By popular demand, here is how to make cannabis tincture!
I polled my Facebook followers on which new infusion type I should post as a reprint from my book, The Easy Cannabis Cookbook (2018, Callisto Media). Since I have already covered making Marijuana Butter and Marijuana Oil on this site, I gave the readers the choice between Milk and Cream, Honey and Syrup, Sugar, or Tincture. I cover ALL of these infusions techniques and more in the book, but the one my Facebook followers chose overwhelmingly was (drum roll please):
Making DIY Cannabis Tincture!
I understand why tincture was such a popular choice. THC or CBD alcohol tincture is easy to make, easy to use, discreet, and extremely versatile.
There are other methods to make tinctures using heat, but since alcohol is so flammable, why take the chance? The method outlined in my book takes a little time, but no real effort.
Here are the Simple Tincture Instructions, as reprinted from The Easy Cannabis Cookbook.
Cannabis Tincture Recipe
Alcohol based tinctures could not be easier to make or use to infuse most any recipe – just stir in a few drops.
Besides making edibles, tinctures are also effective when taken sublingually. Place a few drops under your tongue and feel the effects far faster than waiting for an edible to digest.
Cannabis Tincture: Vegan/Gluten Free
Tincture Dosage when made according guidelines in the book (using 10% THC cannabis for details please see my FREE Dosing class) about 175 mg THC per ounce
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Infuse Time: 4 days
Yield: 1 cup
Ingredients for Cannabis Tincture:
- 1/2 ounce crumbled decarboxylated cannabis
- 1 1/8 cups high proof alcohol such as Everclear, 151 rum, or a high proof vodka, or other food grade high proof alcohol
Tools Needed for Making Cannabis Tincture:
- Kitchen scale
- Mason jar
- cheesecloth and strainer or yogurt straine
Cannabis Tincture Making Instructions:
- Place cannabis and alcohol in a Mason jar. Cover and shake. Store in a cool dark cabinet and let steep for 4 days, taking the jar out to shake each day.
- Strain by pouring through a cheesecloth-lined strainer or through a fine mesh yogurt strainer. Store in a dark glass bottle in the fridge.
Marijuana Tincture Recipe Notes and Variations
You can substitute other alcohols like tequila, whisky, bourbon, etc. but generally speaking, the higher the proof, the better your tincture will infuse. This can definitely help with how palatable the finished cannabis tincture will be.
If you live anywhere near Mexico, or if plan to visit, check out this article for secret bargains on food grade alcohol. The kind needed for cannabis tincture making.
Infused Tinctures for Cannabis Cocktails
For lighter dosed infused alcohols to use in cannabis cocktails, make the tincture from 151 rum or high proof vodka and increase the amount of spirits in this recipe to 4 cups.
Cooking with Tinctures
Can you cook with tinctures? YES!
That said, I have never created many THC tincture recipes. That's because you don't really need recipes with tincture.
It is easy to just add a few drops of cannabis tincture to pretty much anything you are already making. Or anything you are eating or drinking.
That's how easy cooking with tinctures is. Stir in and you are good to go!
Also from The Easy Cannabis Cookbook:
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Does anyone ever tried infusing cannabis on their food? I have read many articles suggesting that cannabis has a very potent effect when it comes with pain and inflamation like some strain. The reason for this is that I dont smoke so mixing it with food seems a good idea. Any personal experience or testimonial is highly appreciated. TIA
All the time. That’s exactly what this site, Cheri’s cookbooks, and her online cooking courses are all about. Many people prefer eating it to smoking for many reasons. I can think of 6.
Has anyone used this method of tincture but let it sit for months before using? How potent was it? I’m looking for someone with high tolerance.
This particular recipe is a pretty low dose. But I do make high dose tincture all the time as I have a high tolerance. For that I put in enough decarbed cannabis and just cover it with alcohol and a little extra, you can leave it longer, but it is more about the amount of cannabis you use.
Hello there, I appreciate this website-been very informative. For your high dose tincture- what is your suggested ratio? Say for using a 18-23% (ish) THC plant with Everclear? Your above recipe states only 10% THC plant, which I try and never get below 18%. I also just want it to be a .5ml dose at a time. I want to say 28 grams to 20 ounces is a good ratio but going to be a first time maker. I assume the 4 day time steep still applies?
– Also, side note. Have you ever used loose leaf tea to soften the pure grain? I ordered some and was thinking to add a couple teaspoons of lavender pedal tea and honey to the tincture.
I have not tried those flavor ideas, but I like the sound of them, let me know how it goes please.
As to dosing, take my free dosing class (which shows you how to figure dosing with an ordinary calculator) or get my $5.00 dosing calculators (that do the math for you), as they will help you adjust the dose according to the strength of your cannabis and the dose you are trying to achieve. Find them at Cannademy.com
I’ve heard vegetable glycerin is an alternative to using alcohol but heated to 160-168F for 4-8 hours. I’ve never made it but will this weekend. I also have the Magical Butter Machine which infuses much faster than crock pot or stovetop
It is not really an alternative, but rather a different method of making tincture. Glycerin is not as good a solvent as alcohol, so potency may be less than with alcohol. That said some people cannot have alcohol, and some recipes just work better with glycerin. This is a new lesson we are currently working on for my cooking course.
As to the Magical Butter Machine, I am personally not a fan and don’t recommend it because it forces you to finely grind the plant material. This in turn deposits more plant material into the butter/oil/tincture, something that negatively impacts the flavor. What you are extracting is ON the plant, not IN it. Likewise fine grinding is not necessary nor desirable, in my opinion.
Have you ever used a crumble instead of flower?
I have not but there is no reason in the world why you couldn’t.
I have your recipe book but am unsure how many portions the brownie recipe should be cut into????
I am not sure which book you have, but there should be a number of servings given. However, it will also depend on the dose you need, and the strength of the material you cooked with. Check out this article and video for more info and take my free dosing class as the calculator tool included will help you fine tune to get the dose you need, because everyone is different.
https://www.cannabischeri.com/food/cooking-basics/how-much-marijuana-for-a-stick-of-butter/
Oh my god Cheri! I did not put two and two together that you wrote MARYJANE!!!! That was the very first cannabis book I ever purchased and I learned so much and fell in love!!!!! Thank you for all you do!! I love your material! Didn’t know where to leave my feedback but wanted to THANK YOU!
Awwww, thank you! Yes that is me! I appreciate the kind words.
My question is, when you’re decarbing… you recommend NOT grinding it up? Should I be crumbling or breaking it apart lightly before putting it in the oven if I am not using a machine to cook with such as magical butter machine and using a slow cooker instead?
Yes, just crumble with your fingers or if you grind to it lightly as if rolling a joint, I try to avoid fine grinding though as it puts more plant material into the finished edibles and that does not improve flavor.
can you make a marijuana tincture with cold pressed hemp seed…ty
No. Hemps seeds do not contain THC or CBD.
What do you do with the leftover cannabis from the tincture?
Toss it. You have extracted what you want from the plant. Saving it is the equivalent of saving teabags after you have already made tea.
What if my cannabis wasn’t decarbed?
Your tincture will still have lots of medicinal effects, so still use it, however, it won’t be as potent in terms of psycho-activity. If you are a cannabis lightweight, that might not matter. But if you need strong doses to feel high, the undecarbed tincture might be lacking.