Review Cannabrex Encapsulation System

[Dole654]

SWIM was wondering if anyone has heard of the Cannabrex kit.

One would begin by decarboxylating the THC via an included "decarboxylation chamber." Add ground herb and their "special oil blend", described as pharma-grade Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides, as well as 'essential oils' which aid in the absorption of THC. The deCOxy chamber is then put into a bot of boiling water.

After removal, 'excipient powder' is added - this is claimed to be a pharma-grade, starch based filler.
- Cannabrex "3X" can also be used. This is supposedly a blend of the aforementioned 'excipient powder', powdered ginger, and Bioperine (mmm, piperine). This blend claims to increase the gastric absorption of THC.
- Cannabrex "3X-AM" is a "non-drowsy" variation on this in which "Siberian ginseng extract, Yerba Mate extract, and pure caffeine anhydrous" are added.

After this is complete, the blend is deposited into gelatin capsules using the included encapsulation machine.

.... Anyway, SWIM will be ordering the kit soon and will be providing a full product review upon a successful batch.

[cosmicruler]

No, i had never heard of this until now.
Do you consume medical cannabis or something Dole654???

I fail to see how this is going to work very well!!?
What are they adding thats meant to speed up absorbtion???(some kind of oil,ginger and piperine)
why not just buy these products and mix your own???

[Dole654]

The reasoning behind the formulation doesn't seem too far fetched to mix... SWIM could buy his own filler, etc, but the convenience out weighs the cost in this situation...

SWIM has seen data showing piperine's effectiveness in increasing the bioavailability of several different compounds. SWIM was wondering if anyone had any information pertaining to such... Or the specific oils that were mentioned...

[xerbannac]

What or who is SWIM?

I can help you out with any info about Cannabrex....

[FuBai]

Originally Posted by xerbannac

What or who is SWIM?

I can help you out with any info about Cannabrex....

Someone Who Isn't Me. Read the rules.

[xerbannac]

I searched the rules - but I guess not hard enough - thanks!

You could try to buy your own stuff and do it yourself, but it is sometimes difficult to find piperines in retail quantities, and then go to different shops to buy all those different items...or ordering them all from the web and paying shipping...
Also the Oil Blend won't go rancid - ever - and no need for refrigeration.

[Shampoo]

How does the supposed decarboxylation chamber work? From looking at this product it appears that the chamber is simply a glass jar that is placed in boiling water? What specific byproducts of the decarboxylation process are desired here? ∆-11-THC? CBN/CBD? Please elaborate on the supposed decarboxylation chamber and its purported purpose.

Also, what about this excipient (3x)? By what mechanisms does it increase bioavailability? Have you any evidence or papers pointing to the effectiveness of piperines in increasing gastric absorption?

Why is this product more effective than eating raw cannabis with some free-lipids? or perhaps heating it first for decarboxylation and then eating it with said lipids?

[xerbannac]

Decarboxylation:
From a laymen's point of view, one could say that the decarboxylation chamber is simply a glass jar, although using any randomly sized and shaped glass jar found in your kitchen or even a store will not be the same. Once you try it, or even consider it for a minute, you will see why this particular glass jar is called a decarboxylation chamber.

Firstly, the type of glass has been chosen for its ability to withstand multiple boils, as some glass jars will crack or break during their very first boil, or shortly after it. Also, the cap makes a sound seal that again will not weaken over many boils. This makes it ideal for decarbing your THC many times.

Aditionally, there is no lip to this container, which makes it ideal for getting things in and out of it. Try to scrape your valuable THC mixture out of most jars and you will be struggling to get that last bits out from under the lip.

So, one could go to a few shops and ask the right questions and hope for the right glass jar. If you have a lot of time and are willing to test out a few jars, with the risk of losing some of your medicine, why not? If you want to know that the container you are using will perform its specifically designated task succesfully, this is a good 'glass jar' to use.

The purpose of the decarboxylation chamber is to render the THC into a psychoactive state. You can Google the word 'decarboxylation' with a combination of other keywords to get more pages than you can possibly read. Some are scientific and boring, while others are more fun to read but offer less actual proof.

Ed Rosenthal, considered an expert on cannabis, writes:

"When marijuana is harvested, the THC molecule is bound to a carboxyl group � COOH � that is, one atom each of carbon and hydrogen and two atoms of oxygen. With a carboxyl group attached, THC is not active.

