If you want to get all the benefits of marijuana without smoking, vaping or even eating a traditional edible, you may be interested in exploring how to make weed capsules. These “canna caps” make it easy for you to consume cannabis orally, effectively determine your dosage, and enjoy all the effects of your favorite cannabis strain. You can buy cannabis capsules in a dispensary, but you can also save yourself a few bucks by making your own canna caps at home.
The final strength of your capsules will depend on the number of cannabinoids and their strength in the cannabis flower you start out with as well as the amount of the ingredients that you use.
Ingredients to Make Weed Capsules
Here are the ingredients to have on hand to make your cannabis capsules:
- 8 to 15 grams of cannabis flower
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup of coconut oil
- 1/2 teaspoon soy lecithin
- 40 to 50 gelatin or vegan capsules in size 00, empty and ready for filling. You can get these at your local drugstore or health food store.
- Capsule packaging machine or capsule holder
- 10mm syringe, preferably an oral irrigator with a tapered tip
- Lidded cooking pot
- Glass bowl
- Small bowl
- Baking sheet or oven tray
- Parchment paper
- Spatula
- Rubber band
- Oven or slow cooker
Get Started With Your Cannabis Capsules
The first step to making weed capsules is decarboxylation. The decarb process releases the active ingredients in your cannabis and gets it ready for preparation into extracts and tinctures.
Turn your oven to 220 degrees Fahrenheit and preheat it while you break apart your cannabis flower. Spread out the small broken pieces on a baking sheet covered in parchment paper. It will generally take around 30 to 45 minutes before your decarb is complete, although you could continue for up to an hour or so. Once your cannabis flower is a medium-brown color, you’re ready to take the next step.
Note: The decarb process has an odor. This process is important however, to release the active ingredients in your cannabis. After the decarb process is done, grind the cannabis finely to prepare it for making the capsules. You can use a spice or coffee grinder for the best results.
The next step is preparing your infusion. You can use either an oven or a slow cooker for this process.
Step 1. If you’re using the oven to prepare your capsule oil, just keep it heated to 220 degrees. Fill your cooking pot with water over halfway to the top and bring it to a boil on the stove.
Step 2. In the glass bowl, put in your coconut oil along with the soy lecithin. Make sure that you choose a large bowl that is wider at the top that your pot, as you will sit it inside the rim as the water boils below. You want the bowl to sit around 1 to 2 inches above the boiling water.
Step 3. Using this form of double-boiler, melt the coconut oil together with the soy lecithin. Stir your decarb cannabis in fine grounds into the mixture.
Step 4. Mix together until you have a thoroughly combined mixture.
Step 5. Empty the water from your pot and put the mixture inside. Put the metal pot inside your oven for up to 45 minutes for the infusion process to complete. If you’re using a slow cooker, put the ground decarb cannabis, soy lecithin and coconut oil in your crockpot.
Step 6. Set the unit to a low level of heat and let it sit on the countertop to cook for at least two hours.
Filling Your Canna Caps
Now you’re ready to fill your canna caps. Get your capsules set up. If you have a capsule packaging machine or device, get it ready using the instructions. If you have wood capsule holders (available at a health food store), place one-half of the capsules inside each hole.
Step 1. Take your cheesecloth and use the rubber band to keep it fixed around the small bowl. Now that your extract is done, push the oil through the cheesecloth to strain it. This will allow your cannabis extract to pass through while catching unneeded particles and keeping your capsules clear. Before you fill the capsules, wait for your oil to cool to around 100 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid melting.
Step 2. Take the syringe, fill it with the oil and insert it into each capsule, following the directions for your specific capsules and device. Continue the process until all the oil is moved up.
Step 3. Now, close your capsules by hand or with the machine. You should end up with around 50 capsules, depending on your starting materials.
Keep your completed capsules stored in a dry, cool area, and enjoy the effects!