Like most marijuana products, liquid THC has many names. There’s the hyper-technical tincture of cannabis or marijuana tincture. There’s the more common liquid marijuana or liquid THC. And then there are the myriad and inevitable slang terms like green dragon, mayzack, and tink that always seem to pop up out of nowhere like code names in some spy drama.
Regardless of what you call it, liquid THC has seen dramatic growth in popularity in recent years. This growth in popularity is thanks in large part to the introduction of vape pens and the increased presence of marijuana dispensaries across the country.
But despite its growing popularity, much mystery and confusion still surrounds liquid THC. What exactly is it? How is it made? What does it look like? How is it used? What are its effects? And what are its dangers? This article will answer those questions
Liquid Butter will have you melting into the couch or your favorite tub of ice cream. An extremely potent indica, this strain has powerful muscle-relaxing effects and is great for appetite stimulation. Known for a taste that lives up to its namesake, the strong piney scent this strain gives off is slightly misleading. Patients who suffer from pain and anxiety typically have success with this strain, but it’s best to use Liquid Butter when you don’t have a lot to get done.
About Liquid
Grab your favorite snack – be it potato chips or ice cream – and prepare yourself for Liquid Butter. This extremely potent pure indica strain will have you munching your way into slumberland. Known for its enticing flavor and all-consuming effects, Liquid Butter will have you coming back at every bedtime.
On the nose, this strain is deceivingly piney, though when the taste hits your tongue there’s no question where it gets its name. Savory butter and earth flavors are at the forefront of the flavor profile with coffee undertones to round out the palette. The nugs are deep green and dusty brown, and a decent THC level that averages at 19% rounds out this ideal bud.
Powerfully sedative, Liquid Butter is not for the faint of heart. One hit is all it takes for the effects to kick in and the more you puff the heavier they become. As the smoke makes its way around your system you’ll notice all of your muscles completely relaxing and your brain starting to become hazy. A ferocious hunger will kick in as you sink into an overwhelming sleepiness, so make sure to have snacks handy at a moment’s notice.
What is Liquid THC?
Technically speaking, liquid THC is a tincture. A tincture is a liquid extract made by soaking a substance in alcohol to release its active ingredient. In the case of most tinctures, that active ingredient is going to be THC from potent strains such as Bruce Banner or Death Star. That said, you could make a CBD tincture by using a high-CBD/low-THC strain like Charlotte’s Web or Sour Tsunami.
The list of tinctures is literally endless as any plant, combination of plants, or even animal material can be used to make a tincture. Common medicinal tinctures include garlic, hyssop, and sage. As the name implies, tincture of cannabis (or marijuana tincture) is just a tincture made using a cannabis plant.
While alcohol is the most common liquid used to make tinctures, oils, vinegars, and glycerins can also be used. In addition, different types of alcohols can be used in the creation of a tincture including, but certainly not limited to, vodka, brandy, and ethanol.
Medicinal users love this strain because of the almost instant relief they receive from insomnia and pain. Because it is a sedative, and a strong one at that, you’ll find yourself effortlessly under the spell of the Sandman. For those who suffer from muscle spasms and muscle tightness, use this strain for its ability to relax your entire body. It is also great for nausea, lack of appetite, and stress. Novice users should proceed with caution, as this high proves to be too intense for some and can cause paranoia or anxiety.
Growing information is difficult to come by, though many have suggested starting this plant from a sprout and not a seed as it is tough to get going. In cases like these, it’s probably best to leave it to the professionals or at the very least partner with an experienced grower for more guidance.
Relax with this smooth bud after a long day of hard work and enjoy how it completely relaxes you from head to toe. The flavors will take you to a happy place and the smell that fills the room will take you deeper and deeper into your high. Reach for Liquid Butter at the end of the night and enjoy the long-lasting effects that will keep you asleep throughout the evening.
The Room-Temperature Method
This traditional method doesn’t rely on any fancy technology like refrigerators or stoves. Instead, it’s very much like brewing tea: throw in your solids, add water, and let sit. The nice thing about the room-temperature method is that it pulls every last molecule of THC out of the plant. The drawback to the room-temperature method is that it takes a lot longer to produce a finished product (15-30 times longer when compared to the cold method). So if you’re in dire need of a tincture, the cold or hot method would be a better choice. To make liquid THC using the room-temperature method:
- Chop your plant matter and decarboxylate it in a 230℉ oven for 35 minutes.
