A cannabis solution is a liquid with cannabinoids dissolved in a carrier. In a CBD store, that product is a tincture. The carrier is MCT coconut oil, olive oil, or food-grade alcohol. The cannabinoids come from a hemp or cannabis extract. Bottles run 15 mL to 60 mL. 30 mL is the common size.
What is in the bottle
- Cannabinoids: CBD as the main one, plus trace THC, CBG, and CBN depending on the extract.
- Carrier: MCT oil (caprylic/capric triglycerides), hemp seed oil, olive oil, or ethanol.
- Flavor: terpenes or food flavoring. Some products carry no flavor at all.
Full-spectrum extract keeps the plant's cannabinoids and terpenes. Broad-spectrum removes THC. Isolate is CBD alone. The label should state which one you are buying.
Oil base vs alcohol base
Oil absorbs slower. Alcohol absorbs faster under the tongue and tastes sharp. Alcohol tinctures can sting a sore mouth. Oil tinctures hold a longer shelf life in most cases.
Do the potency math
Potency is printed in milligrams per bottle, not per drop. Divide total mg by bottle size in mL to get mg per mL.
Cannabis Dropper Guide: How to Use and Choose the Best One
- 30 mL bottle, 1000 mg CBD = 33 mg per mL
- 1 mL is about 20 drops, so roughly 1.7 mg per drop
- 15 mL bottle, 300 mg CBD = 20 mg per mL
Drop size shifts with the dropper and with how thick the liquid is. Use the drop count the maker prints, or measure against the 1 mL mark on the glass dropper. The mL mark is the reliable number.
What a lab report should show
Ask for a batch-matched certificate of analysis. It should list cannabinoid potency and pass results for pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, microbials, and mycotoxins. The batch number on the report must match the batch number on the bottle. If it does not, the report does not apply to that product.
Use and dose
No standard dose exists. Response differs by body weight, tolerance, and product. Common practice is a small starting amount, held under the tongue for 60 to 90 seconds, then a two-hour wait before the next dose. Oil can go into food or a drink. Alcohol tincture mixes into cold drinks.
Storage
Keep the bottle closed, upright, and out of direct sun. Heat and light degrade cannabinoids. A cool cabinet works. Refrigeration is optional for an oil base. Check the printed expiration date. Discard a bottle that smells rancid or turns cloudy in an oil base.
Legal notes for US buyers
Federal law caps delta-9 THC at 0.3% on a dry weight basis for hemp. State rules differ. Some states limit CBD products, and some require a dispensary purchase for cannabis with higher THC. The FDA has not approved CBD as a dietary supplement or food ingredient. Epidiolex, a prescription CBD drug, is the exception. Check your state rules before you buy.