Cannabis can be delivered by mucosal absorption in a rapid, dose measured manner as a tincture. Tinctures are extracts of cannabis into an organic solvent, such as alcohol or glycerin, a process which retains all the cannabinoids. Tinctures are a classical method of herbal delivery, used for centuries to prepare cannabis medicines. The tincture is best taken sublingually (under the tongue) from a dropper bottle or delivered by a mouth spray via an atomizer bottle. They can be mixed with water or even juice to cover up any unpleasant taste. Cannabis is absorbed through mucosal surfaces into the bloodstream, providing a rapid onset of 10-15 minutes. Because the medicine enters the bloodstream directly it is dispersed over the entire body, making it effective for body pain, neurological conditions and cancer. Tinctures are very easy to dose, with the option of taking anywhere from a single drop to a full dropperful at a time. Often tinctures include many herbal ingredients not related to cannabis such as skullcap that produce additional medical effects, meaning it may take time to sample various tincture formulas to find the best one per individual user.
Benefits
- rapid onset in 15 minutes
- easily transportable
- no cannabis odor
- measured dosing, easy to repeat
- long shelf-life
- moderately long-acting:4-5 hours
Risks
- cannot select strain if not home-made
- variable range of potency
- often a long process to discover specific brand that works most effectively
