How to Make Cannabis Tincture (Step by Step)
Complete guide to making alcohol and glycerin tinctures at home — covering the traditional long-soak method and the quick-wash technique.
Editorial Notes
BatchCraft Editorial Team
Chaady Research Desk
Content is written for educational recipe-planning use and cross-checked against the calculator, recipe gallery, and process guidance already published on the site.
Published 2026-03-13
Recipe and planning pages are designed to work with the BatchCraft calculator workflow, including serving-size assumptions, prep notes, and batch-planning helpers.
What Is a Tincture?
A tincture is a liquid extract made by dissolving active compounds into alcohol or glycerin. Taken sublingually (under the tongue), tinctures have the fastest onset of any edible — 15-45 minutes vs. 1-2 hours for baked goods. They're also the most precise way to dose because you can measure drops.
Alcohol vs. Glycerin
| Factor | Alcohol (Everclear) | Vegetable Glycerin |
|---|---|---|
| Extraction power | Excellent — dissolves almost everything | Moderate — weaker solvent |
| Onset (sublingual) | 15-30 minutes | 20-45 minutes |
| Taste | Burns slightly under tongue | Sweet, pleasant |
| Shelf life | 2+ years | 1-2 years |
| Legality | High-proof alcohol restricted in some states | Available everywhere |
Use high-proof alcohol (190 proof Everclear or equivalent) for maximum extraction. Glycerin is a good backup if high-proof alcohol is unavailable in your area.
Step 1: Decarboxylate
Decarb your material at 115°C (240°F) for 40 minutes, covered in foil. Full instructions in our Decarboxylation Guide. This step is essential — alcohol alone does not activate raw material.
Method A: Traditional Long Soak (2-4 Weeks)
- 1Place decarbed material in a mason jar.
- 2Pour high-proof alcohol over material until fully submerged (use ~30ml per gram of material).
- 3Seal jar tightly. Shake vigorously for 3 minutes.
- 4Store in a cool, dark place (pantry, cupboard).
- 5Shake the jar once daily for 2-4 weeks.
- 6Strain through cheesecloth into dark glass dropper bottles.
- 7Squeeze the cheesecloth to extract remaining liquid.
Longer soaking extracts more compounds but also pulls more chlorophyll (green color, bitter taste). Two weeks is a good balance of potency and flavor.
Method B: Quick Wash (3 Minutes)
- 1Freeze both the decarbed material and alcohol for 24 hours before starting.
- 2Working quickly, pour cold alcohol over frozen material in a mason jar.
- 3Shake vigorously for exactly 3 minutes.
- 4Immediately strain through cheesecloth into a separate container.
- 5Squeeze out remaining liquid and discard plant material.
- 6Transfer to dark glass dropper bottles.
Cold alcohol extracts active compounds efficiently but minimizes chlorophyll extraction. This gives a cleaner-tasting, golden-colored tincture instead of dark green. Speed matters — work fast to keep everything cold.
Dosing Tinctures
Start with 0.5ml (about 10 drops from a standard dropper) under the tongue. Hold for 60-90 seconds, then swallow. Wait 30 minutes before redosing. Use the BatchCraft Calculator to estimate mg per ml based on your material input.
Storage
- Use dark glass dropper bottles (amber or cobalt) — light degrades potency
- Store in a cool, dark place (not the fridge — cold can cause precipitation)
- Alcohol tinctures last 2+ years if stored properly
- Label with date, material used, and estimated mg/ml
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If you are reading about dose mistakes or a batch that feels too strong, use the dedicated safety page instead of guessing your next step while stressed.