Why I turned to cannabis capsules during Covid
Has the pandemic changed the way you get high? It did for me.
When the respiratory virus devastated the planet last year, my usual joint-smoking routine went from socializing with friends to just being a solo affair.
In lockdown, a sesh became decidedly less joyful and thoughtful for me – an opportunity to deepen some feelings and reflect on health and mortality.
When the Covid cases skyrocketed last winter, my fear increased and I stopped smoking. Fortunately, I live in Canada, which has a wide variety of formats in the legal market. Instead of smoking, I started buying capsules, which were already my favorite type of food. It turned out I wasn’t the only one.
June 2021 sales data from the Ontario Cannabis Store shows that cannabis capsules are now more popular than chocolate or gums, dollar for dollar. Despite all the hype about infused drinks (which are really innovative), capsules actually sell better than cannabis bevvies.
While capsules may sound damn boring to all of the chocolate and gummy bear lovers out there, the humble format is clearly gaining popularity. I’m here to make the case for the humble softgel – and to find out why others are becoming more and more attracted to you.
Why Consumers Want Cannabis Capsules
First, the price. I love edibles, but spending $ 30 on the three or so chocolates I need to feel an effect just doesn’t make sense. Not to mention the calories and sugars that are usually found in confectionery or beverages.
Consumers often complain about the low-dose 10 mg limits on every pack of edibles, but we sometimes fail to celebrate the gains. Softgels and oils are limited to 1000 mg THC per pack. That’s 100 times more THC in a single glass.
Second, while I am frugal, I have limits when it comes to convenience. I refuse to play around with the even cheaper oil products that come with a dropper that you use to measure a dose and place it under your tongue or hatch.
I don’t want to measure anything. But what’s more, I don’t want oil to get on my clothes or the bag I carry it in.
Finally, I don’t want to invite questions about what I’m doing either. Softgels are wonderfully discreet. It could be vitamins or headache pills, and people are less likely to wonder what you’re taking.
Cannabis capsules are discreet with reliable results
Max Benitah, co-owner and president of Toronto’s Cann Shop, says capsule buyers want to know exactly what to expect. “In many cases, these are people who primarily want predictability,” he says.
“[Consumers] They want to know exactly what they are getting, what format they are getting it in, how it will affect them, how long it will take … they want to know all the details of this kind of thing. So it’s really not the guy who comes in and says, ‘What’s your highest THC? ? ‘ It’s a different kind of consumer. “
Capsule consumers are also older and generally have little interest in smoking. You tend to look for CBD / THC mixed capsules that are geared towards wellbeing, sleep, or inflammation rather than getting very high. (It’s worth noting that customers may be looking for products to address these health concerns, but budtenders in licensed stores are legally prohibited from talking about health or wellness claims.)
So far, says Benitah, most of its customers don’t find much of a difference between products that go beyond cannabinoid content. Most use so-called MCT oil as a carrier oil for the cannabinoids in the capsules.
Softgels can have different carrier oils and potencies
Brad Canario, senior director of marketing at capsule maker Auxly, tells Leafly that not all softgels are made equal.
In the case of Dosecann, a brand under the Auxly umbrella, their capsules do not contain MCT oil. Instead, they use Ahiflower seed oil, which the manufacturer says is non-genetically modified, sustainably sourced, vegan, and contains omega-3 and omega-6 oils.
The caps are also unique, says Canario. The Licaps® Capsugel capsules are designed for precise, standardized dosing, a longer shelf life and quick digestion, he says.
Canario also confirms why I think softgels are superior: price and effectiveness.
“Our research shows us that potency after price is the most important buying factor for capsules,” he says, “especially when it comes to CBD capsules.”
“Dosecann currently offers 25 mg CBD capsules, which are among the strongest on the market.” He also says that a 50 mg CBD cap will be launched soon.
Start low, go slow
While I still enjoy getting high, I have to admit that my weed evolution during the pandemic was driven by wellness. I join the mature, more health conscious cannabis users.
For those curious about the dosage, Dr. Bob Chapman, Chief Science Officer of Auxly, told consumers to track capsule consumption with a snack.
“Taking capsules with food has been shown to increase cannabinoid intake and is good practice but not always required,” he says.
And finally, he says to remember that timing is also important. You probably won’t feel the full effects an hour or two after ingestion, and these effects can last between four and 12 hours.
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