How to Make Weed Tincture
Cannabis tincture is one of the most precise, versatile, and long-lasting preparations you can make at home. Taken sublingually (under the tongue), it kicks in in 15–30 minutes — faster than any other edible. Here's both methods, with full potency calculation.
Green Dragon
Time: 24–48 hrs
Temp: Cold (freezer)
Best for: Full-spectrum, terpene-rich
Golden Dragon
Time: 30 min
Temp: 160°F (warm bath)
Best for: Faster, slightly more potent
Calculate mg Per ml
Select Tincture as recipe type in the wizard to get exact mg per ml and per drop for your batch.
Open Calculator →Step-by-Step
- 1
Decarboxylate
Bake ground cannabis at 240°F (115°C) for 40 minutes. Tinctures require decarbed cannabis just like any other edible — raw cannabis contains inactive THCA.
- 2
Choose your solvent
Alcohol: Use high-proof alcohol (Everclear 190-proof is ideal, or food-grade ethanol). Never use isopropyl alcohol — food-grade only. Glycerin: Vegetable glycerin for alcohol-free tincture — milder, sweeter, but slightly less efficient extraction.
- 3
Cold process (Green Dragon)
Combine decarbed cannabis and alcohol in a sealed jar. Freeze for 24–48 hours. Shake vigorously, then strain through cheesecloth. This method preserves terpenes and produces a full-spectrum product.
- 4
Warm process (Golden Dragon — faster)
Combine decarbed cannabis and alcohol in a heatproof jar. Place jar in warm water bath at 160°F (71°C) for 20–30 minutes. Strain through cheesecloth. Produces a more potent extract in less time.
- 5
Dose and store
Transfer to a dropper bottle. Measure with a calibrated dropper (1 ml = approx 20 drops). Refrigerate or keep in a cool dark place — alcohol tinctures last 1–2 years. Label with mg per ml.
FAQ
How strong is cannabis tincture per drop?
With 7g of 20% THC flower infused into 500ml alcohol and standard extraction efficiency, you get approximately 775 mg total THC. That's about 1.55 mg per ml, or 0.08 mg per drop (20 drops per ml). A typical dose of 0.5–1 ml (10–20 drops) contains about 8–16 mg THC. Use the BatchCraft calculator for your specific batch.
How do you take cannabis tincture sublingually?
Place drops under your tongue and hold for 60–90 seconds before swallowing. Sublingual absorption bypasses digestion — onset is 15–30 minutes vs 45–90 minutes for swallowed tincture. This is the fastest method for edibles short of smoking. Start with 0.5 ml (about 10 drops) and wait 45 minutes before considering more.
Can I add cannabis tincture to food and drinks?
Yes. Cannabis tincture can be added to any food or drink — it mixes easily into liquids because the alcohol base dissolves readily in water. Use it in tea, lemonade, juices, or sauces. When added to food (not taken sublingually), onset is the same as other edibles — 30–90 minutes.
Green Dragon vs Golden Dragon tincture — which is better?
Green Dragon (cold process) preserves more terpenes and produces a fuller-spectrum product many prefer for medicinal use. Golden Dragon (warm process) extracts slightly more cannabinoids and takes less time but loses some volatile terpenes to heat. For potency-focused extraction, Golden Dragon wins slightly. For full-spectrum flavour and effects, Green Dragon.