What comes to mind when you hear about cannabis glycerin? This alcohol-free extract has become a go-to option among cannabis users looking for a tasty and discreet way to enjoy THC or CBD.
Using vegetable glycerin to make a cannabis extract is a great way to create a flavorful and versatile concentrate right at home. According to Healthline, food-grade glycerin is widely used in food, skincare, and tinctures — and is generally considered safe for consumption.
And if you’re a true AMS follower, it’s only fair that you know how to make cannabis glycerin the proper way.
Before we dive into the full process of making a powerful glycerin tincture, let’s take a quick look at the main benefits of this unique extract.
Benefits of Making Your Glycerin Tincture
- If you’re learning how to make cannabis glycerin at home, you’ll be happy to know it’s one of the easiest recipes for enjoying the effects of your favorite strain, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned user.
- It’s simple to tweak a cannabis tincture to suit your taste. For example, if you want to learn how to flavor glycerin tincture, you can adjust the strength depending on the strain you use.
- You can select your favorite strains for specific times of the day. For example, Sativa strains for daytime use, and Indica strains for the night.
- Once you know how to make cannabis glycerin, you’ll find it’s discreet and portable — easy to use from anywhere.
- Marijuana glycerin tinctures can produce an entourage effect. The terpenes, cannabinoids, and flavonoids in full-spectrum tinctures allow you to benefit from the complete plant profile.
- There are many ways to take your tincture. For fast results, sublingual (under the tongue) use is ideal. For longer-lasting effects, oral consumption is a great option — even if it takes longer to kick in.
- Because glycerin tinctures are alcohol-free, they’re perfect for anyone avoiding alcohol but still wanting the benefits of cannabis. This makes how to make cannabis glycerin a useful skill to have if you’re exploring alternative consumption methods.
How to Make a Cannabis Vegetable-Glycerin Tincture Extract
While most marijuana tinctures are made using extraction agents like alcohol or honey, in this guide we’ll show you how to make cannabis glycerin using the glycerol extraction method.
Vegetable glycerin is commonly used in tincture production, but it’s important to choose a product that’s food grade and safe for human consumption. Not all glycerin is created equal, so read the labels carefully when buying.
We also understand you might be wondering how to flavor a glycerin tincture now that we’ve ruled out honey. Fortunately, vegetable glycerin — a colorless, odorless liquid derived from plant oils like coconut, palm, or soy — naturally has a mildly sweet taste. This makes it an excellent alcohol-free alternative for cannabis users who prefer gentler options.
So, if you’re ready to learn how to make cannabis glycerin at home, let’s start with what you’ll need.
Ingredients:
– 20 grams (0.7 ounce) of ground, well-dried marijuana flower
– 125 ml (4.2 fl. oz.) of vegetable glycerin (food grade)
Equipment:
– Grinder
– Cheesecloth
– Baking paper
– Funnel
– Baking tray
– Crockpot
– Heat source (stovetop or similar)
– Bowl
– Dropper bottle
– Wooden spoon
Step-by-Step Instructions: How to Make Cannabis Glycerin
Follow these detailed steps to learn how to make cannabis glycerin safely and effectively. The process takes some time, but the result is a powerful, alcohol-free tincture.
Step 1: Decarboxylate the Cannabis
Start by removing the carboxyl group from the cannabis flower — a process called decarboxylation. This converts inactive compounds (like CBDA and THCA) into active cannabinoids (CBD and THC). Decarbing your weed enhances the entourage effect and unlocks the full potential of your chosen strain.
Preheat your oven to 100–115°C (212–239°F) and spread your dried cannabis on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Heat it for about 40 minutes, checking occasionally to prevent burning. Let it cool before testing — if it crumbles easily between your fingers, it’s ready.
Step 2: Mix Cannabis and Glycerin
Grind the decarboxylated cannabis and place it in a clean bowl. Add the vegetable glycerin (food grade) and stir until well combined. This is where the real infusion begins.
Step 3: Infuse with Heat
Transfer the cannabis-glycerin mixture into a crockpot. Set the temperature to 85°C (185°F) and heat for one hour. Stir occasionally with a wooden spoon. The mixture will change color from green to olive and then brown as it infuses.
Let the mixture continue heating for up to 24 hours, stirring every 4 hours. This long, low-heat method helps preserve the terpenes and flavonoids, giving your extract both potency and flavor.
Step 4: Strain and Store
After 24 hours, carefully pour the warm mixture through a cheesecloth into a clean bowl to separate the plant material. Avoid letting the mixture cool too much — warm glycerin strains more easily.
Once filtered, use a funnel to pour the final extract into sterilized dropper bottles. Allow it to cool fully before sealing.
Important Note on Potency
Glycerin-based tinctures are highly potent. If you’re just learning how to make cannabis glycerin, be mindful of dosage when testing your final product. Start small and observe how your body responds.
Cannabis glycerin tincture has a somewhat short shelf life. Unfortunately, unless you know how to store your homemade goodie, the shelf-life will keep getting shorter.
On average, vegetable glycerin tincture will stay potent for a year. The sooner you take it after it is made, the more potent it will be.
As mentioned on the equipment list, dropper bottles are on the list. It would be best to place it in the bottle and refrigerate the extract when you are not using it. This is a highly potent product. It should be kept out of the reach of children.
To prevent the loss of flavor, the bottles should be tightly closed. Closing the lids tightly is an ideal way to preserve the flavor and make the potency last as long as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the benefits of making a cannabis glycerin tincture at home?
Making a marijuana tincture infused with glycerin offers several advantages. It’s an easy process suitable for both beginners and experienced users. You can customize the tincture to suit your taste by choosing specific strains for different times of the day. Glycerin tinctures are discreet, free from alcohol, and can produce an entourage effect due to the presence of terpenes, cannabinoids, and flavonoids. Additionally, you can administer them sublingually for quick effects or orally for prolonged effects.
2. How do you make a cannabis vegetable-glycerin tincture extract?
To learn how to make cannabis glycerin at home, you’ll need ground, dried weed flower and food-grade vegetable glycerin. After decarboxylating the weed, mix it with the glycerin in a crockpot and heat the mixture, stirring occasionally, for 24 hours. Strain the mixture through cheesecloth into a bowl and transfer it to dropper bottles. Detailed instructions can be found in the full guide above.
3. How should you store your homemade cannabis glycerin tincture?
To maximize the shelf life and potency of your cannabis glycerin tincture, store it in tightly closed dropper bottles and refrigerate when not in use. Proper storage can help the tincture remain potent for up to a year. Always keep the tincture out of the reach of children and ensure the lids are tightly closed to preserve the flavor and potency.
Conclusion: Mastering How to Make Cannabis Glycerin at Home
Learning how to make cannabis glycerin is more than just a fun DIY project — it’s a practical and rewarding way to enjoy marijuana in a cleaner, alcohol-free format. Whether you’re an experienced user or just starting out, knowing how to make cannabis glycerin gives you full control over potency, flavor, and method of use.
With just cannabis flower, food-grade vegetable glycerin, and basic equipment, you can produce a high-quality tincture that fits your routine. From preparation to storage, mastering how to make cannabis glycerin empowers you to explore alternative cannabis extracts with confidence.
If you’re experimenting with homemade infusions, understanding how to make cannabis glycerin is an excellent foundation. Want to take it further? Visit our cannabis blog for more guides, tips, and recipes using glycerin, oils, and other infusion methods.
