Mission
Current figures (2024) show that more than 60 countries have now legalised some form of medical cannabis, with most providing access via public health providers and cannabis pharmacies that are available to all. Many include laws that give patients the right to grow and make their own medicine. This has resulted in what could be described as a global cannabis revolution, as more and more people turn to cannabis to see if it could treat their particular ailment by growing and making their own medicine. Sadly, the same cannot be said for the UK. Our country has some of the toughest anti-cannabis laws, and yet has it been officially recognised as being the world’s largest exporter of medical cannabis since (at least) 2017!
This website, therefore, encourages UK civil disobedience in the form of growing and making your own medicine. While the Cancard does not protect you from the law, owning one does show the police (and other interested parties) that you are taking cannabis for medicinal purposes. This strongly implies that your chances of being held account legally are far smaller, as long as you follow the following important rules: (a) don’t grow more than you need (e.g. 1-4 plants); (b) don’t grow without a Cancard; and (c) keep a medical journal (e.g. dosage, type, how often, etc) to show law enforcement if required.
Tincture Recipes
Tinctures are usually taken under the tongue, but they can also be taken in drinks such as tea and coffee, or added to different foods. Although they will take longer to be effective, this way of taking them is far more pleasant.
Cannabis Medicines are Nothing New!
The medicinal properties of the cannabis plant have been known for millennia. As far back as 2800 BC, cannabis was used to treat a vast array of health problems and was listed in Emperor Shen Nung’s pharmacopoeia.
Edibles vs. Tinctures
Although both forms of cannabis medicines require ingestion to work, they enter the bloodstream through different bodily systems, which therefore result in different outcomes.
The effects of tinctures are faster-acting, but not as strong as edibles, because they do not pass by the liver. In contrast, the effects of edibles take longer to feel, but they are stronger and last longer.
Today, ‘the most common conditions for which medical cannabis is used [..] [abroad] [..] are pain, spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis, nausea, posttraumatic stress disorder, cancer, epilepsy, cachexia, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, and degenerative neurological conditions (CDPHE, 2016; OHA, 2016). [..] chronic pain, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, anorexia and weight loss associated with HIV, irritable bowel syndrome, epilepsy, spasticity, Tourette syndrome, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, dementia, glaucoma, traumatic brain injury, addiction, anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, and schizophrenia and other psychoses.’ (LINK) That is quite a list, and the list continues to grow!
The existence of your endocannabinoid system is SCIENTIFIC proof that Cannabis is medicine!
In other words, research from abroad clearly indicates that cannabis medicines are effective in treating an extremely wide array of diseases and ailments safely, and scientists are also ‘aware that there many be other conditions for which there is evidence of the efficacy for cannabis or cannabinoids.’ (LINK). So, not only do scientists agree that cannabis is medicine, but that it can treat many different health conditions and ailments effectively. As such, medical cannabis is becoming more and more available worldwide, and people have been sharing their medicinal experiences with this powerful herb via the internet.Â
And that is what cannabis is – a herb; or a plant. And like numerous other medicinal plants, it is the plant material that is harvested and then made into tinctures, oils, balms, and other health care products fairly easily. Cannabis tinctures are developed by soaking cannabis biomass in food-grade alcohol, and then leaving it to soak for at least four weeks (longer if possible). The liquid is then strained into jars on the top of a double boiler and then cooked down to the required consistency. The plant matter is then strained and the remaining liquid ready to dose and consume.
Tinctures made with whole plants provide the best medicine because they include not only THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), but also the hundreds of other beneficial compounds (e.g. terpenes) found in cannabis, thus creating the entourage effect. This ensures that the products being made are as effective as they can be.
Tinctures are meant for sublingual consumption, not vaporizing or smoking, and therefore offer a viable option for those preferring not to vape/smoke. Unlike edibles, which are processed in the gut, tinctures, like smoking and vaping, are absorbed into the bloodstream. This means their effects, although immediate, are not as strong or as long-lasting as edibles. Â
Â
Benefits of Cannabis Tincture
- Cannabis tinctures have endured and been used in dispensaries and apothecaries for centuries because of their effectiveness and safety. In fact, form of consumption is considered as one of the healthiest ways to consume medicinal cannabis.
- The best tinctures are those that are devoid of food allergens and sensitive ingredients such as gelatin, sugar, food colourings and gluten and so forth. This can be ensured by producing your own cannabis plants and making your own medicines.
- Tinctures are discreet because they look like a wellness supplement and they don’t smell like other cannabis products, especially raw plant materials. They also are devoid of the smoke or vapours that are produced with inhalation methods.
- When taken sublingually, the effects are quicker than edibles, bringing rapid relief to a multitude of health conditions.
Dosing
Dosing will depend on the tolerance and goal of the individual. Rule of thumb, as with any cannabis product, is to start low and go slow, and then gradually increase until you feel the medicinal effects. No-one has ever overdosed, let alone died, from using cannabis – ever – and the effects of THC will lessen as your tolerance increases. For people who really don’t want to feel these effects, it is possible to taken cannabis oils via a suppository.
Starting low means taking 3-5 drops to begin with and then go from there. If the tincture is for help with sleeping, take the medicine a little while before bed, if it is to help with other ailments (e.g. pain), then take first thing in the morning and as needed throughout the day. Multiple micro-doses throughout the day often achieve a more uplifting experience than taking higher doses, but again that will depend on your tolerance.
For maximum efficacy, deposit the tincture under the tongue via the dropper, and hold it there for 30-45 seconds before swallowing. The medicine is then absorbed through the oral mucosa, which is essentially a mucous membrane lining the tongue, lips, and cheeks that keeps the mouth healthy, while also protecting it from disease. This membrane absorbs the tincture, releasing the cannabinoids directly into the bloodstream, which facilitates fast and effective relief.
