As the cannabis industry continues to rapidly evolve, the Cloud City Supply staff constantly refreshes its timelines to vet the latest trends. Arguably, our favorite recent development is the introduction of water-soluble THC tinctures. In this blog, we’ll explain what water-soluble THC is, why you might prefer it over oil-based tinctures, and under what circumstances it’s most suitable.
What is water-soluble THC?
Until now, most THC tinctures utilize an oil base. On a label, you may recognize this as “hemp seed oil” or “MCT oil,” as these serve as a carrier for the cannabinoids the tinctures contain. Because oil does not dissolve when immersed in water, you may notice that when you add traditional oil-based THC tinctures to a drink, the two liquids will separate. Thus, oil-based THC tinctures take a little longer for your body to absorb and feel the onset of their effects. Enter: water-soluble THC tinctures!
In contrast, water-soluble THC tinctures are designed with an advanced emulsification technology that allows the THC to break down seamlessly when mixed with water-based drinks. This means that when you add them to your morning tea or sparkling water, you won’t see that separation, and your body will activate the effects more swiftly. Ultimately, in comparison to traditional oil-based tinctures, water-soluble tinctures allow for versatility and efficiency in how you choose to consume your THC.
Water-soluble vs. oil-based tinctures
Here are the cliff notes on the main advantages of water-soluble tinctures over traditional oil-based ones:
- Better absorption: Because they break down more easily in water-based drinks, water-soluble THC has a faster activation time. Water-soluble THC has an estimated onset timeline of 15-30 minutes, compared to oil-based THC, which can take up to 1-2 hours.
- More versatile use: Water-soluble THC can be mixed into any water-based liquid for discreet, convenient consumption. Whether that means water, tea, or coffee for you, we guarantee a more enjoyable user experience.
- Undetectable taste: Because of the water/oil incompatibility, oil-based tinctures have been known to leave a funky “weed” aftertaste in cannabis beverages. Water-soluble tinctures solve that problem by flawlessly enmeshing with any water-based drink.
Now do you see how water-soluble THC is giving traditional tinctures a run for their money?
However, with that said, there are still a few occasions when oil-based THC tinctures are more preferred. Here’s a basic summary of when to use oil-based vs. water-soluble THC tinctures:
- Oil-based: Best for sublingual use (adding a few drops underneath your tongue) and cooking (adding THC to food).
- Water-soluble: Best for adding THC to water-based beverages such as coffee, tea, water, juice, etc.
Most suitable circumstances for water-soluble THC tinctures
Because water-soluble THC activates significantly faster, they are ideal for:
- People with mid-high THC tolerance levels who are looking for fast-acting relief from physical pain or emotional distress.
- People who prefer cannabis drinks vs. other product formats, such as smoking or vaping.
- Experienced THC users looking to experiment with potent new delivery methods.
Water-soluble THC tinctures are the latest cannabis trend. They offer a convenient and effective modern alternative to traditional THC products. If you’re an experienced THC lover, we encourage you to stock your supply cabinet with both water-soluble and oil-based tinctures to experiment for yourself. Try Cloud City’s new star product: Buddha Beans Delta-9 THC Tincture.
Notably, keep in mind that THC affects everyone differently. Visit us in-store for a one-on-one consultation with a budtender to make the most of our premium water-soluble THC tinctures.
