Cannabis capsules offer an alternative way to medicate orally. They’re safe, cost-effective and efficient. And they don’t put empty calories or unhealthy ingredients into your body.
Weed capsules have become standard. Most dispensaries carry them. However, the ingredients and potency of the product can vary. One way to control this is to make your own.
Here’s how!
Ingredients and Supplies Needed
The ingredients and supplies you need are fairly cheap and easily found. You can get them at your local natural food store or online. These are the basics:
- – 7-14 grams of ground cannabis flower (kief and trim can also be used)
- – 1/4 – 1/2 cup of coconut oil solid or liquid form (organic, extra virgin is available)
- – 1/2 tsp soy lecithin
- – Oven or slow cooker
- – 50 empty gelatin or vegetarian capsules (standard size is 00)
- – Capsule Filling method
- – Syringe (any sterile syringe with a tapered tip that will fit inside the capsule)
- – 1 cooking pot
- – 1 glass bowl that fits inside the rim of your pot 1-2 inches above the softly boiling water
- – 1 small bowl
- – 1 glass or metal baking dish/sheet
- – 2 sheets of aluminum foil
- – 1 piece of cheese cloth and 1 rubber band or 1 small fine screened strainer
- – 1 spoon or spatula
- – 1 small glass jar with screw top lid
- – Vinyl gloves
This recipe uses coconut oil and soy lecithin combined. This helps the body to metabolize the cannabinoids through the digestive system. This gives longer periods of effectiveness compared to smoking or vaping.
Dosing
A number of factors determines the correct dosing of cannabis capsules. These include:
- – Potency of the cannabis
- – Proper decarboxylation
- – Ratio of flower to coconut oil
There’s no standard ratio for determining your ideal dose. The only sure way to test the potency of your capsules is to take them to a lab. But this would cost you serious money. Use trial-and-error to find what works best for you. Adjust this basic recipe to fit your needs and the materials you have. It’s best to keep a record of your trials, to note the amounts and process you prefer.
Decarboxylation: Get the Most from Your Cannabis
Preheat your oven to 220-240 degrees Fahrenheit. Higher temperatures will cook off the cannabinoids and greatly reduce potency. Using gloved hands, break the flower into small pieces and spread them evenly across a foil-covered baking sheet. Place the second piece of foil over the cannabis and pinch the sides together. This aids even decarboxylating and prevents the vapors from escaping. Bake the flower 30-45 minutes to activate all the cannabinoids.
Note that decarboxylation will reduce the amount of flower you have by 10%.
Check our guide if you want to get more information on decarboxylation.
Infusion
Oven Method
Fill ¾ of the pot with water and heat to a soft boil. Add the coconut oil and soy lecithin to the glass bowl and place it in the cooking pot. Once warmed, the oil and lecithin will melt. Add the decarboxylated cannabis to the bowl and mix together until well-blended. Empty the hot water from the pot then add the oil mixture. Place the pot back in the oven for at least another 30-45 minutes. Check your infusion frequently and stir if the ingredients begin to separate.
Slow Cooker Method
Add the decarboxylated cannabis, coconut oil, and soy lecithin to your slow cooker. Set the temperature to low heat (200ºF) and cook for 30-45 minutes.
Cooking the infusion for longer than 45 minutes by either method will affect the potency of the final product. More THC is converted to CBN, resulting in a more sedating effect.
Now, strain the finished oil. Use a small fine-screened strainer or drape a cheesecloth over the bowl and secure it with a rubber band. Use a spoon or spatula to press the oil from the flower material. Straining the oil at least twice should remove all of the flower particles.
Filling Your Cannabis Capsules
Let the oil infusion cool to less than 100ºF , but not so cool that it’s starting to solidify. You can make a homemade capsule filler from a cardboard box. Just poke holes through through the cardboard with a pen to hold the capsules in place. You can also buy plastic cannabis capsules that get made by filling machines for a few dollars.
When you’ve placed the bottom half of your capsules into their holes, fill your syringe. Drip enough oil into each capsule to fill it to just below the top edge. Spill waste will result if you overfill them. You’re losing valuable oil each time this happens.
Once filled, place the tops securely on the capsules. Store them in the jar, closing the lid securely. Mark your jars clearly and store in a cool dark place, away from children and animals.
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