Heating dried marijuana makes the carboxyl group convert into water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2). When marijuana is smoked, the burning eliminates the carboxyl group. There are several ways to decarboxylate marijuana for use in extracts."

Cannabrex 3X
The 3X is not an excipient - the website lists another item as an excipient. This stuff is called a bioavailablity enhancer, which primarily uses piperines to increase the rate of absorption into the bloodstream. Again, Google it to see some real info or check out the wikipedia entry.

Eating raw cannabis is not as effective as decarboxylating it and then combining it with a bioavailaboility enhancer, but quoting a scientific journal may not help to convince someone. A good idea is to eat some raw cannabis and see what the effect is, then get yourself a Cannabrex Kit (or source all the items that come with it and buy them separately) and make some caps. Compare.

The testimonials on the Cannabrex website are pretty good, but then again, they may be fake. Google 'Cannabrex' and check out what others are saying.

There are currently 3 dispensaries in California and 3 in Canada that provide Cannabrex Capsules to their members.

[Shampoo]

Originally Posted by xerbannac

Decarboxylation:
From a laymen's point of view, one could say that the decarboxylation chamber is simply a glass jar, although using any randomly sized and shaped glass jar found in your kitchen or even a store will not be the same. Once you try it, or even consider it for a minute, you will see why this particular glass jar is called a decarboxylation chamber.

Firstly, the type of glass has been chosen for its ability to withstand multiple boils, as some glass jars will crack or break during their very first boil, or shortly after it. Also, the cap makes a sound seal that again will not weaken over many boils. This makes it ideal for decarbing your THC many times.

Aditionally, there is no lip to this container, which makes it ideal for getting things in and out of it. Try to scrape your valuable THC mixture out of most jars and you will be struggling to get that last bits out from under the lip.

So, one could go to a few shops and ask the right questions and hope for the right glass jar. If you have a lot of time and are willing to test out a few jars, with the risk of losing some of your medicine, why not? If you want to know that the container you are using will perform its specifically designated task successfully, this is a good 'glass jar' to use.

Alright, so it is essentially a glass jar? Mason jars can withstand great amounts of heat, numerous boils, and can be found without lips and in any size for very little money or effort.

You mentioned that the size of the jar is crucial or beneficial. What aspect of the 'decarb'ing process is this crucial to? Is there a certain amount of CO2 that must be contained, or a specific pressure above 760torr? Please elaborate.

The purpose of the decarboxylation chamber is to render the THC into a psychoactive state. You can Google the word 'decarboxylation' with a combination of other keywords to get more pages than you can possibly read. Some are scientific and boring, while others are more fun to read but offer less actual proof.

Ed Rosenthal, considered an expert on cannabis, writes:

"When marijuana is harvested, the THC molecule is bound to a carboxyl group � COOH � that is, one atom each of carbon and hydrogen and two atoms of oxygen. With a carboxyl group attached, THC is not active.

Heating dried marijuana makes the carboxyl group convert into water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2). When marijuana is smoked, the burning eliminates the carboxyl group. There are several ways to decarboxylate marijuana for use in extracts."

Many sources that I have found state that 95%+ of THC-A in a plant (The THC bound to a carboxyl group) is decarboxylated to ∆-9-THC through the drying process and further oxidized via heat into CBN/CBD/CBG soon thereafter. The last 5% occurs during prolonged curing or smoking. Is this 'decarb' process that effective? It seems like at most it could boost the potency of the edible cannabis by about 5% or so. Also, how is this reaction controlled so as not to further oxidize the ∆-9-THC into it's less active counterparts?

Cannabrex 3X
The 3X is not an excipient - the website lists another item as an excipient. This stuff is called a bioavailablity enhancer, which primarily uses piperines to increase the rate of absorption into the bloodstream. Again, Google it to see some real info or check out the wikipedia entry.

Piperine acts as an enzyme inhibitor, though I can find no specific mention of it inhibiting digestive enzymes associated with the metabolisis of ∆-9-THC. Is this manufacturer simpyl assuming that because it inhibits digestive enxymes it will inhibit those associated with THC digestion? or do they have some evidence I have not been able to find?

Eating raw cannabis is not as effective as decarboxylating it and then combining it with a bioavailaboility enhancer, but quoting a scientific journal may not help to convince someone. A good idea is to eat some raw cannabis and see what the effect is, then get yourself a Cannabrex Kit (or source all the items that come with it and buy them separately) and make some caps. Compare.

Using illegal drugs is never a 'good idea' and should not be reccomended. Considering California's arguably legal marijuana status, anywhere in the US this would be considered federally illegal.

