Liquid THC, like other marijuana items, has a variety of names. The hyper-technical tincture of cannabis or marijuana tincture is one option. Another term for liquid marijuana or liquid THC is more common. Then there are the numerous and regular slang terms such as green dragon, mayzack, and tink that seem to spring up out of nowhere in some spy thriller.
Regardless of what you call it, THC liquids have seen tremendous growth in popularity in recent years. The increased presence of marijuana dispensaries throughout the country is largely to thank for this increase in popularity.
Despite the fact that liquid THC is more popular than ever, there is a lot of uncertainty and confusion around it. What exactly is it? How do you create it? What form does it take? How is it utilized? What are its effects, both positive and negative? And what are the dangers associated with it? This article will tackle all of those topics.
What Is Liquid THC?
A tincture is a type of alcohol extract that has been soaked in cannabis to release the active component. A tincture is a liquid extract prepared by soaking a substance in alcohol to free its active ingredient. That said, you may make a CBD tincture with high-CBD/low-THC varieties like Charlotte’s Web and Sour Tsunami if you use them correctly.
Tinctures are made from a variety of sources, including plants, combinations of plants, and even animal materials. Garlic, hyssop, and sage are some popular medicinal tinctures. Tincture of cannabis (or marijuana tincture) is simply a tincture prepared from cannabis plant.
In addition to alcohol, other liquids such as oils, vinegars, and glycerins can also be utilized in tinctures, as well as different types of alcohols. In addition, vodka, brandy, and ethanol can all be used in the manufacture of a tincture.
How Is Liquid THC Made?
Tinctures, as well as liquid THC in particular, can be prepared in a variety of ways: room-temperature technique, cold brewing, or hot processing. Here’s a rundown of each and a recipe to go with it.
The Room-Temperature Method
There’s a lot of debate surrounding the best way to extract THC from cannabis. The traditional approach doesn’t use any fancy technology like refrigerators or stoves; instead, it’s very similar to making tea: throw in your solids, then add water. The nice thing about the room-temperature technique is that it extracts every last molecule of THC from the plant. The disadvantage of utilizing the room-temperature method is that it takes considerably longer to generate a finished product (15-30 times longer than using the cold technique). As a result, if you need emergency tincture quickly,
- Place a single layer on a metal baking sheet and bake for 35 minutes at 230°F. Place the decarboxylated cannabis in a quart (32 ounce) mason jar. Fill it to the top with high-proof alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol is preferable, but if that’s not an option, then use Everclear instead. Cover the jar tightly and tightly shake it up once more
- Place the mason jar in a brown paper bag and keep it in a cabinet or closet. Keeping the jar in a bag in a dark place prevents it from spoiling. Check the location where you’ll be keeping your brew to make sure it’s warm/room temperature, not hot. Allow for 30-60 days (the longer the better).
- Remove the plant material from the remaining liquid after the steeping period by straining through a cheesecloth. To keep the strength of the liquid, store it in an opaque bottle away from sunlight.
The Cold Method
The frozen approach entails chopping or tearing the cannabis plant into little pieces and then freezing it to protect the cannabinoids. The resulting cocktail is then shaken every 24 hours for 48 hours while the cannabis plant material steeps in alcohol. At the end of the steeping period, the plant matter is strained out and discarded, leaving behind only the tincture. Here’s how to do it step by step.
- Freeze your plant matter. Grind it, wrap it in a zip-top plastic bag, and freeze for a few hours. In a mason jar, combine 1 ounce cannabis with 1 quart (32 ounces) alcohol.
- Place the mixture in a clean, dry jar and seal tightly with a lid for 5 minutes. Remove from the freezer and let sit at room temperature for 2 hours. After that, return it to the freezer once more. Every 2-3 hours, remove it from the freezer and give it a good shake. Continue to alternate shaking and storing for the next two days. Pour through a cheesecloth to separate solid material from liquid after 48 hours.
- Then, through a coffee filter, strain out any remaining plant material after pouring the liquid. Finally, store the tincture in an opaque container and avoid direct sunlight.
The Hot Method
The same basic approach is used for both the hot and “green dragon” methods. Instead of weeks, however, heat is added to speed up the process. The total production time is reduced from weeks to hours as a result of this change. However, there are several drawbacks to the green dragon method. During the heating procedure, there’s a chance
Despite the aforementioned hazards, producing a high-quality cannabis tincture with the hot method is quite easy and takes around 30-60 minutes. If you don’t want to wait 30 days or even 48 hours, this may be the option for you.
We propose beginning with this approach gradually until you’ve mastered it a few times. To that end, we’ll go with a quarter ounce of cannabis and two ounces of alcohol as our starting point. After you’ve gained some expertise, you may double or even quadruple the recipe. Keep in mind to provide enough ventilation.
- Remove the stem of a quarter ounce of cannabis. Using a coffee grinder or marijuana grinder, cut the dried plant material into small pieces. In a 1-pint mason jar, combine the chopped cannabis and 2 ounces of the strongest alcohol you can find (Bacardi or Everclear). A quick-read or candy thermometer is required for the next few steps. Place about 1 inch of water in a medium-sized saucepan.
- Bring the water to a low simmer. Place the thermometer in the mason jar and then set it in the boiling water (this is known as a water bath). Keep an eye on the liquid level in the mason jar and bring it to 170°F. The boiling point of pure ethanol is 173°F, so you want yours to be just below that.
- Simmer for 20 minutes, keeping the alcohol temperature around 170 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the plant residue and liquid THC using a mesh strainer or cheesecloth after 20 minutes. Place the tincture in an opaque dropper bottle.
