The popularity of Delta 8 THC has brought many new types of D8 THC products to the market. Now there are Delta 8 THC edibles, softgels, and hemp flower products to enjoy. But in addition to these wonderful products are the availability of tinctures and vape products. 

At first glance, the vape distillate found in Delta 8 THC cartridges and Delta 8 tincture oil look very similar. One may be tempted to refill their vaping cartridge with tincture oil, for example. But these products contain two different product types of D8 for two specifically different purposes. The following is a summary of the differences between these two products and why they are not interchangeable.

Delta 8 THC Tincture Oil vs. Delta 8 THC Vape Distillate

Delta 8 THC and all other cannabinoids are oil soluble. Therefore, to be more effective and more easily absorbed into the bloodstream, the main cannabinoid found in the oil is mixed with a carrier oil. These carrier oils are usually natural and easily digested, such as grape seed oil, extra virgin olive oil, or MCT oil. This type of oil will absorb easily under the tongue and then passes well through the digestive tract once swallowed.

The carrier oils serve other purposes as well. For example, they extend the shelf life of the phytocannabinoid-rich hemp oil that is within the tincture. Think of how long that bottle of olive oil lasts in your pantry. Because our Delta 8 THC is combined with a carrier oil, your Delta 8 THC tincture is still effective for up to two years with proper storage.

Even though the vaping mechanism you use may initially seem to work with the tincture, the oils used for tinctures are not meant to be vaped. They are a heavy oil that will not absorb into your lungs but merely lay on the surface of your lung lining, which could lead to lipoid pneumonia. The bottom line is that you should never try to vape tincture oil under any circumstances.

Vape oils are actually not oils at all, and not all vape carts use vape oil. For example, at The Hemp Doctor, we use a D8 distillate with no carrier oil in our vape carts. We believe this provides a cleaner vaping experience and a better taste.

Unlike oil, these substances are easily absorbed into the lungs. They also are made to evaporate when vaping, where oils found in tinctures do not readily evaporate in your vaping device and will likely cause it to clog. 

The distillate is a concentrated and purified version of the product — so a Delta 8 distillate is a more pure and potent version of the cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. Distillates are safe to consume in many forms, dab it, vape it, drink it, or wear it. However, creating a D8 distillate is an intense process, which can make the finished product expensive. In addition, when you eat or drink it, because it isn’t bound in a carrier oil, you may not absorb as much of the cannabinoids compared to a tincture.

Ease of Use

Another difference between Delta 8 THC tinctures and vape distillate is the ease at which these products are used. Tinctures must be measured first before placing the drops under the tongue. Therefore, finding the right dosage for your Delta 8 THC tincture will take some trial and error as well as some initial calculations. Once the correct dose is determined, however, they are fairly easy to use.

Vape carts do not require trial and error to determine the correct dose. The user merely continues puffing on the vaping device until the desired effect is realized. Unless you use one of our Delta 8 Disposable 1ml Vape pens, vaping does require that the user have other components such as a vaping battery, which must be charged before use. However, once the battery is charged and assembled with the vape cart, vape pens are extremely easy and convenient to use.

Effectiveness: Speed of Impact

Whenever you use tincture oil, the tincture is first absorbed through the capillaries under your tongue. While this is a faster delivery method than swallowing an edible, it still takes about a half-hour before the first benefits are felt from a tincture. The rest of the tincture is then swallowed and passes through the digestive tract, which will then deliver it into your bloodstream. Again, this process takes about two hours before you begin feeling the effects of swallowing the tincture.

Vaping Delta 8 THC, on the other hand, pulls the phytocannabinoid-rich vapor into your lungs, where the bronchi then absorb it and deliver it directly into the bloodstream. By inhaling the Delta 8 THC, you feel the effects of vaping in a matter of minutes. Your body also absorbs at least 10% more Delta 8 THC through your lungs than when it is ingested.

Effectiveness: Longevity of Benefits

The stomach may take longer to digest tincture oil, but when it does, the stomach is good at retaining the Delta 8 THC inside of the body. The effects of Delta 8 THC through tincture oils can be felt upwards of four to six hours, making it about 2 hours more than what vaping can offer. It may only absorb 25%-35% of the Delta 8 THC instead of vaping, which absorbs 40% to 55% of the cannabinoid, but what it lacks in dosage, it makes up for longevity. If you are looking for something that will last in your system, tincture oil is the way to go. 

So this difference in the impact and longevity of the two oils can be simplified in this way: If you want to feel stronger effects for a shorter period, you would likely prefer to vape your Delta 8 THC. However, if you’re OK with feeling slightly weaker effects but for a more extended period, then tincture oil is preferred. 

We Have Many Types of Delta 8 THC at The Hemp Doctor!

Whether you are looking for a great selection of D8 vaping carts or D8 tinctures, we have them at The Hemp Doctor. We encourage you to shop with us or contact us today with any questions you may have.