How to Make Green Dragon That Hits Hard but Stays Safe

Written by Lorien Strydom

January 20th, 2026

Green Dragon is a high-proof alcohol extract of cannabis taken under the tongue for faster effects than edibles. This alcohol tincture works through sublingual absorption.

It delivers THC to your system in 15-30 minutes. Typical edibles require 45-90 minutes.

We'll walk you through three proven extraction methods. Long cold soak, Master Wu heated water bath, and Golden Dragon freezer wash.

You can choose the approach that matches your goals.

Most batches fail because people skip the heating step that activates the cannabis. They also use low-proof alcohol that can't be extracted efficiently.

This guide fixes both problems with clear temperature guidance. You'll get honest trade-offs between methods and safety-first instructions for working with flammable solvents.

Table of Contents

• What Green Dragon Is and Why People Make It
• The Ingredients and Gear That Actually Matter
• Heating Your Cannabis to Unlock Its Strength
• Pick Your Extraction Method
• Long Cold Soak for Maximum Strength
• Master Wu Water Bath for Speed
• Golden Dragon QWET for Cleaner Taste
• Straining, Storing, and Labeling for the Long Haul
• How to Take It, What to Expect, and Fixing the Burn
• Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them Fast
• Advanced Options for People Who Want to Go Deeper
• Ready-Made Alternatives If DIY Is Not Your Thing
• You Are Ready to Make Green Dragon Safely

What Green Dragon Is and Why People Make It

Green Dragon is an alcohol-based cannabis extract made with high-proof grain alcohol. It pulls cannabinoids and terpenes into a liquid taken sublingually.

When you hold drops under your tongue for 30-60 seconds before swallowing, effects can begin in as little as 15 minutes.

Absorption happens through the tissue under your tongue rather than through digestion. This explains the faster onset compared to traditional edibles.

The appeal is straightforward. Dropper bottles give you precise control over how much you take.

No smoke or odor means more discretion. Shelf life extends for months or even years when stored properly.

Compared to infused baked goods, tinctures deliver effects faster and with fewer calories.

You'll choose from three extraction approaches in this guide. Each trades off time against taste and strength.

Long cold soak takes weeks but extracts thoroughly. Master Wu's heated method finishes in 20 minutes but requires careful heat monitoring.

Golden Dragon freezer wash completes in minutes and produces the cleanest flavor.

The Ingredients and Gear That Actually Matter

Two core inputs drive your results. Cannabis and high-proof alcohol.

Starting material quality determines final potency.

High-grade flower yields the strongest tincture. Trim works but produces weaker extraction.

Kief concentrates even further.

Alcohol proof matters because 150-190 proof grain alcohol extracts cannabinoids more efficiently. It also keeps the tincture stable longer.

Lower-proof options like vodka will work but produce weaker extraction and shorter shelf life.

The extra water in low-proof alcohol dilutes your final product. It can encourage degradation over time.

Minimal gear gets you started. You need a sealable glass jar, a fine filter or cheesecloth, and dark glass dropper bottles for storage.

You also need a thermometer if using a heated method. Nothing fancy, nothing expensive.

If you're sourcing cannabis for extraction, quality THCa flower from Mood's flower selection makes excellent starting material. Their third-party lab testing confirms cannabinoid content.

You know exactly what you're working with.

Heating Your Cannabis to Unlock Its Strength

Raw cannabis won't produce strong effects regardless of how well you extract it. Gentle heat changes the cannabis into forms your body processes more readily when warmed.

This activation step is the number one reason batches feel weak when skipped or rushed.

Spread ground cannabis evenly on a baking sheet. Heat your oven to 240°F.

Place the sheet in the oven for 30-40 minutes. You're watching for a light golden color and an aromatic herbal smell.

If your cannabis stays green and grassy, it needs more time. If it darkens to brown or smells burnt, you've overshot the target.

Visual cues matter here. Light browning tells you the process is working.

A toasted aroma confirms you're in the right range. Too much heat destroys potency.

Not enough heat leaves your cannabis inactive.

Take your time and monitor the temperature carefully.

Pick Your Extraction Method

Green Dragon is three distinct extraction philosophies with honest trade-offs in speed, potency, and taste. Long cold soak requires 2-6 weeks for maximum strength.

It pulls a heavier plant flavor, though.

Master Wu's heated water bath completes in 20 minutes with strong results and moderate flavor. Golden Dragon QWET finishes in 3-5 minutes for good strength with a clean, mild taste.

Choose based on what matters most to you. If you're patient and prioritize strength, a long cold soak delivers.

If you want results today and can monitor heat carefully, Master Wu works. If harsh plant taste bothers you, Golden Dragon produces the mildest flavor profile.

Long Cold Soak for Maximum Strength

Combine your activated cannabis and high-proof alcohol in a sealed jar. Store in a cool, dark place for 2-6 weeks.

Shake periodically to keep plant material mixed with the alcohol.

The trade-off is time for extraction. Slightly higher potency develops over weeks.

Longer contact time pulls more chlorophyll, though. This creates a heavier plant taste that some people find unpleasant.

If strength matters more than flavor, this method delivers.

Best for patient makers who prioritize potency over convenience. They don't mind the characteristic plant taste of traditional tinctures.

Master Wu Water Bath for Speed

Place your sealed jar of activated cannabis and alcohol in a pot of hot water. Keep the water temperature around 170°F for approximately 20 minutes.

Use a thermometer to monitor temperature constantly.

Safety is non-negotiable here. Alcohol is highly flammable.

Never use an open flame anywhere near this process.

Keep temperature below boiling at all times. Do not leave the setup unattended even for a minute.

Ensure good ventilation in your workspace.

The heat speeds up the extraction dramatically. It also pulls more chlorophyll, creating a stronger plant taste than cold methods.

You're trading careful heat management for results in under an hour.

Best for makers who want same-day results. They feel comfortable with careful temperature monitoring and strict safety protocols.

Golden Dragon QWET for Cleaner Taste

Freeze both your activated cannabis and your alcohol separately for at least a few hours. Combine them and wash for only 3-5 minutes.

Strain immediately without delay.

Short contact time limits chlorophyll extraction. This produces a lighter color and significantly milder taste.

The trade-off is slightly less total extraction compared to a long soak. Many makers accept this in exchange for avoiding harsh plant flavors.

Best for flavor-sensitive makers who find the heavy plant taste of traditional tinctures off-putting. They prefer a cleaner finish.

Straining, Storing, and Labeling for the Long Haul

Strain your tincture through cheesecloth or a fine mesh filter to remove plant material. A second pass through a coffee filter produces an even cleaner product.

It catches finer particles.

Store in dark glass dropper bottles away from heat and light. A cupboard works well.

A freezer extends shelf life even further.

Properly stored tinctures maintain potency for months or years.

Label each bottle with the date you made it, the method you used, and an estimated strength based on your starting material. This record-keeping makes future servings predictable.

You'll refine your process over time. Labeling helps you remember what worked.

How to Take It, What to Expect, and Fixing the Burn

Sublingual use delivers the fastest onset. Place drops under your tongue and hold for 30-60 seconds before swallowing.

Effects typically begin in 15-30 minutes. Cannabinoids absorb through the tissue under your tongue rather than waiting for digestion.

Learn more about sublingual THC for best results.

Start small because strength varies dramatically based on starting material, alcohol proof, and extraction method. Begin with a few drops or approximately 1ml.

Wait at least 45 minutes before considering more. Unlike edibles processed by the liver, sublingual effects feel different and arrive faster.

High-proof alcohol burns under the tongue. Dilute your serving in a small splash of water or juice after holding to reduce the burn.

Alternatively, evaporate some alcohol post-extraction to concentrate the tincture. Smaller volumes deliver the same strength.

Mix with honey or agave for a sweeter finish that masks the alcohol.

The difference from edibles is significant. Edibles require 45-120 minutes for onset.

They must pass through your digestive system and liver.

Sublingual absorption bypasses most of that process. Effects arrive faster and feel more immediate.

Duration tends to be slightly shorter than edibles but longer than smoking. Understand how fast-acting edibles work for timing and effects.

Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them Fast

Weak strength usually traces to skipping or underdoing the heating step. Or using low-proof alcohol.

Fix this by ensuring you heat your cannabis properly at 240°F for 30-40 minutes.

Upgrade to 150-190 proof grain alcohol instead of vodka or other lower-proof spirits.

Harsh or grassy taste comes from long soaks that pull chlorophyll into your tincture. For your next batch, try the Golden Dragon QWET method or reduce your soak time.

For a batch you've already made, the taste is hard to remove completely. Diluting servings or mixing with strong-flavored beverages helps mask it.

Inconsistent effects often result from uneven mixing or plant material settling at the bottom of your jar. Shake your jar regularly during extraction.

Shake the finished tincture before each use to redistribute any settled material.

Advanced Options for People Who Want to Go Deeper

Concentrating oil involves carefully evaporating alcohol using indirect heat and excellent ventilation. Never use an open flame for this process.

The result is a thick oil sometimes called FECO that's highly concentrated. Servings are measured in tiny drops because potency is extreme.

Flavor add-ins customize your tincture. Infuse with peppermint, cinnamon, or ginger during extraction for a flavored base.

Add honey, agave, or maple syrup to the finished tincture. This provides sweetness that masks alcohol burn and plant taste.

Potency testing removes guesswork if you want precision. Third-party devices measure exact milligrams of THC or CBD per milliliter.

This data lets you calculate servings accurately instead of estimating based on starting material.

Ready-Made Alternatives If DIY Is Not Your Thing

If handling high-proof alcohol and monitoring temperatures feels like more hassle than it's worth, there's an easier path forward. Some people love the craft of making their own tinctures.

Others want the end result without the process.

Mood offers hemp-derived THC products with third-party lab testing and labeled strength per serving. Their 1:1 THC & CBD Tincture (900mg) starts at $69.

One dropper contains 10mg of THC and 10mg of CBD for a balanced dose of bliss.

Desired effects start within 30 - 120 minutes.

For even faster onset, Rapid Onset Delta-9 THC Gummies deliver 7.5mg Delta-9 THC with nano-emulsion technology. These start working in 10-20 minutes.

They bridge the gap between tinctures and traditional edibles.

This isn't a consolation prize. For many people, convenience and consistency matter more than the craft of making their own extracts.

Commercial products offer predictable potency, no equipment requirements, and zero fire hazards. Both paths are valid depending on what you value.

Mood offers millions of users hemp-derived THC, which is 100% legal and fully compliant cannabis. You may have heard that the legality of hemp-derived THC is currently under attack.

This could threaten the wellness of so many.

Read here to learn how to join the fight. Help us keep hemp cannabis accessible to all for a long time to come.

You Are Ready to Make Green Dragon Safely

Choose a method that matches your goals for speed and flavor. Activate your cannabis properly with gentle heat at 240°F for 30-40 minutes.

Use high-proof alcohol between 150 and 190 proof for efficient extraction — strain and store carefully in dark glass bottles.

Start with a small serving to gauge strength before increasing.

We are not a medical authority and recommend consulting a licensed professional for health questions.

Whether you make your own Green Dragon or grab something ready-made from Mood's edibles selection, you now have the clarity to move forward with confidence.

The three methods give you options for any schedule or taste preference. The safety guidance keeps you and your space protected.

The troubleshooting fixes common problems before they derail your batch.