Turning Trim Into Edibles

More and more people are hopping on the CBD bandwagon these days, which is making all forms of CBD use increasingly popular. Even your local convenience store may have CBD tinctures for sale. CBD has plenty to offer as an effective pain reliever in addition to various other health benefits. Let’s consider the different ways to use CBD tincture and find out if these tinctures could benefit you.

What are the Differences between CBD Tinctures and CBD Oil?

CBD Oil and CBD Tinctures are both CBD based products. CBD stands for Cannabidiol.

CBD is one of the many known molecules found in Cannabis. Although they are both used as medicine, they vary slightly in terms of their effects and dosage requirements. Let's take a look at how these two similar products differ.

The difference between CBD Oil and CBD Tinctures is that CBD oil usually require more self control, as they are ingested orally through the mouth, whereas tinctures are absorbed sublingually (under the tongue) which means you can use them on-the-go.

CBD oils are made by extracting CBD from either CBD rich cannabis flowers or cultivated hemp.

CBD oils have a range of uses, these are just some of them:Using CBD oil with a vaporizer pen is perfect for discretion and portability. The effects can be felt within minutes and last for hours depending on the strength.Different strengths (or potencies) of CBD oils are available for purchase, usually in a 30ml bottle with or without a dropper.

CBD oils are ingested orally, usually with the help of an e-cigarette type device called a vaporizer pen. CBD oils can also be taken sublingually by putting drops under your tongue and holding them there until they dissolve. This allows the CBD Oil to get into your bloodstream much faster than if it was taken with food.

What is a CBD Tincture?

Cannabidiol, more commonly known as CBD, is a health supplement that is used for a range of different health conditions. One of the most popular ways to use it is in the form of a CBD tincture, which is a liquid that you drop into your mouth or onto your food..

CBD tinctures are usually either alcohol-based or oil-based. These tinctures are made by slowly cooking CBD-rich hemp or cannabis at a very low heat so that the CBD molecules enter the alcohol or oil.

To up the health factor, many manufacturers use a healthy oil rich in omega 3 fatty acids such as MCT oil, hemp seed oil, olive oil, or coconut oil. CBD tincture might also be flavored—many people find it quite bitter and herby on its own, although others don’t mind the taste.

Their effects can be felt within minutes and last for hours depending on the strength. Different strengths (or potencies) of CBD tinctures are available for purchase, usually in a 30ml bottle with or without a dropper. CBD tinctures are made by extracting CBD from either CBD rich cannabis flowers or cultivated hemp. They can also be mixed with carrier oils, such as coconut oil, to improve the taste and consistency.

Using CBD oil with a vaporizer pen is perfect for discretion and portability. The effects can be felt within minutes and last for hours depending on the strength. Different strengths (or potencies) of CBD tinctures are available for purchase, usually in a 30ml bottle with or without a dropper.

Types of CBD Tinctures

There are two key types of CBD products:

• Full-spectrum CBD products include all the plant's cannabinoids, including trace quantities of THC.
• Broad-spectrum CBD products contain most of the cannabinoids found in the plant. Usually, THC (which is the cannabinoid that gets you high) is intentionally removed from Broad Spectrum items. Here at Black Tie CBD, all of our broad-spectrum CBD products are THC-Free.

Many people choose full-spectrum CBD products because of the entourage effect. This is the idea that CBD is far more effective when used in conjunction with other cannabinoids, even if there’s only a trace amount of these other cannabinoids.

What are the Potential Benefits of CBD Tinctures?

CBD is one of the many cannabinoids (that is, the active chemicals) in cannabis and hemp plants. Although it can’t get you high, scientific research shows that it has a range of health benefits.

Many people use CBD to soothe conditions like:

• Pain and inflammation
• Anxiety
• Sleeplessness
• Skin conditions
• Neurodegenerative diseases
• Seizure conditions

While we need more research to be conducted before we fully understand CBD, many people are already using it with positive results.

