Cannabis Tincture Guide

Cannabis tinctures are one of the most versatile and shelf-stable infusions you can make. This guide covers two methods — traditional cold extraction and the QWET (Quick Wash Ethanol Technique) — both producing high-potency tinctures with nearly unlimited shelf life.

Tinctures offer the most precise dosing of any cannabis format. A calibrated dropper delivers exact milligrams, making tinctures ideal for microdosing and for use in recipes like cannabis gummies, infused drinks, and cannabis sugar.

What You Need

• Decarboxylated cannabis — 7–14g per cup of alcohol
• High-proof food-grade ethanol — 190-proof Everclear recommended (151-proof works but is less efficient)
• Mason jar with tight-fitting lid
• Fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth
• Dark glass dropper bottles for storage (amber or cobalt blue)
• Funnel for bottling

Method 1: Traditional Cold Extraction

The traditional method produces a full-spectrum tincture with a broader range of cannabinoids and terpenes. It takes longer but requires no special equipment.

1. 01

   Place decarbed cannabis in a mason jar

   Use 7–14g per cup (240ml) of alcohol. More cannabis = more potent tincture.

2. 02

   Cover with cold ethanol

   Pour enough alcohol to fully submerge the cannabis with about 1 inch of liquid above. Seal tightly.

3. 03

   Store in a cool, dark place for 2–4 weeks

   A kitchen cabinet or closet works fine. Shake the jar once daily to redistribute the material and improve extraction.

4. 04

   Strain through cheesecloth

   Pour through a cheesecloth-lined strainer. Squeeze gently to extract remaining liquid. Discard the plant material.

5. 05

   Bottle in dark glass dropper bottles

   Use a funnel to fill. Label each bottle with date, strain, and estimated potency.

Method 2: QWET (Quick Wash Ethanol Technique)

QWET produces a cleaner, lighter-colored tincture in minutes instead of weeks. The key is freezing both ingredients beforehand — cold prevents chlorophyll extraction, resulting in a tincture with less plant taste.

1. 01

   Freeze cannabis and alcohol separately for 24 hours

   Place decarbed cannabis in a sealed bag in the freezer. Put the bottle of alcohol in the freezer too. Both must be thoroughly frozen.

2. 02

   Combine in a frozen mason jar

   Put the jar in the freezer for an hour beforehand. Add cannabis, then pour frozen alcohol over it.

3. 03

   Shake vigorously for 3 minutes

   Set a timer. Three minutes is sufficient — longer contact pulls chlorophyll and waxes.

4. 04

   Strain immediately through a coffee filter

   Speed is important. Pour through a coffee filter in a strainer. The fine filter removes plant waxes that cheesecloth misses.

5. 05

   Bottle and store

   The resulting tincture should be golden to light amber. Darker green color means too much chlorophyll was extracted.

Calculating Tincture Potency

To dose accurately, you need to know your tincture's approximate potency. Use our dosage calculator with these inputs:

• Flower weight: The amount of decarbed cannabis used
• THC percentage: From lab results or dispensary label
• Carrier volume: Total ml of alcohol used
• Efficiency: Use 85–90% for alcohol extraction (higher than fat-based methods)

Example: 7g flower at 20% THC with 90% efficiency in 120ml alcohol = 1,260 mg total THC. In a 1ml dropper, that's about 10.5 mg per dropper — a solid standard dose.

How to Use Tinctures

• Sublingual: Place drops under the tongue, hold 60–90 seconds, then swallow. Effects in 15–30 minutes. See our tincture dosage guide for protocols.
• In food/drinks: Add to any beverage or recipe. Effects in 45–90 minutes (same as edibles).
• In gummies: Tincture is the active ingredient in our gummy recipe.
• As cannabis sugar: Evaporate tincture onto sugar for a dry, bakeable infused ingredient.

Storage

Tinctures stored in dark glass bottles in a cool location maintain potency for 1–2 years. Alcohol is a natural preservative, so properly made tinctures have the longest shelf life of any cannabis infusion. Always label with date, strain, and estimated mg per dropper.

Troubleshooting

• Tincture is green and bitter: Too much chlorophyll extracted. Use the QWET method with frozen ingredients for a cleaner result.
• Weak effects: Check your decarb — this is the most common issue. Also verify you used high-proof alcohol (151+ proof).
• Burns under the tongue: High-proof alcohol is harsh sublingually. Dilute with a few drops of honey or take in food/drink instead.
• Cloudy appearance: Plant waxes and lipids. Strain through a coffee filter, or "winterize" by freezing the tincture and re-filtering.