This cannabis capsule tutorial has been one of the most requested recipes since this site went up. Even though you all wanted to see it, I procrastinated on it because I was more than a little intimidated to make these the first time.

They looked messy and complicated. Capsule maker? Pulling apart and reassembling gel caps? Filling them without wasting a ton of oil and making a huge mess? It sounded like way to many supplies and way too much work.

I’m so glad I finally got around to making and testing these for the new book. These capsules are a game. changer. Don’t be scared. They’re so much easier than they sound and they’re incredibly convenient.

If you already have a batch of cannabis coconut oil prepared and you’d like to make some cannacaps, check out the video below for a quick tutorial. You can also subscribe to the Wake & Bake youtube channel to get more videos like this one 🙂

These took about 15 minutes to make (including melting the cannabis coconut oil and freezer time). They are extremely easy to dose, and are a great way to make potent medicine that stores well. They can also be used as vaginal and rectal suppositories… but we’ll get to all of that in a minute.

Benefits of Cannabis Coconut Oil Capsules

Cannacaps are popular in dispensaries because they’re easy to dose and are convenient. They also don’t contain the varied amounts of fat and sugar that influence cannabinoid metabolism. If you eat a sugary tincture infused candy or a fat based cannabis chocolate bar that have the same THC content, you’re going to have very different effects because of how they’re metabolized by the liver. But if you take a cannacap in the morning or right before bed, you can be relatively sure that the capsule will have a similar effect and can increase or decrease your dosage from there.

That said, one of the biggest benefits of cannacaps is that they’re incredibly effective when it comes to figuring out a good dose for yourself and achieving similar results every time you use them. I’ve written extensively about my personal accidental cannabis overdoses and now use the Cannabis Dosage Calculator to test my oil before consuming any of my cannabis infused goodies. After testing my oil and making these cannacaps in 10mg pills, I’m convinced that this is the future of effectively dosing homemade cannabis medicine.

Benefits of Cannabis Capsules:

• Convenient and discreet medicating on-the-go

• Doesn’t smell (after you make the oil)

• Lasts longer and is stronger than smoking or vaping

• Stores indefinitely in your freezer

• Smoke-free

• Can be used as a suppository if you have trouble swallowing or are extremely nauseous

I keep mine in a small jar in the back of the freezer so they’re not exposed to light. In this state, I think they’ll keep for a year or two (I’ll make sure to save some for as long as possible and check back to let you know if they’re still kickin’).

Tips for Making DIY Cannabis Capsules

Cannabis capsules can be expensive in dispensaries, but they’re very cost effective when you make them at home. If you’re going to use capsules regularly or would like to make a few batches for later use, it’s a good idea to invest in an inexpensive capsule maker.

I tried to make a few cannacaps without one and they were hard to handle. It was nearly impossible to fill them up to the top without making a mess, or have the gel caps start sticking to alllll of your fingers. I ordered a capsule filler (the Cap m Quik) and the process went a whole lot smoother.

Full disclosure… I did have a fail while making these, but it was totally random. The handle on my pot broke off and I spilled warm water over almost all of my gel caps (I only had enough left to make these two rows ;). If there were no music in the tutorial video, you’d hear a lot of f-bombs instead of ukulele. The gel caps will melt and clump together if they get even a little wet, so be sure to keep them away from moisture.

Also, it’s worthwhile to use a good dropper. I used one that was included with this super cute gummies kit and it didn’t handle the melted oil well. A dropper from a bottle would do the trick… or these disposable ones would work much better and they’re only a buck.

Using Cannabis Capsules as Suppositories

It’s time to get a little weird up in this post. I personally guinea pigged this one for you guys to make sure it was safe and effective and (oh boy!) it is. I’ve been trying to convince some of my testers to “take one for the team”, so to speak, and realized that I’d have to “take one for the team” if I wanted to tell you guys from the bottom of my heart that this was a legitimate way to use cannabis.

So yesterday, I went for it. And by went for it, I mean I put a cannacap in my butt. There, I said it. There’s no shame in it. I feel like I should say something scienc-y right now to take away the grossness of that sentence, but all I can say is… it was awesome!

But I will say that science-wise, the reason your experience will be different when you consume cannabis via-the-bootay is that the compounds enter your bloodstream quickly, bypassing the liver. This means that if you’re the kind of person who gets couch lock or waaaaaay too high from consuming other edibles, this is a great option for you. I cleaned my house, made cannabis gummies, wrote and edited some content and was fully functional while experiencing a great deal of pain relief for over four hours. I didn’t experience any brain fog or feel messed up, but I felt really euphoric and was in a great mood.

The verdict: cannacaps are excellent for suppository use (either vaginally or rectally). They’re smaller than conventional cannabis suppositories and they’re contained in a gelcap so they’re less messy. If you’re using them vaginally for lady-time discomfort or for sexy-time fun, you’ll probably want to use two and wear some undies you aren’t emotionally attached to.

Cannabis suppositories are excellent if you’re experiencing trouble swallowing or if you are very nauseous and can’t keep anything down. I’ve heard through comments and emails that this is also a great way to medicate if you have IBS or digestive issues and prefer not to smoke. I’ll be doing a post soon about making homemade cannabis suppositories, but these definitely work in a pinch.

How-To Make Cannabis Capsules

1. Prepare a batch of cannabis infused coconut oil in a crockpot, double boiler or the Levo.
2. If your oil is solid, melt it in a double boiler or on a pot over very low heat.
3. Separate your 00 size capsules (or these if you’re vegetarian), saving the tops in a small bowl.
4. Using a capsule maker, place the large part of the capsules into each slot.
5. Fill the capsules using a dropper (I used a large one for gummies that was leaky so it made it messier than it needed to be. These would work much better)
6. Place the capsule maker into the freezer for a few minutes, until the oil hardens.
7. Remove from freezer and cap your cannacaps with the tops you saved earlier.
8. Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.

Let me know if you have any thoughts, questions, or odd feelings you’d like to work out after reading my TMI suppository report in the comments below.

Much love,

Corinne

Disclaimer: This is not intended as medical advice. I’m not a doctor. I’m also not a lawyer and can’t defend you if you get busted trying to make this recipe in a state that still considers possession or cultivation of cannabis a criminal act. I don’t agree with this law, but I’d never advocate that you break it. Jail would suck. Instead, I strongly advise that you work to change the law in your state or nation by supporting and being active in grassroots organizations that are trying to legalize cannabis in your area (they’re everywhere). This recipe is heretofore only intended for people who live in states or countries where medical or recreational use of cannabis is legal, who are 21 and older, of sound mind and who understand that operating heavy machinery (cars, trucks, planes, etc.) under the influence of any intoxicant, including marijuana, is incredibly dangerous, immature, and wholly stupid. Please don’t ever eat and drive. Support public transportation or use the two legs that evolution gave you and walk your sweet ass wherever it is that you need to go.