How much CBD should I use? Understanding the Dosage of CBD Tincture

Using the correct CBD dosage is key. The amount of CBD you should take depends on factors like your weight, metabolism, and the nature of the condition you’re looking to target.

In general, it’s a good idea to start with a low amount of CBD tincture—1 to 2 milliliters per day—and gradually increase if necessary. For reference, a dropper full of CBD oil is usually one milliliter.

Our CBD Tinctures come in a range of different potencies. Try a weaker potency if you’re a beginner, and a stronger potency if you have more experience using the product.

How Do You Use CBD Tinctures?

Many people actually use CBD incorrectly: they simply swallow the drops. While this might provide you with some of the health benefits of CBD, it’s the least effective way to use CBD tinctures.

The best way to use CBD tincture is sublingually (under the tongue). The skin under the tongue is thin and full of capillaries. Using a tincture there allows the CBD to pass the thin skin membrane and enter the bloodstream.

For best results, use CBD tincture as follows:

• Drop the appropriate amount of CBD tincture into your mouth, just below your tongue.
• Don’t swallow yet. Hold it there instead for about 60 seconds.
• Swirl it around your mouth and swallow.
• If the taste is unappetizing to you, follow it with a glass of water or juice.

You can swallow CBD tincture or add it to your food or beverages, but this means that the CBD will have to go through your digestive system, so it will take longer for the effects to kick in.

Digesting CBD is generally considered to be slightly less effective than using it sublingually. When you digest CBD, it becomes less bioavailable, which means that your body uses less of it. In other words, when you digest it, less of the CBD will end up entering the bloodstream.

So, while you’re welcome to digest CBD if you’d prefer it, taking it sublingually is faster and more effective.

Why do People prefer Using CBD Tinctures?

While there are many different forms of plant derived CBD products - Edibles and Vapes to smokeable High-Resin Hemp Flower - tincture is one of the most popular ways of consuming it.

This is in part because it’s easy to use. In order to get your daily dosage of CBD, you can simply drop CBD underneath your tongue. This method of consumption is quick and efficient, compared to other means such as rolling a joint or consuming edibles.

Many people prefer using CBD tincture sublingually because it is more bioavailable than using CBD edibles, pills, or capsules, which go through the digestive system.

Every form of CBD has its benefits and drawbacks. Try experimenting with different methods of taking CBD until you find a form that works for you.

Health Benefits of CBD Tinctures

• Natural Pain Relief

Of the different reasons to use CBD tinctures, pain relief is at the top. CBD tinctures are often used as pain relievers, especially for those who suffer from chronic pain. CBD is an all-natural way to address pain. It’s great because it is neither addictive nor dangerous. CBD tinctures may be just what you need for chronic joint pain and achiness.

• Managing Your Mood

If you struggle with feelings of anxiety or depression, CBD tinctures may also help stabilize your moods. CBD is no “happy juice” that will make you feel instantly euphoric, but it may help restore a sense of emotional calm and balance. It therefore makes sense that a lot of people incorporate CBD tincture use during the winter to help with Seasonal Affective Disorder.

• Getting Better Sleep

If you’re having trouble getting a good night’s sleep, CBD tincture use could help. Many people report CBD as a useful tool for insomnia and restlessness. At higher doses of 300–600mg, CBD tinctures may help decrease levels of cortisol, the natural stress hormone that kicks in when your body enters a flight-or-fight response. By decreasing cortisol levels, CBD tinctures can be considered mild sedatives that could help you relax and sleep comfortably through the night.

• Easing Symptoms

Although CBD isn’t a medicinal substance itself, many people have found CBD tinctures to be useful for nausea and vomiting after certain types of treatments like chemotherapy. These types of treatments can leave patients feeling drained and reduce their appetite. Using CBD tinctures could help stimulate appetite and help with overall recovery.

Where Can I Purchase CBD Tinctures Online?

