With Louisiana’s medical marijuana program in full swing, patients who have qualified for a Louisiana medical marijuana certification can visit any of the State’s approved pharmacies and purchase legal cannabis products.
Among the popular cannabis products that can be found in Louisiana, tinctures are often a fan favorite for patients who are looking for alternatives to smoking cannabis, and for good reason.
Tinctures offer one of the most convenient ways to consume cannabis and can offer long lasting relief, making them a top choice for patients looking to medicate consistently.
In this article, we’ll talk about dosing tinctures and how medical marijuana patients use tinctures in a medical cannabis treatment plan!
How Dosing Tinctures is Different from Other Cannabis Products
Tinctures Can Provide Long Lasting Relief With Less Side Effects Than Edibles
Cannabis tinctures are one of the healthier ways to consume medical marijuana, offering a portable and discreet method for cannabis consumption while maintaining suggestibly fewer psychoactive effects than edibles.
This is because cannabis tinctures can be processed by your body in two different ways; sublingually, where the dose is absorbed directly into the bloodstream by the glands under the tongue, or in the liver, where the tincture will be processed similarly to edibles.
The difference between the two methods can make a big impact on how strong the effects are, and there are different pros and cons for the different methods.
Dosing Tinctures: Sublingual vs Liver Processing
The preferred method for dosing tinctures is sublingually, or under the tongue.
This allows the tincture to enter the bloodstream and begin producing effects much quicker, with an average onset of around 10 – 20 minutes and a duration between 1 – 3 hours.
Taking tinctures sublingually may also provide lighter effects than if you were to immediately swallow the tincture, which would cause the THC in the tincture to be processed by your liver, where a new compound will be created.
11-hydroxy-THC is created when your liver processes THC, and it’s likely what’s responsible for the heavier “psychedelic” effects that edibles are notorious for. If you’re looking for the most potent effects out of your tincture, this might be the preferred method for you, which can have an onset of around 30 minutes - 1 hour and can last for 2 – 6 hours.
Tinctures can be taken by using either method, though the quicker onset and less intense psychoactive effects make taking tinctures sublingually the preferred method by many medical marijuana patients.
How to Dose Cannabis Tinctures the Right Way
Figuring Out the Right Dose for Cannabis Tinctures
Cannabis tinctures come in a range of potencies, with different ratios of THC:CBD and different levels of THC.
Some common tincture bottles come in sizes like 250mg – 1,000mg THC, with 3:1, 2:1, and 1:1 CBD:THC ratios.
The minimum effective dosage will be different depending on the tincture that you have, though most bottles will have instructions and on-site consults are available at Louisiana pharmacies to help you determine the right dosage for you.
To determine the correct minimum effective dosage on your own, start with the smallest dose possible and wait for a duration of 6 – 8 hours before taking another dose. If the dosage didn’t provide the level of effects you’re looking for, increase your dosage by the smallest amount possible and repeat until you’ve found an effective dosage.
How to Dose Cannabis Tinctures Sublingually
Depending on the THC content, most tinctures will suggest a starting dosage of around 1 – 3 drops, and most tinctures come in dropper-bottles already.
Many medical marijuana patients use tinctures throughout the day, at mealtimes, and before sleep, and there’s no minimum or maximum frequency that you can dose tinctures with.
To effectively dose cannabis tinctures sublingually, drop the dosage directly under the tongue and allow it to rest for 15 – 30 seconds before swallowing.
It should take approximately 10 – 20 minutes before it activates at an appropriate level, though depending on your tolerance to THC, it can be shorter or longer. Your tolerance will also play a significant role in the dosage size required to provide an effective dose, so take that into consideration when dosing tinctures.
Timing your dosage is also an important consideration with tinctures, especially with tinctures that have higher THC contents. Many tinctures are made using indica-dominant strains and may cause slight drowsiness, so it’s best to start taking your tinctures in the evening to determine the effects that will occur.
Once you’ve become comfortable with the effects that your tincture will provide, you’re free to dose tinctures at any frequency you like!
Cannabis tinctures can provide powerful and long-lasting relief for patients with symptoms like chronic pain and tinctures offer one of the healthier ways to consume cannabis as a medicine.
Get Your Louisiana Medical Marijuana Certification
Louisiana’s medical marijuana program is open to patients with any symptom that a physician believes medical marijuana could help with, and you can even get your medical marijuana card online today!
Getting a medical marijuana card in Louisiana is easier than ever, beat the lines and get your medical marijuana certification in Louisiana today, and you can even get certified for medical marijuana online for ease of use and convenience.
For questions about Louisiana’s medical marijuana program, or how to become a medical marijuana patient in Louisiana, consult with one of our trusted doctors and book an online medical marijuana appointment today!
Doctors Who Care.
Relief You Can Trust.
At Louisiana Marijuana Card, our mission is helping everyone achieve wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to medical marijuana. Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce the stigma for our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
Call us at (833) 253-2943, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
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