By Steven Voser

Understanding CBD tinctures.


CBD can be taken in many ways, from smoking a high-CBD strain to ingesting CBD capsules or edibles. The plethora of options can be overwhelming, even for seasoned aficionados. Here we'll focus on CBD tinctures: what are they, what are their benefits, and how can you make a CBD tincture at home? Here's everything you need to know.

What Are CBD Tinctures?

Tinctures are highly concentrated herbal extractions. They come in liquid form and are typically administered a few drops at a time. Cannabidiol (CBD) tinctures are created by steeping CBD-rich hemp flowers in high-proof grain alcohol. Vinegar or glycerine can be used in lieu of alcohol, but alcohol really does produce the best tincture in the end. The process is time-consuming, but very simple.

CBD tincture should be potent, with a very high CBD content, and contain no more than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This is different from cannabis tincture, which contains THC and other cannabinoids. Since CBD is not psychotropic, CBD tincture won't get you high. However, it has plenty of other benefits.

Is CBD Tincture the Same as CBD oil?

CBD tincture and CBD oil share a lot common:

  • Both are liquid concentrates of CBD and have similar properties and effects once ingested.
  • You can often find both of these products packaged in small bottles.

In some cases, manufacturers will even label CBD oils as "CBD oil tincture", causing understandable confusion when you're trying to sort through the different products on the market. However, there are some key differences between CBD oil and true CBD tincture:

  • Tinctures are made with raw hemp material infused into a base of alcohol.
  • CBD oils are made by infusing CBD isolate into a carrier oil, such as olive oil, hemp seed oil, or MCT oil.

Their alcohol base gives CBD tinctures a few advantages:

  • Tinctures have a longer shelf-life than oil-based products.
  • Because they are water soluble, CBD tinctures are easy to add to food and drink.
  • Tinctures have higher bioavailability. That means the CBD in tinctures is more readily absorbed by the body.

If DIY is your thing, CBD tinctures are also very easy to make at home.

Homemade vs Shop-Bought CBD Tinctures

So, how exactly do you make a CBD tincture at home? And how are homemade tinctures different from what you would buy commercially?

Commercial CBD Tinctures

Commercial CBD tinctures are usually made using either an alcohol or CO₂ extraction method. The latter creates a highly purified CBD isolate that is then infused into a carrier base, often an oil.

As a result, many commercial CBD products labelled as "tinctures" are actually oils. While these oil-based products don't meet the technical definition of tincture, the term gets used to market any highly concentrated CBD extraction that comes in a dropper bottle and can be taken sublingually. It also distinguishes oil-based "tinctures'' from other CBD oil products that are meant to be used differently.

Quality commercial CBD tinctures offer convenience and high levels of purity. Oil-based tinctures that use a CO₂ extraction method are often extremely potent.

Commercial CBD Tinctures

Homemade CBD Tinctures

Homemade CBD tinctures are made by soaking hemp or cannabis plant material in alcohol. The alcohol may or may not be heated to encourage extraction. Vinegar or vegetable glycerine can be used instead of alcohol. However, alcohol will give a more potent result.

Homemade tinctures are not as pure as commercial tinctures, which use industrial methods to remove impurities during the extraction process. However, homemade CBD tinctures are less expensive and afford more control over ingredients. Making a homemade tincture allows you to choose your preferred strain of cannabis. It also lets you adjust the potency as desired.

How to Make a Homemade CBD Tincture

A few simple ingredients and some patience are all you need to make a CBD tincture at home. Here's an easy recipe to get you started.

Ingredients and Hardware

  • Mason jar
  • High-proof grain alcohol (at least 60–70%)
  • Strainer
  • Tinted dropper bottle
  • High-CBD cannabis flower or concentrate

Instructions

  1. If you're using cannabis flower, start by decarboxylating your weed. But, be judicious when choosing a strain. If you use a strain of cannabis that contains high levels of THC, your end product will be psychotropic. For a pure CBD tincture that won't get you high, stick with a strain that has little-to-no THC in it.
  2. Mix your decarboxylated flower or concentrate with the alcohol in a mason jar. The higher the proof, the better the alcohol will extract the CBD. You should use about one 750ml jar of alcohol for every ounce (28g) of cannabis.
  3. Seal the jar and let the mixture sit for a few weeks, preferably in a dark place. Exposure to light can break down the active compounds. This will decrease the tincture's potency.
  4. Shake the jar once per day.
  5. Strain your mixture and shop it in a tinted dropper bottle.
  6. To save time, you can simmer the cannabis and alcohol mixture over low heat for a few hours. If you want a more potent result, you can decrease the ratio of alcohol to cannabis. Just be careful if you decide to apply heat. Remember, you're working with flammable ingredients.

How to Use CBD Tinctures

CBD tinctures are highly concentrated, so a typical dose consists of just a few drops. Many users find that tinctures are ideal for microdosing CBD. If you want a stronger effect, simply add more drops.

Tinctures tend to be bitter. You can mask their bitterness by adding them to food and drink. Try adding a few drops of your CBD tincture to soup, salad dressing, coffee, or tea.

If the bitterness doesn't bother you, you can take your tincture sublingually (under the tongue). Research suggests that substances taken sublingually are absorbed by the body faster[1] than other oral methods.

When dosing a CBD tincture, hold it under your tongue for at least a minute. This will allow it to enter your bloodstream. You should start to feel the effects in around 15 minutes.

How to Use CBD Tinctures

Can You Use Oral CBD Oil or Tincture Topically?

CBD tinctures are meant to be taken orally, but some people use them topically. While there's nothing really wrong with this practice, it's not the most effective use of your product. Topical CBD products usually contain other ingredients that are beneficial for your skin. They are also formulated for absorption through the skin. If you need a topical, it's best to search for an oil, gel, or cream that's designed for this type of application.

What Are the Benefits of CBD Tinctures?

When using CBD tinctures, many people report relaxing or rejuvenating effects. Tinctures offer all the benefits of CBD in a discreet, easy-to-consume format. They don't need to be smoked or vaporised, and they can be easily added to food or administered under the tongue. The dropper bottles themselves are very small, making them easy to conceal in a purse or pocket. Because tinctures are taken a few drops at a time, it is easy to adjust your dose with precision.

Since CBD is non-psychotropic and won't get you high, it is legal in most places. Of course, it's always best to check your local laws. Generally, if your CBD tincture is made with hemp (which contains little-to-no THC), you shouldn't have a problem. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), CBD is not addictive, and is generally safe and well-tolerated.

Should You Try CBD Tincture?

If you want to experiment with CBD, consider trying a tincture. It's a great option if you don't want to smoke or vape your CBD. Discreet and easy to dose, tinctures are perfect for novice users and CBD connoisseurs alike. Find a good CBD tincture commercially, or make your own at home.

Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: