I currently use cannabis primarily via sublingual tincture — I make my own by taking cannabis concentrate, decarbing it, and titrating it with another oil (usually avocado oil). I usually do it with 7g of concentrate at a time — it comes in baller jars, so I just decarb and dilute in the jar it comes in, which is wonderfully easy!
I’d like to try using a nebulizer, though. Can I make the solution for the nebulizer by diluting decarbed cannabis concentrate with everclear instead of oil, and then following the directions in your post about nebulizing cannabis? The concentrate itself is oil, and I’m not sure how well it will mix with alcohol.
Thank you so much for this great question — and I have to say, you sound like a true DIY cannabis expert! It’s wonderful to hear how you’ve mastered the art of making your own tinctures with such ease (those baller jars really are a game changer, right?).
As for your nebulizer question, this is an exciting avenue to explore, and its on the cutting edge of cannabis practice, but it does require a bit of a learning process, because it really is brand new for the industry.. It is certainly possible that diluting cannabis concentrate with Everclear to create a nebulizer solution may work, but you may be among the first to explore it! In theory, using concentrate isn’t all that different from using flower into an alcohol solution, except the concentrate may have pre-filtered OUT some valuable terpenes and unknowns before it was even sold to you. But – perhaps you have a full spectrum concentrate and not an isolate/distillate? That would be a nice solution ( pun intended!)
Most of the time, concentrated products pack a potent punch – learning how much you want to use (of flower or of concentrate) is an important part of this exploration.
As long as you’re waiting enough time, after you’ve dropped the alcohol tincture into your saline bath for the nebulizer (and so the whole grain alcohol evaporates), I imagine you’re going to be good to go!
Importantly, there are risks here to consider very carefully: It’s important to make sure that the concentrate you’re using does not contain extra or added oils that may be unsafe for inhalation. Nebulizers are designed to work with water-based solutions, not oil-based ones. And cannabinoids and terpenes are all oil-based products. Inhaling oils (even small amounts) can lead to something called lipoid pneumonia, a condition where oil particles settle in the lungs, which we definitely want to avoid! Fortunately, many of the cannabis-based oils are heavy molecules and few reach the distant parts of your lungs, but it’s still an important consideration to keep in mind, while our medical and research culture in this domain are still in such a stage of infancy. We have much still to learn about safety and efficacy.
Whenever possible, if you’re pursuing nebulized cannabis, I recommend exploring water-soluble formulations specifically designed for inhalation. These products are safe for nebulizers and allow for a smooth delivery without the risks associated with added oils.
Here’s the link to my Substack article about Nebulization:
Nebulizer Post on Substack
I hope that clears things up! Keep those questions coming — I love hearing from fellow cannabis enthusiasts who take their health (and their tinctures) into their own hands. Stay curious and keep exploring, just be safe along the way!
Best,
Dr. Caplan
