Tinctures are one of several new and strange products gaining popularity in the I502 recreational market.

Saavy stoners likely know all about them, but for consumers who mostly just know about flower, cannabis tinctures remain a bit of a mystery.

I asked James Hull of Fairwinds Manufacturing in Vancouver to give us a little run-down of what they are and how to use them. His company has two types in stores right now and plans to release more varieties in the near future.

Fairwinds tinctures are selling very well in stores across the state – and I’ve only seen good feedback about them so far. Locally you can buy them at High End Market Place and The Herbery.

Black Alpaca, another Vancouver marijuana farm, also makes tinctures on a smaller scale. You can find their products at Main Street Marijuana.

So what are tinctures?

Tinctures – at least in the recreational marijuana marketplace – are liquid extracts made from cannabis. They contain much of the cannabanoid goodies that pot smokers like, without the need for smoking.

The THC in a tincture is also already activated, so you don’t need to heat it (which is how it becomes active when you smoke flower).

You can use tinctures by putting drops of the liquid under your tongue, by adding it to coffee or putting it on anything else you might want to turn into an edible.

Depending on the strength, I’ve heard that half a dropper full is a good starting point.

The effect of consuming a tincture is a lot like eating an edible: The high lasts a lot longer (perhaps 5 hours or more) and also takes longer to kick in (perhaps 45 minutes to over an hour).

If you want to use tinctures, the general advice is similar to using edibles: Take about half of a normal dose to start out, wait at least an hour to see how it affects you, and then, if you want to try more, take another small dose.

Once you figure out what your tolerance is and how much works for you, you can decide to take more next time.

Below are more of details from Fairwinds about their specific products.

If you have any questions about tinctures, please ask in the comments section and we’ll try to get them answered for you.

Cheers,
-SueVo (sue.vorenberg@columbian.com)

Fairwinds Manufacturing tincture ingredients:
Coconut Oil base; (note most other tincture makers use glycerin or alcohol)
Natural terpenes extracted from plants; (alpha-pinene, Beta Caryophyllene, Myrcene, Limonene)
Cannabis Extract oil from bud (not trim) (oil extracted via closed loop professional system)
Natural flavors and/or essential oils for flavored tinctures such as wintermint, cinnamon, Citrus.

Best way to consume:
Sublingual (under tongue for 30-60 seconds) and then swallow

Note: Sublingual absorption can be 60-70% more efficient as much of it bypasses the digestive system and is more directly absorbed by the blood.
This is a preferred way to consume for many as it does not involve inhaling vape or smoke and it works faster than edibles in many cases.

Other ways to consume:
– Mix in drinks
– Use in syrups
– Use in ingredients of edibles (cooked and uncooked)

NOTE: Tinctures can be much more cost effective compared with buying infused edibles because they can be used with any food for a fraction of price (Take one serving of tincture and eat whatever you want and as much as you want compared with a $15 infused single cookie).

Type of effect: (Subjective and varies among users)
– Uplifting effect felt fairly quickly
– After uplifting initial effect, transitions to relaxed, mellow body high (similar to edible)

Duration of high:
Similar to edibles

Fairwinds Flavors:
Natural Cannabis (out now)
Wintermint (out now)
Cinnamon (fireball blast) (coming soon)
Citrus (coming soon)

Sales data:
Tinctures are proving to be incredibly popular and increasing every day as people realize the quality, cost effectiveness and effect. We are currently selling hundreds per week.

Source: Cannabis Chronicles