Can the best CBD tinctures and edibles offer valuable medicinal and therapeutic benefits? Many research scientists at the top universities and laboratories of the U.S. are exploring cannabis and its promising use in medicine. Here’s a recent report about the potential health benefits of CBD oils, published by the pro journalists and expert medical consultants at Forbes Health.
And that’s a primary reason why lots of Americans are now taking a closer look at possible medicinal uses and benefits of cannabis-derived and infused products. But because of the widely known negative effects of smoking and vaping, many Americans like to do away from the traditional way of consuming these products. And just like what Healthline Media described in their report, tinctures and edibles are promising alternatives to get the same potential benefits from cannabis.
Before we get deep into the nitty-gritty of tinctures and edibles, let’s get to know the primary cannabinoids of these products. Here, we’ll learn the stuff we need to make a more informed decision. So let’s start!
What are CBD and THC?
Cannabis plants produce a thick substance full of compounds called cannabinoids. And out of more than 100 chemicals in cannabis, CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) are the most common cannabinoids found in cannabis products.
Both CBD and THC are in marijuana and hemp. These are the most popular breeds of cannabis plants. But hemp has higher CBD content than marijuana. And on the other hand, cannabis plants are classified as marijuana if they have more than 0.3% THC. Meanwhile, hemp is a cannabis plant with a THC content lower than 0.3%.
What is the Difference Between CBD and THC?
The chemical formula for CBD and THC are the same. But they have different effects on the body. That’s because of the way their atoms are arranged. This gives each of them a unique chemical property.
These two cannabinoids work with the receptors that release neurotransmitters in your brain. That’s why cannabis products with CBD and THC could potentially affect mood, pain, sleep and memory.
The psychoactive compound THC, found in marijuana, makes us feel high. THC binds with receptors in the brain that controls pain, mood and other feelings.
According to the reports mentioned earlier, THC in medical marijuana is used to help ease things like pain from multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease tremors, nerve pain, glaucoma and nausea. However, THC is more known for its recreational high, euphoric and psychoactive effects. It is also believed that THC is responsible for the pain-relieving effects of cannabis.
On the other hand, CBD doesn’t cause these psychoactive effects when consumed. CBD works with the receptors in our body related to feelings of well-being. That’s why many American researchers and scientists performing the studies and clinical trials described in the reports mentioned above are looking into the potential of using this kind of cannabinoid to treat different kinds of illnesses.
So now, to arm us with valuable information for our search for the best CBD tinctures and edibles in the country today, let’s look into the two non-vaping or non-smoking methods to consume cannabis. These are tinctures and edibles.
What Do Tinctures Do?
Tinctures are cannabis-infused products in liquid form. They can be consumed on their own but may also be added as a supplement in food or drink. These products are also usually taken sublingually through microdoses administered as drops on the area underneath the tongue.
Traditionally, tinctures are made by soaking herbs or plant materials in alcohol for many weeks, with this solution stored in a glass bottle with a dropper. Solvents like alcohol pull terpenes and cannabinoids like CBD and THC from the plant material soaking in the food-grade solvent. This results in a highly concentrated solution.
Tincture vs Oil: Is There a Difference?
Tinctures can also be produced by steeping hemp in plant-based oil or other substances. This kind of tincture is called CBD oil. The word tincture may refer to both kinds, alcohol-based and oil-based. You have to check the label to determine what kind you’re buying.
Are Tinctures the Same as Edibles?
Technically, no. That’s because tinctures are the main component of edibles. So in this context, the term “edible” refers to cannabis products infused with tinctures and designed to be enjoyed through eating and digestion. Meanwhile, the term “tincture” refers to the extracted cannabinoids of hemp and marijuana. These are often designed to be used as an ingredient in culinary recipes or through direct administration, including sublingual, smoking and vaping.
And there are two types of tinctures. These are CBD and THC tincture products. Some kinds of tinctures may contain both CBD and THC. Plus, a product may contain higher levels of CBD than THC and vice-versa. Here are the three different formats or compositions of extracted CBD:
- Full Spectrum CBD – This variant contains both THC and CBD cannabinoids. But this contains only 0.3% of THC, following regulations set by the U.S. FDA (food and Drug Administration).
- Broad Spectrum CBD – This contains all the natural compounds from hemp. That’s because these products do not contain THC. This is usually used for edible CBD-based products.
- CBD Isolate – This contains the highest concentration of CBD. This variant is used in topical ointments, balms, creams and other skincare products.
And found below are the most salient advantages of using tinctures and edibles over traditional ways of taking marijuana and hemp. Plus, as described in the scientific research studies and clinical trials in the reports mentioned earlier, the results of these tests indicate a strong correlation between potential medicinal or therapeutic benefits and the use of products infused with CBD and THC, among other cannabinoids. And these possible health benefits are also described below.
Advantages of Tinctures vs Smoking or Vaping
- Tincture is more convenient than the traditional way of consuming cannabis. All you need is in one bottle that you can take anywhere. There is no need for you to prepare a pipe, lighter, or rolling paper used in the smoking method. So if you’re looking for the best CBD tincture and other products in the American cannabis market today, then you’re advised to shop our concentrates.
