How to Make Cannabis Capsules

Activated cannabis oil capsules may be just what you need to help you get through your day or night. Cannabis can treat each person differently. What works for one person may not work the same for another. Many times, it’s about getting the proper dosage for what’s bothering you for cannabis to be effective. Some people can consume 10 mg of cannabis and be completely blazed. This is the equivalent to 3 or 4 hits from top shelf cannabis. Other people can consume 300 mg of cannabis or more, sometimes multiple times daily. You might say it’s different tokes for different folks.

Why Some Might Prefer Cannabis Capsules

Some people don’t enjoy smoking, vaping, or sugary edibles when it comes to cannabis. Whatever the reason, activated THC oil capsules are becoming an in trend with cannabis consumers. One reason may be because, with activated THC capsules, a consumer can directly pinpoint what works best for them in various aspects.

As an example, a person may need help sleeping at night. They find that if they take 100 mg of activated THC oil an hour before bed that they sleep beautifully through the night compared to smoking a joint, bowl, or doing a dab before bed. However, that same person may have anxiety during the day. If they took 100 mg, they could find themselves in a daze. Instead, this is where they could take perhaps 10 mg every 4 hours as needed to get through the day and keep the anxiety at bay.

Activated cannabis oil capsules can get to be a little expensive when you buy them from medical or recreational cannabis dispensaries. In Oklahoma, 15, 10 mg cannabis capsules run an average of $40+ tax. I’ve seen prices in other legal markets as low as $20 for 10, 10 mg capsules averaging them between $2-$4 each. I make my own activated cannabis oil capsules at home for around 30 cents each, and you can do the same!

Ingredients and Supplies

• Cannabis (Ground and Decarbed)
• MCT Coconut Oil
• Cheesecloth
• Empty Capsules
• 10 ml Industrial Syringe with a Blunt Tip Needle
• We recommend a graduated measuring glass or a shot glass when making oil by the gram. The larger graduated measuring glass works best when working with more significant amounts of product.

How to Know How Strong Your Oil Is

Knowing the strength of your capsules is vital, especially when you are trying to pinpoint what works best for your needs and desires. To determine the strength of your capsules, you will need to know the potency of your herb. For this example, we are going to say that the herb utilized has a 20% THC profile. Simply add a 0 to the end of the percentage of your herb THC content to determine the mg of  THC per gram, so in this case, there is 200mg of THC per gram. 

If I utilize 4 grams of herb, my total THC content is 800 mg. This is essential to know so that you can add as little or as much MCT coconut oil as needed to provide you with the perfectly dosed capsules. If I utilize 800mg of THC and make 40 capsules, my capsules are a total of 20mg each.

How to Make Activated Cannabis Oil Capsules at Home

To make activated cannabis oil capsules or to cook with cannabis at home, you have to decarb it first. Decarbing is the process of applying low heat to ground-up cannabis for a certain period to activate the THC.  When eating cannabis or cannabis oil, it is vital first to decarb or “activate” the herb used to get the full benefits. Activating or decarbing cannabis converts THCa into THC.

The first thing I do when making activated cannabis capsules at home is to decarb my herb. This can be done through a decarboxylating device or in the oven. Next, once the herb is fully decarbed, I add enough MCT coconut oil to the herb in the shot glass or measuring cup being utilized.

The more oil you add, the weaker your capsules will be, so adjust accordingly. Typically, I utilize 3-4 grams of herb and approximately 6 TBSP. of MCT coconut oil. This, on average, makes 30-40 capsules using the capsules mentioned above.

Then it is time to infuse the herb into the oil. This can once again be done using an infusor device or by repeating the process for decarboxylation in the oven. Once the infusion is complete, simply strain the oil through the cheesecloth to remove the plant material and draw the oil into the syringe. Allow it cool for 10-15 minutes and then fill the capsules ¾ of the way each.

Store in an airtight glass container in a cool, dry place just like you would your herb to best preserve the valuable cannabinoids and terpenes it contains.

Ever made your own capsules at home? Have tips for our readers? Drop us a line in the comments below or on social media and keep the conversation going!