Ed’s Fast-Track Cannabis Tincture (Full-Spectrum CBD + THC Guide)
Making cannabis tincture at home is simple, affordable, and incredibly rewarding. With basic kitchen tools — or an herbal infuser if you want the easy route — you can create a potent, full-spectrum extract tailored to your exact needs and desired effects.
Tinctures are versatile and efficient: take them sublingually, add to food or beverages, use in topicals, or incorporate into wellness routines. And when you make it yourself, you gain complete control over strain, dosage, quality, and cannabinoids — at a fraction of the cost of store-bought tinctures.
This guide shares Ed’s fast-track alcohol tincture method, optimized for efficiency, potency, and full-spectrum retention, along with dosage guidance and an easy-mode herbal infuser option.
While there are many wonderful cannabis tinctures on the market, making your own at home gives you full control over strain selection, cannabinoid profile, freshness, and potency — all at a fraction of the cost.
Why Make Your Own Cannabis Tincture?
Customize cannabinoid ratios
Preserve terpenes & acidic cannabinoids if desired
Control dose & purity
Save substantial money
Create small-batch medicine targeted to your needs
Commercial tinctures are wonderful — but DIY gives you precision and freedom.
High-proof food-grade alcohol, such as organic grape spirits, provides a clean and efficient extraction for tinctures. If 190-proof alcohol isn’t available in your state, 151-proof spirits or high-proof sugarcane rum are effective alternatives.
Why High-Proof Food-Grade Alcohol?
We used 190-proof food-grade grape alcohol for maximum extraction efficiency and clean taste.
However, 190-proof alcohol is not legally sold in all states. Acceptable alternatives include:
Legal 151-proof alcohol - Works well with slightly lower efficiency
High-proof sugarcane rum - Mild flavor, good for edible tinctures
Vodka (minimum 80-proof) - Works, but slower extraction and lower potency
Always use food-grade spirits. Never use isopropyl, denatured, methanol, or fuel alcohols.
Isopropyl alcohol is for cleaning tools only after extraction, not for consumption.
Cherry Tonic’s Web by Purple Caper Seeds — a high-CBD cultivar chosen for this tincture — offers roughly ~20% CBD, ~5% THC, and a supportive range of minor cannabinoids, ideal for clear-headed therapeutic use.
Strain Selection: Cherry Tonic’s Web (Purple Caper)
This tincture was prepared using Cherry Tonic’s Web by Purple Caper Seeds, a high-CBD cultivar with an approximate cannabinoid profile of:
~20% CBD
~5% THC
Supporting minor cannabinoids and terpenes
This cultivar supports clear-headed, wellness-focused effects suitable for daytime use and therapeutic applications.
Decarboxylated cannabis ready for tincture extraction. Gently heating activates cannabinoids like CBD and THC, making them more bioavailable in the finished tincture.
50/50 Decarb for Full-Spectrum Results
To preserve both active and acidic cannabinoids, this batch used:
50% decarboxylated cannabis (activated CBD and THC)
50% raw cannabis (retains CBDA and THCA)
This supports a broad phytochemical profile aligned with the entourage effect: cannabinoids and terpenes working synergistically.
Important use-case note:
This blended method is best for CBD-forward tinctures and wellness applications, where acidic cannabinoids deliver added therapeutic value.
If your goal is a recreational-effect tincture with maximum psychoactivity, decarb 100% of your cannabis before extraction.
Fully decarbing converts THCA to THC, resulting in a more intoxicating effect profile.
Tools and Ingredients
Cannabis and Alcohol
Cannabis flower, trim, or sugar leaf
High-proof food-grade alcohol (190-proof preferred; see alternatives above)
Equipment
Blender
Disposable gloves
Colander
Metal slotted spoon
Fine mesh strainer
Coffee filter or ultra-fine cheesecloth
Mixing bowl sized to hold colander
Cloth kitchen towel
Amber or cobalt dropper bottles
Funnel (optional)
Essential tools and ingredients for making a clean, full-spectrum cannabis tincture at home, including high-proof grape spirits, fresh cannabis flower, gloves, a precision scale, and (optionally) the VIVOSUN Herbal Decarboxylation & Infusion Machine for simplified extraction.
Optional Upgrade: VIVOSUN Herbal Infuser Machine
This recipe uses standard kitchen tools, but the
VIVOSUN Herbal Decarboxylation & Infusion Machine automates:
Decarboxylation
Heating cycles
Controlled agitation
Consistent infusion
It simplifies the process and reduces cleanup.