We have a wide range of CBD tinctures available for purchase at Black Tie CBD, which include:

• Black Tie Broad-Spectrum CBD Tincture (1200mg), available in Peppermint and Original flavors
• Black Tie Full-Spectrum CBD Tincture, available in four different potencies (300mg, 600mg, 1200mg, and 5,000mg) and multiple different flavors including Espresso, Cotton Candy, Lemon Ginger, Orange Citrus, & Original Hemp)
• Full Spectrum CBD/CBG Tinctures, containing a blend of cannabinoids, these tinctures provide unique pleasant effects.

Our award-winning CBD products are derived from US-grown herbs. All of our products are third-party tested by an independent lab to verify their contents. We encourage you to view our lab reports here.

The days of an outdated and frankly inaccurate cannabis classification system are finally over. The market has blurred the lines between quality and craft cannabis for far too long - leaving customers and cultivators with no real roadmap to identify the range and spectrum of the medicinal possibilities contained within cannabis and the unique entourage effects possible from the diversity that it offers.

Experts consider Cannabis Indica, Sativa, and Hybrid the three main subspecies - the issue is that people have used the THC potency of strains to determine superiority. Measuring potency and the effects with this method is a long-outdated classification system, especially when it does not provide accurate labels for customers and budtenders alike. The words “Indica” and “Sativa” were introduced in the 18th century to describe different species of cannabis, but modern research has led to more information that we will share throughout this article.

Historically, this is how cannabis has been defined;

Strains

Cannabis Sativa

Sativa is supposedly uplifting and cerebral, enhancing creativity and productivity. Indicas provide what has been called a “body high,” while Sativa’s deliver more of a “mind high.” Unfortunately, Sativa plants require longer to grow and yield less medicine (flowers) than Indica varieties. Sativa’s smell sweet, fruity, or spicy. This difference in the aroma results from terpenes, the molecules within the plant that are cousins to cannabinoids like THC and CBD. While these chemicals sometimes provide stunningly pungent odors, their greatest benefit to patients is their medicinal efficacy.

The problem with the general ‘idea’ of what a Sativa does, is that there is no accurate spectrum representing an understandable visual for growers and customers to understand easily.

Cannabis Indica

The typical example of Cannabis Indica is a more compact, thick-stemmed bush than its cousins, usually reaching a height of fewer than two meters. The foliage is generally a dark shade of green, some examples appearing to have almost blue or green-black leaves. These leaves are composed of short, wide blades.

Most Indicas are supposedly a rich source of the cannabinoids THC, CBD, and CBN. While Cannabis Sativa often produces a higher proportion of THC than its other cannabinoids, Cannabis Indica usually contains significant levels of all three. Indicas tend to have more body-centered effects than Sativas – enhancing physical sensations, which is not accurately measured either.

Cannabis Hybrids

Typically, a Hybrid is a cannabis plant with Indica and Sativa characteristics. Because cannabis has been cultivated for centuries, most modern strains are hybrid. Pure Sativas and pure Indicas are rare, so most cannabis you'll find these days is a hybrid.

Hybrid strains typically develop either Sativa-dominant, Indica-dominant, or evenly balanced phenotypes. Strain descriptions usually list it that way or display the split as a percentage. Remember that the terms Indica and Sativa strains are most useful for cultivators in determining growth characteristics like how tall plants will grow or how long their flowering cycle will be. Effects share no apparent connection with today's cannabis plants' physical structure, hence why the classification system is largely outdated.

So why is this a problem?

According to SC labs (SC Labs is a company that offers comprehensive solutions for cannabis and hemp testing) co-founder, Josh Wurzer;

“The problem is that there is little standardization when it comes to defining and determining terpenes”

Measuring the superiority of cannabis is confusing, and frankly, the classification system is completely outdated. It no longer only comes down to the strain. The days of just searching out the highest THC totals are rapidly receding. Research has proven that terpenes are at the base of the entourage effect, where previously, it has been considered ‘minor’ information. Cannabis growers and breeders have been assigning labels to cultivars primarily based on aroma profiles and purported effects rather than genetic ancestry or overall chemical similarity. Cultivators, processors, retailers, and consumers could benefit from greater standardization when evaluating product quality and distinguishing label claims.

