Cannabis Gel Capsules
Cannabis gel caps can be a useful product to incorporate into both your DIY skill set and into your Medical Cannabis Program.
In this article, we will explain how to make cannabis gel capsules out of RSO cannabis oil.
The difficulty level of this recipe is medium to hard.
We here at Kanteeva suggest that you try this when you have a clear mind and when you are not in a rush.
If you are incapable of doing math, following directions or if you have trouble remembering, please have someone help you!
We hope you enjoy this DIY article and we encourage you to make comments or ask questions. There is a space to do so below the article.
This is a simple recipe that only requires a few ingredients and some basic pieces of equipment. It can also save you money!
Cool Down: 15 minutes
Equipment
A heat safe glass measuring cup (pyrex is suggested)- Medium sized saucepan
- Plastic spatula
- Small stainless steel mixing spoon or a chopstick
- Paper towel to keep things organized and clean
- 3 containers, bowls or cups. We like to use bowls. Glass or ceramic is preferred.
- Two ceramic mugs
- Small oral syringe
- 0.01 gram scale is recommended, but a 0.1 gram scale will also work
- Calculator
Once you have all of this equipment you can make cannabis capsules for years. We suggest spending the money and the time to get the proper equipment because it will ultimately make a better DIY product that is more consistent.
Ingredients
- 1 gram of RSO (Rick Simpson Oil) or another Decarbed Cannabis Concentrate
- We have tried this recipe using many different concentrates and we have found that RSO or CO2 oil works best.
- 1 Bottle of MCT Oil
- It is one of the best all purpose carrier oils we have found
- A bag of Single ‘0’ Capsules
- Use Gelatin Capsules or Veggie Capsules. Your choice.
You can scale this recipe up as much as you want but we suggest doing small fresh batches. We also suggest not making a batch using anything less than 0.5 grams of cannabis concentrate.
Do the Math First
Doing the math will set yourself up for success! You need to seriously manage your cannabis concentrate when making cannabis capsules so that you can produce a consistent and accurate product.
Managing your cannabis concentrate will allow you to manage the psychoactive cannabinoid THC.
To learn more about how cannabis ingestion works, we invite you to visit our Kanteeva articles on “Consumption Methods - The Basics” and “Edibles - Understanding the Basics.”
Below is an example of how to calculate how many capsules you will be able to make with 1 gram of 75% THC RSO:
- The first calculation is to find out how much THC you are dealing with
- Take the amount of RSO and multiply it by the THC content percentage
- For example, 1 gram RSO * 75% THC Content = 0.75 grams or 750 mg of THC
- We have a total of 750 mg of THC to disperse equally between our capsules
- For example, 1 gram RSO * 75% THC Content = 0.75 grams or 750 mg of THC
- Take the amount of RSO and multiply it by the THC content percentage
- Take 750 mg and divide it by the strength you want each capsule to be in terms of THC content
- For example, if you wanted to make 25 mg THC capsules then you would take 750 mg and divide by 25 mg which equals 30
- When you are done you will have 30 capsules with 25 mg of THC in each capsule
- Here is another example. If you want to make 10 mg THC capsules then take 750 mg and divide by 10 mg which equals 75.
- When you are done you will have 75 capsules with 10 mg of THC in each capsule
- For example, if you wanted to make 25 mg THC capsules then you would take 750 mg and divide by 25 mg which equals 30
- Now for the MCT Oil
- Finding out how much MCT oil goes in each capsule is sometimes tricky
- As a general rule a single ‘0’ capsule full of MCT oil weighs 0.55 mg
- So how much MCT oil do you need?
- If we are making 30 capsules then multiply 30 by 0.55 mg
- The total is 16.5 grams of MCT Oil
- If we are making 30 capsules then multiply 30 by 0.55 mg
- Finding out how much MCT oil goes in each capsule is sometimes tricky
Now you are ready to start creating your cannabis capsules!
To learn more about oral administration dosages we invite you to visit our Kanteeva article “Oral Dosages - A Guideline.”