- Place the decarboxylated cannabis in a quart (32 ounce) mason jar.
- Pour in 32 ounces of the highest proof alcohol you can get. Everclear works well, but by all means, avoid Isopropyl alcohol.
- Cover the jar tightly. A screw-on lid works nicely here.
- Shake well.
- Place the mason jar in a brown paper bag and store in a cabinet or closet. Storing the jar in a bag in a dark place keeps sunlight from spoiling the tincture.
- Monitor the location where you store your brew. It should warm/room temperature, NOT hot.
- Let the mason jar sit for 30-60 days (the longer the better).
- After the steeping period, remove the plant matter from the remaining liquid by straining through a cheesecloth.
- Store the liquid in an opaque bottle out of the sun to preserve its potency.
The Cold Method
The cold method involves chopping or tearing the cannabis plant into small pieces and then freezing it to preserve the integrity of the cannabinoids. The mixture is then shaken periodically, for 48 hours while the cannabis plant material steeps in the alcohol. At the end of the steeping period, the plant matter is strained out and discarded leaving the tincture behind. Here’s a step-by-step procedure.
- Dry and decarboxylate your plant matter.
- Grind the plant matter, place it in a zip-top plastic bag, and store in the freezer for a few hours.
- Place your bottle of alcohol in the freezer as well. Don’t worry, it won’t freeze solid.
- When the plant matter is frozen stiff, mix 1 ounce cannabis with 1 quart (32 ounces) alcohol in a mason jar.
- Seal the jar tightly with a lid and shake for 5 minutes.
- Return the jar to the freezer.
- Every 2-3 hours, remove the jar from the freezer and give it a good shake.
- Continue to alternate shaking and storing for the next two days.
- After 48 hours, separate the solid material from the liquid by pouring through a cheesecloth.
- Then, pour the liquid through a coffee filter to strain out any small, left-over plant matter.
- Finally, store the tincture in an opaque bottle and avoid prolonged light exposure.
The Hot Method
The hot method, often called “green dragon”, is the same basic process. But instead of letting the mixture sit for weeks, heat is added to speed the process. This reduces total production time from weeks to hours. But the green dragon method is not without its risks. There is a very real potential of catching the alcohol on fire during the heating process. On top of that, the hot method increases the risk of ruining the medicinal benefits during the cooking process.
Despite those risks, the hot method is fairly simple and only requires about 30-60 minutes to produce a fine cannabis tincture. So if you don’t want to wait 30 days, or even 48 hours, this may be the method for you.
We recommend starting small with this method until you’ve done it a few times. To that end, we’re going to start with ⅛ ounce cannabis and 2 ounces alcohol. After you have some experience, you can double or even treble the recipe. Just be sure to provide plenty of ventilation.
- Dry and decarboxylate ⅛ ounce cannabis.
- Chop dried plant matter using a coffee grinder or marijuana grinder.
- In a 1 pint mason jar, combine the chopped cannabis and 2 ounces of the highest-proof alcohol you can find (Bacardi or Everclear).
- For the next few steps, you’ll need a quick-read or candy thermometer.
- Place about 1 inch of water in a medium-sized sauce pan.
- Bring the water to a low simmer.
- Turn the oven fan on high.
- Place the thermometer in the mason jar and then place the mason jar in the simmering water (this is called a water bath).
- Monitor the liquid in the mason jar and bring the temperature to 170℉. The boiling point of pure ethanol is 173℉, so you want yours just below boiling.
- Simmer this way for 20 minutes making sure to keep the alcohol temperature around 170℉.
- After 20 minutes, separate the plant matter and the liquid THC using a mesh strainer or cheesecloth.
- Store the tincture in an opaque dropper bottle.
I’ve just started cbd vaping a few days ago to try and help me of weed. So far its working i’m only having one bong just before bed and its only the twigs of buds. Once that gone ill be stopping that’ll be the real test wether cbd helps me.