Tinctures

What are cannabis tinctures?

The tincture: across history, it’s emerged as one of the best ways to deliver cannabinoids into the body.

Cannabis tinctures were probably first used in Ancient Egypt, where medical manuscripts recommended them for everything from glaucoma to pain relief. The Ebers scroll claimed cannabis was effective enough to instill confidence in physicians; after providing cannabis, the scroll explained, “you must say to [your] patient: ‘a problem that I can treat.’”

Cannabis tinctures also have a rich history of use in Western Medicine. Prior to the circa-1930 prohibitionist movement, cannabis tinctures and extracts could be easily obtained from the local pharmacy.

We’re pleased to announce things have come full circle. And today’s cannabis tinctures are more refined than perhaps ever before. Many of them feature gentle carrier oils, rather than alcohol, as their absorption-boosting base.

But before going much further, let’s take a closer look at what the word tincture actually means. Tinctures are comprised of at least two parts: an “active” plant extract of some sort, and an “inactive” base. Most modern cannabis tinctures use a healthy oil, like MCT oil, as their base. Diluting with a carrier oil ensures tinctures have the perfect strength and consistency.

And because of the way tinctures are made, they manage to retain much of the cannabis plant’s natural potency. Many tinctures are full spectrum — meaning they still contain a spectrum of cannabis’s cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and more. These ingredients actually make CBD and THC more powerful! It’s called the entourage effect, for those interested.

These compounds have their own health benefits, too. One study on cannabis flavones described how they “exert a wide range of biological effects, including properties shared by terpenes and cannabinoids.”

Another thing: you can even make your own cannabis tinctures at home if you’re feeling adventurous. Just combine cannabis flower and ethanol (or another high proof alcohol) in a sealed jar and heat it up for around 30 minutes in a water bath. Once it’s cooled back down, take the lid off this mixture to let some of the ethanol evaporate.

Viola — you’ll have a cannabis tincture. We understand buying a retail-ready tincture is easier, of course. But just so you know…

How to take cannabis tinctures

Taking a cannabis tincture is simple: just apply a few drops of the tincture (or whatever your daily dose is) under your tongue and hold it there for around 30 seconds. Try not to actually let the dropper touch your tongue — especially if you’re sharing your tincture with others.

After 30 seconds or so, you can fully ingest the tincture. Taking it sublingually like this is thought to boost both overall absorption and speed of onset. In fact, the longer you hold a tincture under your tongue, the faster it might kick in. Paradoxical, but true.

And as good as cannabis tinctures are, a few simple ‘hacks’ can make them even better. Research shows that cannabinoids are better absorbed when taken along a little extra fat.

There are other viable ways to get your cannabis tincture working better, too. The cannabis terpene myrcene may amplify THC’s effect. How? By opening up the blood-brain barrier and letting more cannabinoids bind to their receptors, that’s how! Myrcene may also contribute an added anti-inflammatory benefit to cannabis.

If you’ve ever heard that eating a mango prior to toking up produces a stronger high…this is why. But an even better approach would be to take a tincture alongside a myrcene-rich strain of cannabis flower. Note to beginners: this combo might be a little too powerful.

Another terpene, called beta-caryophyllene, may also enhance the power of your cannabis tincture. Beta-caryophyllene is most common in black pepper. If you want a stabler-but-better high, consider taking your tincture alongside your favourite peppery meal.

And that’s not the end of black pepper’s cannabis-friendly benefits. It also contains a compound called piperine that’s been used for literally thousands of years to boost the absorption of other substances. Ayurvedic medicine calls piperine one of the three ‘acrids’ which helps the gut get the most out of pretty much anything that’s ingested.

“Piperine [has been] found to increase the bioavailability of different drugs ranging from 30% to 200%,” a modern-day study confirms. Another study, this one involving CBD, says pretty much the same thing: “piperine enhanced the oral bioavailability of CBD in-vivo.”

How to find the best tincture for you

But the very most effective to get a cannabis tincture to work for you involves selecting the right product.

Different CBD:THC blends tend to work best for different people. In general, the new you are to medical cannabis, the less THC you’ll need to take. Yet THC is also more effective for pain than CBD is. High-THC blends also seem to be best for those with autoimmune diseases. As you can see, finding the right effects can be quite the balancing act.

We carry over a dozen different types of cannabis tinctures — including both the THC-dominant and CBD-dominant varieties mentioned earlier — so it should be pretty easy to find a product that works well for you.

Here’s a closer look at some customer favourites:

Cannalife Botanicals Olive Oil THC Tincture – This tincture is perfect for those who need just a little bit of THC; every 1 ml serving contains 4 milligrams.

Diamond 1000mg THC Tincture – This high-strength tincture isn’t for the faint of heart. It features 33 milligrams of THC (and tons of powerful terpenes) in every serving, opening the door to all sorts of pain relief and de-stressing. It’s also quite affordable: its per-milligram cost is just 7 cents.

Daily Blend 800mg CBD: 20mg THC – Looking for a daily dose of cannabinoids? Look no further — this 4:1 tincture contains plenty of inflammation-reducing CBD and just enough THC to make life that little bit more fun.

Daily CBD Complete Drops – Maybe you’re more of a CBD guy/gal. That’s cool with us, too. Daily CBD’s 2500mg full-spectrum CBD oil is designed to ensure your endocannabinoid system does more than just get by.

1:1 Infused Hemp Oil – They say balance is everything, and that’s even true when it comes to hemp oil. This super-powerful CBD + THC blend contains a completely balanced mix of CBD and THC. Did we mention it’s super powerful? Each drop contains 1.66 mg of each cannabinoid.

Pegasus Tincture 1000mg – This unique cannabis tincture combines algae oil, 1 part THC, and 10 parts CBD to create a powerful — yet non-intoxicating — blend. What’s the algae oil for? Omega 3’s, of course, which may actually help THC and CBD work even better. 10:1 blends can be hard to find…so we’re pretty sure this is the one you’ve been waiting for.

Shopping with us is easy.

Ordering cannabis tinctures with us is both simple and safe. If you’re ready to buy, here’s what you do:

1. Select the cannabis tincture(s) of your choice
2. Choose your product concentration/quantity
3. Click “Add to Cart”
4. (Don’t forget to budget for other cannabis items!
5. If you’re all done shopping, click “View Cart”
6. If you’re not, click “Continue Shopping”
7. To check out, go to the “View Cart” page
8. Apply Direct Points
9. Once at “Checkout” your order’s details will be promptly emailed to you (including the order # and Interac e-Transfer payment instructions)

We take a customer-centric approach to shipping. Your order will get shipped as soon as possible, almost always within one business day. And it’ll arrive in just 2-5 business days…ready for you to unbox and enjoy.

What about discreteness, you might ask? No worries — we use smell-proof vacuum-sealed packaging and ship our goods with Canada Post Xpresspost, one of the most proven carriers. Our delivery success rate is just about 100%.

The MMJDirect difference

At MMJDirect, we have a singular focus: our customers.

And that means we’re nearly as passionate about our products. We believe you deserve the best: the best products, the best experience, the best prices, the best ordering process. Oh, and the most convenient, too!