- This method is also more discreet. It doesn’t produce a recognizable odor, and you can take it anywhere you want without other people knowing what you are doing.
- This method will also give you a precise measurement of CBD or THC you will be consuming. Since the cannabinoids are suspended in a carrier substance, the milligrams indicated in the bottle will give you the exact amount you will get from it.
- Since there is an option for you to take it sublingually, it can quickly affect the body. They say that the total length of your experience can last from two to three hours from consumption.
- It has a longer shelf life.
Potential Health Benefits of Tinctures
- People with respiratory problems can use this since it can be taken orally.
- This is fit for those with caloric intake requirements, especially those who would like to avoid sugary or chocolates.
Disadvantages of Using Tinctures
- It can lower your body’s water and blood sugar levels, leaving you with red eyes and a dry mouth, which is called “cottonmouth.”
- Some tincture products are known to have an unpleasant taste. Adding the tincture to a drink to cover the flavor is an option, but this may take longer for effects to kick in.
What Is CBD Tincture?
CBD tincture is a kind of cannabis product that’s alcohol-based. CBD extracted from hemp is infused with 60 to 70%concentrated distilled alcohol. As said earlier, the alcohol helps give the tincture a longer shelf life and makes it easier for the mouth and intestines to absorb.
A lot of people use CBD tinctures for their different health conditions. In this 2018 scientific research study published by Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 62% of participants say they use CBD to treat pain, anxiety and depression. Some also use it for insomnia, migraines, seizures, pain, arthritis, and inflammatory conditions.
Are CBD Tinctures Safe to Use?
The best CBD tinctures are generally safe to use. That’s, of course, if you always make sure that you get top-quality products from credible brands and certified producers. You also have to choose carefully to ensure that it contains the amount of CBD listed on its label. But keep in mind there’s no conclusive evidence yet on the long-term effects of using CBD tinctures.
How to Use CBD Tinctures?
CBD tinctures are taken in drops, sublingually. You need 2-3 drops under the tongue and hold it in your mouth for about 45 seconds to a minute. CBD will already be absorbed by the sublingual artery, the carotid artery, the heart, and the bloodstream, bringing it all over the body. The rest of the tincture you swallow after holding it for a while will go with your saliva. This will eventually reach your intestines and get absorbed by the walls of your intestines and to the bloodstream.
What Do Edibles do?
According to the clinical trials and research studies covered by the earlier reports, consuming edibles infused with CBD, THC or both can potentially help treat certain physiological conditions. These might include chronic pain, cancer-related symptoms and anxiety. Other participants in the same clinical trials and research studies also say these products reduce pain and muscle spasms, relieve vomiting and nausea, and enhance the quality of their sleep.
What Are Edibles?
Cannabis edibles are food products infused with cannabis-derived compounds. These are added to food through THC distillates, cannabis-infused oils or “cannabutter.”
These historical records also show that people consumed this kind of product even way back 1000 B.C. It was used as medicine in ancient China and India and was eventually in Western medicine. Early edible cannabis products were used to relieve stress and induce euphoria.
How to Use Edibles?
Some people eat raw cannabis. But the effect will not be the same as eating cannabis-infused products. Raw cannabis has tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), which only turn into their active forms, THC and CBD, when exposed to heat, such as cooking or baking. And aside from the advantages of edibles over traditional methods to take cannabis, these make it more enticing for many Americans to use edibles over other types of cannabis-infused and derived products in the U.S. cannabis industry today.
Because precise measurements of cannabinoids in edibles are hard to determine, you’re advised to consume small amounts when trying out a new product from a certified brand. This is for you to see how your body responds to the product, especially when it’s your first time.
You should feel the effects of THC and CBD edibles when the oil from these products has been digested and metabolized by the liver and also when its cannabinoids have reached the brain. For edibles, these effects generally start to kick in after 30 to 90 minutes from the time of consumption.
But this still depends on the type of edible you take, your age, gender and current metabolic rate. Those with a faster metabolic rate are likely to feel the effects a little bit faster than others with a slower metabolism. That’s because the former group can easily digest and process the edibles they consume.
Can CBD tinctures without THC Get You High?
If we’re talking about the psychoactive effects of THC, then the general answer is no. That’s because these CBD products have 0.3% THC to none at all. Just keep in mind other individuals might feel very mild psychoactive effects even with less than 0.3% THC in these tinctures and edibles.
Will CBD Tinctures with THC Get You High?
On the contrary, tinctures and edibles with higher than usual THC (beyond 0.3%) are known to cause psychoactive effects in many, if not most, individuals. So yes, you’re likely to get high after consuming these tinctures and edibles.
And this especially applies to first-timers, beginners and intermediate consumers of cannabis products. Plus, this is why veteran weed smokers are likely to have much better tolerance and control over the psychoactive effects of these CBD edibles with THC.
Are CBD Tinctures Stronger Than CBD Edibles?
