Cannabis tinctures are so versatile. You can use them to make candy and other sugar based edibles. You can take them sublingually (or under the tongue). You can reduce the alcohol to almost nothing to make a gel to fill capsules with.
They’re also a lot easier to make than I would have imagined. In this week’s episode of Lunch With Lo, I’m discussing two different ways to make tinctures. One that requires almost no equipment (but a lot of time); and the other which I’ve kind of showcased previously in the Cannasugar episode.
For either method you will need:
- Cannabis
- Grain Alcohol , like Everclear
- Airtight jar (mason jar is best)
- For the fast method you will also need a small pot and an electric stove or hot plate
Method 1, the long way:
- Decarb the cannabis in an oven preheated to 240 degrees fahrenheit for 30-40 minutes.
- Place decarboxylated cannabis in jar then cover the cannabis with alcohol. Seal jar. Shake it up. Place in dark cabinet.
- Shake once per day, every day for two or more weeks. Then strain out the plant material and store tincture in a clean, jar or bottle. Store in cool dark place.
- Optional: simmer tincture over heat to reduce some of the alcohol and concentrate the tincture a little more.
Method 2, the quick way, electric stoves and hotplates only:
- Decarb cannabis in an preheated oven at 240 degrees fahrenheit for 30-40 minutes.
- Place decarboxylated cannabis in MASON JAR or other oven safe sealing glass jar. Cover with alcohol. Loosely replace band and lid, do not seal. Alternatively, place a coffee filter or paper towel where the lid would go and seal the band.
- Place jar in small sauce pot with enough water to reach the same level as the alcohol and cannabis in the jar.
- Bring the water to a boil and simmer the alcohol for about 30 minutes.
- Strain the cannabis out, adding more alcohol to the jar if necessary. Store in a small jar or bottle in a cool, dark place.
In my opinion you should go with the quick method because, why wait for two weeks for something you can have in an hour? Right? Of course, if you’re using a gas stove or you don’t have adequate ventilation, please don’t do the quick method. You also shouldn’t light a bowl or a blunt in the kitchen while you’re cooking up a tincture because ALCOHOL VAPORS ARE HIGHLY FLAMMABLE.
Let me repeat that:
ALCOHOL VAPORS ARE HIGHLY FLAMMABLE.
Don’t get us all in trouble because you think you know better. Just open a window and wait 30 minutes to get high, ok?