Use code ED420 for a discount.
Ed’s Fast-Track Alcohol Tincture Recipe
Ratio: 10 fluid ounces of alcohol per 1 ounce of cannabis
Use the highest-proof food-grade alcohol available in your state.
Measuring high-proof alcohol for tincture extraction. For Ed’s fast-track method, use approximately 10 fluid ounces of food-grade alcohol per ounce of cannabis — and always choose the highest-proof option legally available in your state.
Step One — Measure
Weigh cannabis.
A 750 ml bottle (25.4 fl oz) works for just over 2.5 ounces of cannabis.
Weighing cannabis flower to determine the correct alcohol ratio for Ed’s tincture method. A precise starting weight ensures consistent potency and accurate extraction.
Step Two — Water Bath Cleanse
Place cannabis loosely in a colander; do not break up buds or trim.
Set colander in bowl and cover with cool water.
Soak for one hour to remove pigments and water-soluble compounds.
Resin adheres strongly; use isopropyl alcohol to clean tools only after processing — never in the tincture.
Rinsing the cannabis in cool water before extraction helps remove pigments and water-soluble compounds while preserving trichomes. This gentle cleanse keeps flavors cleaner and improves the final tincture quality.
Step Three — Drain and Press
Drain cannabis.
Form into a ball, wrap in towel, squeeze out excess water.
After rinsing, the cannabis is wrapped in a clean cloth and gently pressed to remove excess water. This prepares the material for efficient alcohol extraction without diluting the tincture.
Step Four — Alcohol Extraction and Agitation
Transfer cannabis to blender.
Add 10 fl oz alcohol per ounce cannabis.
Blend on low for 5 minutes.
Rest for 1 hour.
Blend on low for another 5 minutes.
Pour into bowl or pitcher.
Rest several hours until solids float.
Infuser option: load cannabis and alcohol into VIVOSUN unit and select the tincture program.
Adding cannabis and high-proof alcohol to the VIVOSUN Herbal Infuser for automated extraction. While Ed’s method uses a blender and rest cycles, an infuser automates agitation and temperature control for a clean, consistent tincture.
Step Five — Strain
Scoop floating cannabis into fine strainer; press liquid back into bowl.
Rinse plant mass with splash of fresh alcohol and press again.
Discard spent material.
Step Six — Fine Filter
Strain liquid through fine mesh.
If particles remain, filter again through coffee filter or cheesecloth (in funnel if bottling).
After the initial strain, the tincture passes through a coffee filter to remove fine plant particles. This step refines the extract for a cleaner texture and smoother final tincture.
Step Seven — Adjust Strength
Test potency with one full dropper.
To increase strength:
Evaporate alcohol slowly in warm room, uncovered or under cheesecloth.
To reduce strength:
Dilute with small amounts of alcohol or distilled water.
Step Eight — Bottle and Store
Transfer to dark glass droppers.
Store refrigerated and protected from light.
Heat, light, and oxygen degrade cannabinoids.
Finished tincture labeled and stored. After filtration and evaporation to desired potency, transfer tincture to airtight containers and label with strain and date. Store refrigerated and protected from light to preserve cannabinoids.
How to Use the Tincture
Sublingual
Hold under tongue 45–60 seconds for faster onset.
Food and Drinks
Blend into beverages or food; expect slower onset.
Topical Use
Mix with carrier oils for salves and balms.
Storage and Shelf Life
Refrigerate
Store in darkness
Airtight bottles
Properly stored tinctures remain potent for years.
Safety Notes
Use only food-grade alcohol
Never ingest isopropyl or denatured alcohol
Start with low doses and titrate gradually
Frequently Asked Questions
Best alcohol for tincture?
190-proof grape or grain alcohol.
Where not available, 151-proof works well.
Vodka is a last-resort option.
Do I need to decarb?
For wellness and CBD emphasis, 50/50 raw/decarbed is excellent.
For recreational THC tincture, decarb 100% of cannabis.
Can I increase potency?
Yes — reduce alcohol volume slowly.
How long does tincture last?
Stored cold and dark, tinctures last years.
Final Thoughts
This method yields a professional-grade tincture with activated cannabinoids, preserved acidic forms, and supporting terpenes and phytochemicals.
Whether using standard tools or an automated herbal infuser, this approach delivers potent, customizable tinctures at a fraction of retail cost, ideal for both wellness and recreational use depending on decarb choice.