Whether your goal is to enjoy the experience of a high or treat an ailment like chronic pain or anxiety, there are multiple methods of ingesting cannabis. From traditional smoking to edibles and oils, cannabis edibles comes in many forms.
Cannabis concentrate can be smoked, used in a vaporizer, or even included in cooking as an ingredient for those feeling particularly creative. However, if you’re simply interested in the effects without investing too much effort, you can also ingest cannabis through capsules.
The Type of High
There are many methods of cannabis consumption, each with differing effects of various speeds and durations. The difference in result is based on your body’s absorption of the plant and delivery method.
Smoking and vaping have an almost immediate effect. Cannabinoids enter the lungs directly and are rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream. On the other hand, ingesting an edible means waiting for the cannabinoids to travel through the digestive tract and be absorbed, which is a longer route to the bloodstream. To make up for the delay in onset, edible effects tend to last longer than those of smoking or vaping.
Edibles come in a variety of forms, the most popular being brownies and gummies. Edibles use cannabis as an ingredient in a food recipe. Sellers usually make and market edibles as a recreational product, rarely a medicinal one. Capsules are an option for those who want to avoid the sugars and fats in edibles. They are also a good option for those who have diabetes or food allergies attached to edibles. Apart from this, people have also been using CBD for dogs and other pets.
Capsules also take effect more quickly than standard edibles because of their route through the digestive system and their bioavailability (how readily your body can absorb the components of a substance). A high-fat or high-carb edible can signal your body to store the cannabidiol (CBD) in fat cells, thereby locking it away from the endocannabinoid system (ECS).
Capsules usually don’t have taste, so they are less appealing than edibles. They come in measured CBD doses in gel capsules designed to dissolve like any other medication and are typically part of medical treatment. They are quicker than edibles in their effect and are more consistent. Their bioavailability is also better since the capsules dissolve quickly and let the cannabis get absorbed rapidly without any other intervening ingredients.
What to Look For in a Capsule
Cannabis capsules come in various doses and can be made with varying CBD types, cannabinoid profiles, terpene profiles, and additional ingredients. The right choice for you will depend on your specific needs. When you look for marijuana for sale online, make sure to buy your cannabis capsules from a reputable, licensed retailer. Cannabis capsules can have varying doses and you must be confident about what you are ingesting.
CBD oil is commonly available in 30-milliliter bottles with dropper caps. Dosage for CBD oil isn’t an exact science. It can vary according to person, illness, intake, or prescription. This is one benefit of capsules: once you figure out the appropriate dosage for you, you can expect that standard experience from each capsule.
Making Your Own Cannabis Capsules
With the right equipment, you can even make cannabis capsules at home. Along with your cannabis product, you will need a tray to hold the capsules, a syringe to fill them with precision, and the capsules themselves (either gelatin or a vegetarian alternative).
One simple option for homemade cannabis capsules is crushing cannabis flowers into an oil to make a paste. However, although a cannabis paste is simple to make, it doesn’t produce the best results and it can be hard to put into the capsules.
A better way to make cannabis capsules is to extract the cannabis product into an oil base. You can use any edible oil; medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) coconut oil is a popular choice.
If you want your cannabis capsules to have an extra buzz, you can convert the non-psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol acid (THCA) into tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) by heating, burning, or vaporizing it in a process called decarboxylating. To achieve the desired effect, heat your cannabis at about 220 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 45 minutes.
You can even use a crockpot to extract cannabis into an oil. Mix the two, then let the mixture simmer for six to eight hours before using a fine strainer to drain the oil into a bowl. Let it cool to room temperature.
You can also place the plant and oil in a jar, using a ratio of one ounce of cannabis to every two cups of oil. Tightly seal the jar, then place it in a deep pot of water heated to 84 degrees for four hours. When the time has elapsed, strain out the oil using a fine strainer or cheesecloth, and let it cool.
Once you have your oil, you can portion it into your capsules.
And to Cap It Off
Once you have your capsules, you can take them with you anywhere. Be sure to store capsules in a dark container, as sunlight can degrade cannabis. Ensure that the capsules are also in a child-proof container and out of the reach of children or pets.
Cannabis capsules are a convenient, discreet, and quick way to ingest a cannabis product as they are odorless and smokeless and can be swallowed in an instant.