Because cannabis is a widely used substance increasingly being legalized for medicinal and recreational use, Cannabis’s genetic and chemical variation must be accurately quantified and communicated. Using strain labels like Sativa and Indica are used to describe a cultivar’s morphology, aromas and/or psychoactive effects. However, whether these labels capture meaningful information about Cannabis's genetic and chemical variation is incredibly unclear. This leaves room for inaccuracy and uncertainty in a world growing in popularity faster than any other industry.

In this study, the inaccuracy of reporting is clear;

“This is consistent with previous studies indicating that cultivar names were not reliable indicators of a sample’s genetic or chemical identity”

The study shows that the genetic structure of cannabis explained only 37% of the variance in labeling, meaning that Sativa–Indica labels do not accurately reflect genetic relatedness. When the study looked at the correlation of Sativa and Indica terpenes and cannabinoids, Sativa content was positively correlated with the concentrations of bergamotene and farnesene. While on the other hand, there were significant positive correlations between Indica labeling and three sesquiterpenes: guaiol, γ-eudesmol, and β-eudesmol. This shows that it goes far beyond mere classification, and it really comes down to far more than simple labels.

The contrasting aromas that have been associated with Sativa (that is, sweet) and Indica (that is, earthy) were key discriminators in a sensory evaluation of Cannabis cultivars and mediated customers’ perceptions of potency and quality.

What is the solution?

Simple; replace the three vague classes with six elaborate and detailed classifications instead. On February 16th, – SC Laboratories, Inc., (SC Labs) announced that it has licensed Napro Research LLC’s proprietary data visualization tool PhytoFacts®. Clients testing cannabis through the lab will now have access to this game-changing reporting format and algorithm that provides a visual profile of each strain’s chemical makeup. This new report format is intuitive and helps budtenders and consumers identify the right strain for their desired effect. As mentioned above, the terpene profile proves to be far more important than the breed of cannabis, which means that companies like SC Labs are putting an end to the days of simply seeking out the highest THC percentage. Science has converged to finally prove that terpenes are at the root of the entourage effect that consumers are seeking.

Always looking to level their playing field and eliminate as much bias as possible, SC labs' owners partnered with the event organizers of Emerald Cup and NAPRO research to help reframe the conversation regarding what defines “quality” in cannabis. The Emerald Cup is widely believed to be the World Series of Cannabis competitions as it is rooted in Humboldt County. The partnership is intended to help revolutionize the collective understanding of the true role of terpene content.

The new classification system focuses on sorting flower entries by primary terpene content, leveraging a combined decade of research into Cannabis phytochemistry between  PhytoFacts® coupled with a powerful database of over 250,000 terpene tests and aggregated by SC Labs, going back to their launch of terpene testing on Cannabis in 2013 as you can see below.

What are the new classes?

‘Jacks + Haze’ Class

• Mostly ‘Sativa’-leaning varietals
• Tasting notes – Fruity, Pinesol, Haze
• Effects – Energizing, Cerebral, Artistically Inspiring
• Common Cultivars – Classic Trainwreck, Jack Herer, Durban Poison, Super Lemon Haze
• Terpenes Profile: Terpinolene, Caryophyllene, Myrcene

‘Sweets + Dreams’ Class

• Mostly ‘Indica’-leaning varietals
• Tasting Notes – Fruity, Sweet, Woody, Hoppy, Herbaceous
• Effects – Relaxation, Couch Lock, Analgesic
• Common Cultivars – Blue Dream, Tangie, Forbidden Fruit, Grandaddy Purple, Purple Urkel, Grape Ape, Cherry AK, God’s Gift, Purple Punch
• Terpenes Profile: Myrcene, Pinene, Caryophyllene

‘Tropical + Floral’ Class

• Mostly ‘Indica’-leaning varietals
• Tasting notes – Sweet, Floral, Tropical Fruit
• Effects – Calming, Soothing, Relaxing
• Common Cultivars – Super Skunk, Hawaiian, In the Pines, Dream Queen
• Terpenes Profile: Ocimene, Myrcene