As discussed, the potency of a tincture or edible primarily depends on the cannabinoid content concentrations of the product, along with your tolerance, physiological condition, and the current state of your body and mind. For example, if a tincture has higher concentrations of CBD or THC than an edible product, the former would be stronger than the latter in most cases.
But suppose the same tincture is compared against the same edible for a veteran CBD consumer and weed smoker in tiptop shape with the habit of eating sufficient food and drinking plenty of water before consuming these products. In that case, the tincture might appear to be stronger when taken sublingually. That’s because in most cases, it’ll be much faster for the body to process and transmit its cannabinoids to the brain, as opposed to the edible product, which needs first to be fully digested then mixed with the bloodstream before it reaches the brain. This generally takes longer.
Will CBD Tinctures Work If CBD Edibles Don’t?
It’s worth a try. Especially if you’re using the best CBD tincture in the country this year from trusted sellers, licensed brands and certified producers, that’s because, in your particular situation, you might have difficulties completely digesting edible products due to certain physiological conditions. So, in that case, taking tinctures sublingually might work when edibles don’t.
Now to summarize, just like tinctures, edibles may contain THC, CBD or both. And suppose you intend to consume CBD products. In that case, as described earlier, you’re advised to consider if isolated, broad, or full-spectrum CBD products are more suitable for your particular situation and preferences.
What is the Entourage Effect?
According to Bethanie White, Marketing Director of Clover Cannabis, a Kansas City-based medical marijuana manufacturer that supplies products to dispensaries across Missouri, “The CBD on its own doesn’t have psychoactive effects, but when mixed with THC, it creates a more well-rounded experience. We call it the ‘entourage effect’.” This entourage effect describes the coaction effect when the two compounds work together.
Types of CBD Edibles in the USA This 2022
As mentioned earlier, edibles come in many different forms. Found below are the most popular varieties in the country today. And you’re recommended to shop our edibles so you can quickly find the best CBD tincture and other products in the U.S. cannabis industry this year.
- Chocolates and Baked Goods – This edible contains high fat that will guarantee that the THC in it will reach the liver and efficiently give you its intended effects. It may hit slower, but it can give a longer and stronger kick. Plus, this research study says that when there’s more chocolate in an edible, less THC will show up in testing, but when there’s less chocolate, higher and more precise levels of THC may be detected.
- Mints and Hard Candy – These can easily dissolve in the mouth. According to Dr. Elizabeth Ardillo, director of medical education at Green Thumb Industries, people who take edible products that dissolve in the mouth, like mints, can expect to feel effects quicker than products that are chewed like cookies and chocolate bars.
- Cannabis Drinks – In this form of edibles, microscopic particles of cannabis oils are mixed with an emulsifier to dissolve THC in water. This is then absorbed by the body faster in the mouth and stomach lining.
- Water-soluble Cannabis Powders – People can now easily turn any drink into a cannabis drink because of these dissolvable powders. It isn’t advised to mix this with alcohol. And since this is also made out of emulsified THC, this can also be easily absorbed by the body. Others also opt to skip the dissolving part and put the powder straight on their tongue.
- Gummies – Gummies are like candies in different shapes, colors and fruity flavors. You’re always advised to check the amount of THC per unit is in each gummy to avoid making assumptions based on its appearance. You may assume that it’s okay to consume more because it’s small and not consider the amount of THC you’re consuming already.
Pros and Cons of Edibles
In almost all products across various industries, there are always advantages and disadvantages, especially when reviewed from the unique perspective of any individual. Keep in mind you have distinct preferences, needs, desires, physiological conditions and so on. So let’s tackle the more general pros and cons of CBD and THC edibles.
Advantages of Edibles
- Just like tinctures, this may also be consumed discreetly.
- It may be used by people who have respiratory problems or don’t want to use inhaling or smoking methods.
- A convenient way of consuming cannabis with no undesirable taste.
- Though it takes longer for THC to metabolize in this method, the effects feel more powerful and long-lasting in many cases. This can last from 4 to 8 hours.
Disadvantages of Edibles
- The number of cannabinoids or THC in edibles is usually hard to determine. This is also because many manufacturers are making different kinds of products. The potency of edibles will not only depend on the amount of THC in them but also factors like cooking temperature and time.
- A person with lactose intolerance may have reactions to edibles. Manufacturers may use products such as milk and butter in their edibles. This is because cannabinoids need to bind to fat so the body can process them.
- It will take longer before you feel the effect because the food needs to be broken down and processed in the stomach.
- Since the effect of the edibles may depend on one’s metabolism, someone may eat an edible and may not feel the effect after an hour and a half and decide to eat more. Then they will eventually feel a stronger kick all at once, which may be hard to tolerate or dangerous for some.
Both methods of consumption, be it through tinctures or edibles, can offer you the chance to enjoy the potential benefits of products derived from cannabis plants and infused with cannabinoids, CBD and THC, as described in the scientific studies and clinical trials covered by the reports mentioned earlier. And your primary objective for consuming cannabis will help you find the best CBD tincture or edible. This applies to recreational and potentially medicinal or therapeutic use.
