Tinctures offer the most precise dosing of any cannabis delivery method. A calibrated dropper delivers exact milligrams, and the choice between sublingual and oral administration changes the onset, duration, and intensity of effects.
Before dosing, you need to know your tincture's potency. Use our dosage calculator to determine mg per ml based on the flower weight, THC percentage, and alcohol volume you used.
Sublingual vs Oral Administration
| Factor | Sublingual | Oral (Swallowed) |
|---|---|---|
| How | Hold under tongue 60–90 sec | Swallow directly or add to food/drink |
| Onset | 15–30 minutes | 45–90 minutes |
| Peak | 1–2 hours | 2–4 hours |
| Duration | 2–4 hours | 4–8 hours |
| Intensity | Moderate, more controllable | Stronger, liver-processed (11-hydroxy-THC) |
| Best for | Microdosing, quick relief | Longer-lasting effects, meal pairing |
Why oral feels stronger
Dosage Tiers
| Tier | THC (mg) | Who It's For |
|---|---|---|
| Microdose | 1–2.5 mg | Beginners, functional daytime use, focus and creativity |
| Low | 2.5–5 mg | Mild relaxation, social settings, light anxiety relief |
| Standard | 5–10 mg | Recreational use, moderate experience, regular consumers |
| Strong | 10–25 mg | Experienced users, significant relaxation or pain relief |
| Very Strong | 25–50+ mg | High tolerance only, medical patients, experienced users |
Microdosing Protocol
Microdosing means taking sub-perceptual doses (1–2.5 mg) on a regular schedule for functional benefits without intoxication.
- Starting dose: 1 mg THC sublingual
- Timing: Same time each day, ideally morning or early afternoon
- Adjustment: Increase by 0.5 mg every 3 days until you find your minimum effective dose
- Goal: You should feel subtle benefits (focus, calm, pain relief) without feeling "high"
- Tolerance breaks: Take 2 days off per week to prevent tolerance buildup
How to Take Tincture Sublingually
- Use a calibrated dropper to measure your dose
- Place drops under your tongue
- Hold for 60–90 seconds without swallowing — this allows absorption through the sublingual blood vessels
- Swallow the remainder
- Wait at least 30 minutes before considering additional doses
Golden rule of edibles
Using Tinctures in Food and Drinks
When added to food or drinks, tinctures act as edibles — longer onset, stronger effect, longer duration. See our cannabis drink recipes and gummy recipe for specific applications.