‘OGs + Gas’ Class

• True ‘Hybrid’ varietals
• Tasting Notes – Gas, Fuel, Sweet, Citrus, and Pepper
• Effect – Uplifting, Stimulating, Analgesic, Relaxation
• Common Cultivars – Classic OG Kush, Chemdog, Sour Diesel, Gorilla Glue
• Terpenes Profile: Any combination or shifting codominance of Caryophyllene, Limonene, Myrcene

‘Exotics’ (Rare Terpene Combinations) Class

• True ‘Hybrid’ varietals
• Tasting notes – varied based on chemistry of entry
• Effect – varied based on chemistry of entry
• Common Cultivars – rarest terpene profiles entered into the Emerald Cup Competition

‘Desserts’ Class

• True ‘Hybrid’ varietals
• Tasting Notes – Deserts, Doughs, Citrusy & Spicy
• Effects – Stimulating, Racy, Uplifting, Comforting
• Common Cultivars – Classic Bubba Kush, GSC, Gelatos, Cakes
• Any shift in codominance of Caryophyllene & Limonene

How We’re Using The New System

Because of the reliability and shift in the right direction, Black Tie CBD has made use of the latest testing for our ‘ChemDawg’ strain, as you can see below;

As you can see from the report produced by PhytoFacts®, there’s immense detail about the aroma & flavor, identifying the spectrum of profiles in depth. The particular aroma and tastes lean far more towards earthy with some sweet and fruity profiles. Similarly, the entourage effect is highlighted, giving the budtender or end-user a clear idea of its effects. The relaxation and comfort of the strain are highlighted, with lower energy levels. The report is easy to understand and interpret, and above all the classification is distinct without being confusing.

This goes to show how important terpenes really are, and how the entourage effect varies depending on multiple facets which are not usually shown - including highlights of b-Caryophyllene (3.943 mg/g), Myrcene (3.767 mg/g), Terpinolene (2.605 mg/g). The relevance of highlighting terpenes matters significantly because terpenes have also been identified as a new frontier in cannabis medicine. Until recently, the spotlight has been focused almost exclusively on the therapeutic qualities of cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD, but as our understanding of terpenes grows more sophisticated, it’s becoming apparent that these aromatic compounds are medicinal powerhouses too.

β-Caryophyllene: β-Caryophyllene is generally the most common sesquiterpene in cannabis, and the most abundantly produced terpene in Nature. Over the last decade, it has gained scientific attention after discovering that it can directly activate cannabinoids receptors. Basically, the β-Caryophyllene terpene acts as a cannabinoid.

This is the terpene that contributes to the ever-so-slight spicy flavor, but mainly to the earthy profiles as well as the relaxation quality of this strain.

Myrcene: Myrcene is the most abundant terpene in modern commercial cannabis. Myrcene has many therapeutic benefits. Like other terpenes, myrcene is believed to have potential anti-inflammatory, potential anti-tumor, sleep-supportive, and other health benefits.

Myrcene characteristically gives our cannabis strain a mildly sweet flavor profile and provides scent notes that are spicy, earthy and muskiness - and also contributes towards that relaxing and calm effect that was mentioned.

Terpinolene: Terpinolene, a terpene dominant in about one in ten cannabis strains, is recognized for its woody smell combined with floral citrus notes. In addition to its fresh aroma, terpinolene is known for its antifungal and antibacterial properties. Terpinolene is considered more multidimensional in comparison to other cannabis terpenes.

These combined effects and profiles of terpinolene are why there are more fruity aromas and comforting effects. The combination of all three highlighted terpenes should indicate the importance of a more accurate and science-backed classification system to ensure that all effects, aromas and profiles are accounted for.

Without having to handle the substance, users and budtenders can now have a true discourse about the desired flavor, fragrance, and potential effects of cannabis. Consumers may now finally buy cannabis online with ease thanks to the new classification system and PhytoFact® information.