downwards a bit more allowing the cannabis tincture to pour faster, while the remaining weed gets filtered on the cheesecloth.

Once, all the cannabis tincture gets transferred into the jar, you can throw the filtered plant materials, as the cannabinoid is no longer in the flower, all the chemical extracts are now in the cannabis tincture.

Step 5: Store the Cannabis Tincture in the Glass Bottle

Now all you need to do is carefully store the cannabis tincture in a 1-ounce glass bottle. Take a dropper, and squeeze the tip to pull in the liquid tincture in the dropper, and then place it on top of the 1-ounce glass bottle, and press the tip again to pour it in.

Similarly repeat the process, until you have all the cannabis tinctures transferred to the glass bottles. Alternatively, you can even use a small funnel to transfer the tincture into the glass bottles. After you are done filling each bottle make sure to close its lid, and safely store the bottles in a cool dark place.

You don’t need to keep it in the refrigerator, it will stay fresh if the glass containers are properly sealed and stored in the kitchen’s cabinet or pantry. The best part is cannabis tinctures can practically last forever as it contains alcohol there is almost zero chances of it getting spoiled.

Alternative Methods of Making Cannabis Tinctures

Aside from the conventional method, there are 4 other methods that you can use to make cannabis tincture. Out of the 4 methods, the first two include freeze and green dragon tincture method, which requires alcohol as its base. Whereas the third and fourth method includes the simple home, and green tincture which requires oil as its base.

If you prefer non-alcohol methods of producing cannabis tincture, then you can consider the oil-based methods as an alternative. Each of these methods has its own set of conveniences.

So, let’s get down to the details so that you can learn and understand the method that best fits your preferences.

Freeze Method

This method can be super handy for anyone who’s looking for a much faster way to produce cannabis tincture. On the flip side, you also need to give a bit of extra effort here.

So, you will need to freeze the decarbed cannabis in one jar, ideally, it’s best to use 8 mg of decarbed cannabis for this process. You can add more if you want desire a strong potency.

And, in another jar fill in 16 fluid ounces of alcohol. Close the lids of both jars and put them in the freezer for 24 hours.  

After 24 hours, bring out of the jar containing the alcohol and keep it in a bowl filled with water at room temperature for about 30 minutes. This will help the alcohol defrost faster. Then, bring out the jar containing the frozen decarbed cannabis, and pour 3 fluid ounces of alcohol into the jar containing the weed.

Close the lid of jar containing the cannabis mixed with alcohol and shake it very well for about 5 minutes ensuring that it mixes effectively. Now close the lid of both jars and store them in the freezer for 2 hours.

After 2 hours bring the jars out of the freezer and pour the remaining 3 fluid ounces of alcohol into the jar containing mixture. Once again, shake it very well again for 5 minutes, and done! Now, strain the cannabis tincture out using a cheesecloth, and store it in the 1-ounce glass bottles in a cool dark place.

Green Dragon Tincture Method

The green dragon tincture method is a variation of the traditional alcohol-based method that uses fresh, uncured cannabis leaves and stems.

The green dragon tincture method requires almost minimal effort but like the conventional method you will have to give it time, about 3 to 5 weeks.

So, here are the steps that you need to follow to make green dragon tincture.

· Put the decarbed cannabis in a mason jar.

· Pour any grain alcohol like vodka or 190 proof alcohol into the mason jar containing the decarbed cannabis.

· Close the jar’s lid and shake the jar vigorously for a few mins.

· Store it in a cool dark place and shake the jar at least once every day for 3 to 5 weeks.

· After about a month or so, strain out the flower using a cheesecloth, and store your Green Dragon Tincture in the 1-ounce glass bottles.

Oil Infusion Method

If you prefer the non-alcohol recipe, then perhaps you can consider using the oil infusion method instead. But compared to all the other methods, this one requires the highest amount of physical effort.

On the other hand, like the freezing method, this one yield faster results. So, if you want to save time and produce cannabis tincture in 3 hours or so, then the oil infusion method will certainly be helpful.