The Basic Production Principles
The basic production processes are similar whether you use a water extraction, CO2 extraction, or ethanol/water extraction. The cannabinoids are released from the cannabis plant during the steeping or cooking process. These free cannabinoids are then absorbed by the booze. Finally, the plant material is thrown away. Liquid THC contains up to 90% delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) compared to 50% for oils, waxes, and shatters, and 12-25% for bud smoked.
The fundamental production methods are the same whether you choose a method. Cannabinoids are released from the cannabis plant during the steeping or cooking process. These free cannabinoids then enter the alcohol. Finally, the plant matter is thrown away. The resulting tincture contains a high concentration of THC and is significantly greater than its component parts (up to 90% delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol [THC]) as opposed to 50% for oils, waxes, and shatters, and 12-25% for bud that’s smoked when tested in liquid form.
Tinctures are commonly kept in a dropper or small pump spray container. This aids in the consumption and administration of the medication.
Storing Liquid THC
Tinctures, as was stated in the recipes above, are frequently kept in a dropper bottle for convenient use. This aids with both consumption and dosage. A standard eyedropper can hold about 1 milliliter (or 1 gram) of liquid, which is ideal for a good dose.
You may also keep your tincture in a tiny spray bottle and use it like breath spray to administer the liquid THC. You can store your tincture in any way you choose, but be careful not to drip it into your eyes. It should always be taken underneath the tongue.
If kept in an opaque bottle away from the sun, your tincture should last for a long time. Simply put, you’ll almost certainly finish it before it goes bad (unless you’re using one dropper-full per year).
What Does Liquid THC Look Like?
The color of liquid THC is green. It can be a light or dark green, and it may even be a greenish-brown depending on the plant material used. The liquid THC should have the fragrance of cannabis and give off a delicate floral aroma. If the liquid is a bright green in color and smells like grass, the decarboxylation was insufficient, resulting in an undiluted tincture that will probably be weak.
Stories of people who got “liquid THC” from shady sources only to discover that it was just water or some other liquid abound. If at all feasible, get green-colored liquid from a reliable source.
How Is Liquid THC Used?
The most common method of consumption is via the mouth, although it can also be vaporized in an electronic vape pen and smoked like other eliquids.
The most popular way to get hit by a marijuana vaporizer is via mouth ingestion. The effects of liquid THC can be experienced through oral intake, which is the more traditional and common method. Begin with 2-3 drops of the tincture administered sublingually (under the tongue). Because of the large blood flow to the soft tissue beneath the tongue, absorption of the liquid THC will be quick. As a result, it might take some time for you to experience psychoactive side effects (see below), so don’t take more than recommended just to speed things up. That’s all it takes to create a terrible experience.
THC is also available in liquid form. THC can be sprayed on meals for a cannabis-infused meal. Begin with 1-2 sprays on your favorite cuisine. Keep in mind that when you eat food, which includes liquid THC, it’s more comparable to eating edibles than smoking or oral administration. Because of this, the psychoactive effects may take longer to manifest, but they will last longer.
Vape pens are a relatively recent type of cannabis usage that allows you to vape liquid THC. The liquid THC is vaporized and then smoked in the pen, just like other eliquids.
What Are The Effects Of Liquid THC?
The effects of liquid THC are similar to those of high-THC cannabis. THC is known to cause time distortion, increased receptivity to stimuli, drowsiness, and euphoria.
Keep in mind that when you consume marijuana in liquid form, you’re not receiving any of the other active components. The cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol, cannabiverin, and cannabigerol are absent from liquid THC. Those additional compounds have their own physiological and psychological effects that can’t be achieved with conventional THC.
CBD has been found in studies to help with nausea, vomiting, seizure activity, mental illness, and inflammatory problems (just to name a few). There is no liquid THC.
The effects of liquid THC, like with other forms of cannabis, can be felt in 15-45 minutes and reach their pinnacle at around 90 minutes when consumed under the tongue. When taken with food, effects take longer to appear but may last up to 2-4 hours.
Because liquid THC requires a lengthy period to take effect, it’s critical to stick with one dosage amount until you figure out how everything works. We propose using one dropper every twelve hours as a first step. See how long it takes for you to feel the high and then note how long the high lasts. If you don’t notice much on one dropper-full, try two next time. However, be cautious so you don’t get too much and have a bad experience. The highs produced by eating liquid THC (whether through tinctures or edibles) can be dependent on your metabolism, body composition, and a variety of other factors; what works for one person may not work (or work too well) for you. Begin with a modest dose and increase gradually thereafter.
What Are The Dangers Of Liquid THC?
It’s important to remember that liquid THC, which is essentially concentrated THC, is quite similar to highly-concentrated alcohol like Everclear. A little bit goes a long way with highly-concentrated alcohol like Everclear; however, a lot can have significant results.
There’s always the potential for something terrible to happen. Because THC is unaltered by CBD or any other chemicals, it can cause severe anxiety or paranoia in some people. Furthermore, high levels of THC have been observed to induce vomiting and even unconsciousness. And when we talk about being unconscious, we’re not talking about sleep.
Regardless of how you consume liquid THC and your experience with the substance, it’s best to take things easy when using this strong liquid. Even experienced users can have a bad trip, so be careful and cautious.
One Method Among Many
As marijuana becomes more acceptable, different ways to administer it will emerge. When compared to smoking or dabbing, liquid THC may be a fantastic alternative. It may be a private method for attaining the effects you desire without the need for equipment or leaving behind visible signs of burning leaves.
Soothe your aching joints and muscles with liquid THC. That being said, be careful to buy your tincture from a trusted vendor. If liquid THC isn’t for you, there are a variety of alternatives open to you to continue getting the advantages that marijuana has to offer.