The Golden Elixir Directions
- Fill the medium sized pot with around 3 inches inches of hot water, place it on a stove top burner at a low/medium heat (level 3 to 4) and allow the water to heat up so it is hot to the touch but do not let the water boil.
- Put your glass measuring cup on the scale and “tare” it.
- Add the MCT Oil to the measuring cup until the scale reaches 16.5 grams (the specific amount of carrier oil that we got from doing “The Math”).
- Remove the measuring cup from the scale and place it in the medium sized saucepan that is heating up on the stove. This saucepan should still have around 3 inches of hot water in it and make sure that the water level is at least one inch below the lip of the measuring cup. You do not want any water getting in the mixture.
- Allow the MCT Oil to be heated until it becomes warm to hot to the touch
- Now add your decarbed cannabis concentrate to the MTC Oil that is in the measuring cup. Stir constantly with your mixing tool until the cannabis concentrate has fully melted into the MCT Oil. This should take around 5 minutes to completely emulsify.
Monitor the temperature and do not let the mixture become too hot or boil. The MCT Oil and the concentrate will mix easily and will typically become a uniform amber colour.
If the colour becomes a solid green colour, your concentrate is most likely still full of chlorophyll. The higher quality the concentrate, the less green it will look. - Once the MCT Oil and your concentrate has emulsified, remove the glass measuring cup from the hot water and set it aside to cool. Use oven mitts if neccessary. We suggest covering the top loosely with a paper towel so no debris enters while it cools.
- Let the mixture cool, either on the counter or in the fridge. You want to ensure the mixture is at least room temperature before starting to fill the capsules.
Capsuling the Golden Elixir
Capsuling is the most tedious part of this DIY recipe because it takes time and dexterity.
The most effective way to do this without having a capsuling machine is to follow these directions:
- Open your bag of capsules and empty out more than you will need into your container, bowl or cup by “eyeballing” it. You can also count them, although you will count them again at the end so it is easier not to do this now.
- Now seperate the tops from the bottoms. As you are doing this, place the tops in one container and the bottoms in the other one. We have not found a capsule company that produces capsules with the tops and bottoms already separated so this is the only option for now.
- Once you have separated the capsules you can use the empty bowl for the soon to be filled capsules
- Now take the measuring cup full of cannabis elixir, which has now cooled down, and put it by the bowls near your work space.
- Take a few paper towels and your oral syringe out and place them near the rest of your equipment and supplies.
- Suckup the mixture with the oral syringe and place it tip down in the empty ceramic mug
- Take one of the bottom capsules and hold it with your index finger and thumb, with the open end facing towards the ceiling.
- Take the oral syringe that is full of the cannabis mixture and fill the empty capsule so it is almost overflowing. This takes practice, so do not be worried if you over fill them and spill a bit.
- Now take a top capsule and put it on top of the filled bottom capsule. You will most likely hear a click when the full connection has been made and the capsule is sealed.
- Place the capsule in the empty and clean bowl.
- Repeat until there is no mixture left.
- You should have 30 capsules full of the elixir when finished. You may have a few less, or a few more, depending on the amount of elixir spilled. That is okay. You will become much better at this as you continue to practice.
- Store the capsules in a food safe glass container and store it in a cool dark place. Some of the Kanteeva team members like to put theirs in the fridge because there are no kids in the home and any adult guests know to ask before eating random capsules they find in a glass container. Sensible guests are more than welcome to enjoy them :)
Congratulations you have just made cannabis capsules!
Visit our Kanteeva article “Oral Dosages - A Guideline” for more information about how much THC to ingest at one time.
We Want to Hear From You
This effective cannabis capsule recipe could have easily cost over $150.00 if you did not make it yourself and you can make it in 20 to 30 minutes for half the cost!
Many patients swear by RSO cannabis capsules to help alleviate the symptoms of their ailments, which ultimately helps medical cannabis patients to live a more manageable life.
Now that you have the knowledge to make your own cannabis capsules, we encourage you to make some and to share the results with our growing community.
How did it go? Were they easy and simple to make?
Let us know how it went by commenting below, we would love to hear from you.
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