Let’s get started with the process.

· Heat up a saucepan in low heat, and then pour 1 cup of coconut or olive oil on the saucepan and wait for 1 minute for the oil to heat up.

· Now put 7 grams of decarbed cannabis flower on the saucepan and stir it well to ensure it mixes with the oil.

· Keep the stove’s heat at a low temperature and occasionally stir it for about 3 hours.

· After 3 hours, turn off the stove and wait for about 10 mins for the mixture to cool down.

· Get a bowl, and cover the top part with a cheesecloth, and then hold the saucepan firmly and put the entire mixture on the cheesecloth

· Gently wrap the mixture by covering it with the cheesecloth, and slowly squeeze out the oil into the bowl, and done, you have your own infused cannabis tincture

· Throw out the remaining greens, and securely store the cannabis tincture in 1-ounce glass bottles in a cool dry space.

The Simple Home Method

You can probably guess why it’s called the simple method; this one literally requires almost zero effort. The simple method also requires the use of oil, but you just need soak the decarbed cannabis in a jar containing either coconut or olive oil for at least 3 weeks or about 5 weeks.

Similarly, like every other method, you will have to shake the jar at least once daily. Unlike the oil infusion method, you don’t need to go through any complex boiling process. So, after 3 to 5 weeks, you can strain the oil out using a cheesecloth, and done, your cannabis tincture is ready!

Ideally, its best to use 7 grams of decarbed cannabis, and 1 cup of either coconut or olive oil. You can use more weed, or oil for enhanced potency, and of course if you are making it in higher quantity. But make sure to do it proportionally, in general it’s based on following a standard procedure, and gradually tweaking the ingredients with acquired experience.

Should I Make Cannabis Tinctures at Home or Buy Them?

Well that totally depends, whether you are willing to give all that effort to make cannabis tincture. Plus, you will either have to spend a substantial amount of time to prepare the cannabis tincture or wait several weeks for decarbed cannabis to soak in and diffuse with the alcohol or oil.

So, if you’re not up for the effort, and more importantly if you need it any time soon, then it’s better to buy it from a cannabis dispensary. We have a great collection of cannabistinctures that you can check out. 

Regardless, if you’re passionate about learning how to make cannabis tincture, you should try any of the methods that’s feasible for you. But when it comes to quality, and ensuring the right dosage, it’s always best to trust professionals and buy it from a trusted weed dispensary.

Final Remarks

By now you know 5 different methods to make your own cannabis tincture starting from the traditional alcohol-based approach to the innovative freeze and oil infusion techniques. So, depending on your preference you can choose whichever method seems the most suitable option for you.

Although while trying out these homemade methods, it’s best to be extra careful, and take it slow. If it’s your first time, it’s best to precisely follow the recommended dose in this guide.

Feel free to experiment as you acquire more experience, but for starters it’s quite difficult to determine the potency, and effectiveness of the tincture. So, it's best to make it proportionately in smaller amounts, and while you are at it, make sure to consume the cannabis tincture responsibly.

FAQs

How to make cannabis tincture?

The conventional method of making cannabis tincture is to soak decarboxylated cannabis in high proof alcohol for 3 to 4 weeks, and then straining out the extracted liquid, which is the cannabis tincture. Apart from using alcohol, there are oil infusion techniques to make cannabis tincture similarly using coconut or olive oil.

How to make cannabis tincture using non-alcohol methods?

Non-alcohol method includes oil infusion technique which involves mixing decarboxylated cannabis in hot oil while actively stirring it for about 3 hours, and then straining the oil with a cheesecloth. Another way is the simple home method which involves soaking the decarbed cannabis in oil for 3 to 5 weeks, and then straining it with a cheesecloth.

How long does it take to make cannabis tincture?

The time that it can take to make cannabis tincture depends on the method. Methods such as the traditional alcohol-based technique, green dragon tincture, and the simple home method can take 3 to 4 weeks. Whereas you can make cannabis tincture within a couple of hours using the freeze method, or the oil infusion technique.