Edible marijuana can be classified into different categories depending on the type in which they occur or how they are ingested into the body. Edible foods, marijuana infused edible drinks, edible capsules, edible powders and marijuana edible tinctures are some categories. Marijuana tinctures are marijuana extracts which are either alcohol-based or plant base and more specifically vegetable glycerin based. Of the two, alcohol is the best recommended solvent in the process of extracting the tincture.
Why alcohol?
Alcohol and especially ethanol is hailed as very effective in breaking down all the acidulous and alkaline components of the marijuana plant hence ensuring an effective extraction of the chemical compounds leading to a better and purer extract. While plant based solvents can also be used, they may not efficiently and effectively be able to extract all the chemical compounds from the marijuana plant.
Classification of marijuana tinctures
Marijuana tinctures are classified into two main groups. The first group is the TCH tincture characterized with psychoactive high properties. The other category of Marijuana tincture is the CBD tincture whose unique usefulness includes treatment of high blood pressure, convulsions, bone degeneration, seizures and spasms, cancerous cell growth and artery blockage among other many commendable benefits.
How to use marijuana tinctures?
One way to use tincture is the beneath the tongue delivery method. In this method, you measure the amount you desire to take and then drop them into your sublingual part of the mouth- under the tongue. A dropper such as an eye dropper can be used in the process. Absorption of the tincture into the blood stream occurs through osmosis process
Ingestion is another way in which you can use a marijuana tincture. Add the tincture into food or beverages which you are about to eat.
Onset and duration of effects
Within half an hour after sublingual administration of the marijuana tincture, the appropriate effects, depending on whether CBD or THC was used, will occur. These effects will last for a good 2-4 hours after onset. In contrast, ingestion administered tincture effects start being felt after half an hour to an hour and thirty minutes and the effects as expected, would last longer between four to eight hours. This extended period of time can be attributed to metabolism processes that are involved until the tincture is released into the blood stream.
Which is the best way to use marijuana tincture?
This first of all is depended on the preferences of the user in terms of how long one wishes to wait until effects occur and how long one would wish to experience the effects. Still, If one prefers a more pure marijuana tincture into his blood system, sublingual method would be more advisable because absorption is direct into the blood stream and there is no mixing with food and other gastric components as would be the case with ingestion where digestion is involved.
Conclusion
Tinctures, while seen as just another route of administration, is a more effective way, in terms of speed and purity, of delivering marijuana into the body system compared to other edibles like foods and marijuana infused drinks. Caution should be exercised by beginners and it is recommended to start with two to three drops of marijuana tincture for the new timers in order to avoid undesired effects.