Cannabis capsules are one of the newest products on the medicinal cannabis market. Capsules can be useful for patients as they are discrete and can help minimize the stigma associated with medicinal cannabis consumed via vaporization or smoking.
Cannabis capsules come in different varieties. Some are made from dried flower, others are made from oil and both can vary in THC:CBD ratios. The following a some variations and ingredients for capsules:
Ground Decarboxylated Flower
Some capsules contain ground-up decarboxylated flower for oral ingestion. Cannabis flower requires decarboxylation for its THCA to become active, allowing for patients to reap cannabis’ benefits in a noncombustible way.
Crystalline
Crystalline is a powdered substance visually reminiscent of table salt or sugar. Crystalline capsules contain nearly 100% pure powdered cannabinoids, often in THCA or CBD-A-only formulas that allow patients to ingest their cannabis medication without the intoxicating effects associated with THC.
Distillate
Distillate is a runny liquid similar to crystalline in that a distillation process is used to produce it, but its purity can run anywhere from 85% to 95% as the cannabis plant’s terpenes are often reintroduced into the final product. Distillate’s cannabinoids are decarboxylated and are capable of providing users with some of the intoxicating effects associated with smoking flower or ingesting edibles containing THC.
Single Cannabinoid
Some cannabis capsules contain one variety of cannabinoid, in which case patients can find them labeled as “CBD,” or “THC.” These varieties do not contain any of the other medicinally beneficial cannabinoids or terpenes.
Multi-cannabinoid
Capsules that contain a mix of CBD and THC work to enhance the medicinal effects and modulate the psychoactive effects to meet patients’ individual needs. Capsules that include CBD can reduce users’ blood pressure response to stress, among a bevy of other beneficial effects. CBD-infused capsules deliver relief to patients while alleviating THC’s intoxicating effects, making the medication more tolerable to new users.
Full spectrum
Cannabis capsules labeled as “full spectrum” include all of the cannabis plant’s available terpenes, cannabinoids and everything in between. Full spectrum capsules can contain decarboxylated flower or infused-oil bases and allow patients to experience the extent of cannabis’ effects without any additives.
If this is your first time taking cannabis orally, we strongly advise starting at a low dose. 2.5-5 mg is a good starting point for beginners, and then gradually increase your dose over a few weeks. We suggest starting with Array Capsules which are offer mild potency dosages, perfect for beginners, low tolerance users, and those who want to hone their perfect dose.