I guess the big bottom-line question for SWIM is, is this more efficient than cooking the cannabis with a lipid to increase membrane solubility and gastric bioavailability? or is it simply more conveinient to have pills instead of cookies or butter?

Thank you for all your information, it has been ery helpful in determining the validity of this product, though obviously the only real test is a subjective comparison.

[Richard_smoker]

IMHO, this sounds like a waste o'money.

SWIM knows that THC is basically oil-soluble...or, soluble in ethanol--to put it differently...

swim also knows that if you just
1. grind up your plant material...the smaller the pieces, the higher the surface area, and better the extraction.
2. take yourself a mason-jar, then
3. throw your plant grindings in there.
4. fill up jar 3/4 or more with everclear (95% ethanol).
5. screw on the lid and
6. shake, shake, shake...
7. everytime it crosses your mind, you can shake, shake, shake your jar!
8. wait one week (~7days)...
9. open your jar, and squeeze your plant material thru a cloth (t-shirt works great), and save the now-magic ethanol.
10. add some more ethanol to your almost-used-up plant material. shake, shake...
11. allow 2nd ethanol run to sit 2-3 days or so, then squeeze thru a cloth just like last time, and place the magic ethanols together.

12. IMPORTANT STEP...set your stove to LOW HEAT, and slowly cook off the ethanol--BE CAREFUL--ethanol is highly flammable! you must be very patient. just remember that ethanol is almost exactly the same as rubbing alcohol--the reason it feels cold on your skin is because it LOVES to evaporate! so, keep on LOW HEAT...and be patient!

now, if you let the ethanol ALL evaporate off, then you're left with THC OIL..very sticky, not really good for anything, except WASTING IT! that is, unless you add a bit o'fresh ethanol to re-dissolve it into a liquid...then you can play with your THC OIL...

BUT! if you want to ENCAPSULATE YOUR THC??

all you gotta do is dump in a bunch of pre-measured herbs, crushed-up caffeine pills, ephedra, ephedrine HCl, whatever you like...either to enhance the sleepiness (antihistamine, like diphenhydramine), or offset the sleepiness (energy herbs, caffeine, crushed ephedrine HCl, whatever...)

when the ethanol is done evaporating (and you added a big pile of crushed ephedrine HCl, for example), you'll end up with some dry, green powder!

EXCELLENT FOR PACKING CAPSULES!!! They're so kick-ass, that no one you give them to will be able to figure out what's in em! even though YOU know that it's weed...it feels like weed, etc. but no one will guess that it's THC unless you tell em!

***this TEK instruction is NOT for anyone to ACTUALLY DO! if someone were to follow these instructions, they would probably be breaking several laws. i am not responsible**

-DICK

[xerbannac]

It souns like you guys know what you'tre talking about, and may not like this product.
I am not a scientist, but I wish somebody who really knew about this stuff would chime in.
If SWIM doesn't believe in this product, and does not want to break any laws, then SWIM should definitely not buy this product.

But I guess if SWIM is looking for this type of thing, they have found it.

I am off to the gym to go for a swim.

[Richard_smoker]

xerbannac, is this your product or something??? you sure do make it sound difficult to locate and purchase a glass jar! ha.

[xerbannac]

The shop on my corner sells glass jars, and when I need a glass jar, that is where I go.

[gungfucuddler]

Xerbannac, if you look on their FAQ and break down what each thing does you will understand how it works.

As a product that will do exactly what it says
E.G.
1. decarboxylation of THCA into THC
2. Mix with Filler
3. Place in capsules

It is fine.

Because most marijuana that is sold to SWIY or SWIM is not cured but dried, because the guy who sells to SWIM or SWIY isn't going to spend the extra 1-6 months per grow to make sure the bud is the best that it can be when he sells it because he wants fast financial turn over of an illegal product. which means it is not given the proper time to go into decarboxylation but rather decarboxylation happens when one smokes it so if someone wants to ingest it the must remove the COOH from THCA.

Now price wise it is most definitely not worth it, except for the 3X powder, because well buying bioavailabilty herbs/extracts is just a bitch and it is the one thing in their catalog that is easier and cheaper to buy from them.

Their decarboxylation chamber is a mason jar

Their Special Oil blend is caprylic/capric triglyceride also know as Fractionated Coconut oil.

Their Excipient Powder is Excipient Powder, there are more then enough things you could use as an excipient powder Siberian Ginseng Root would be perfect and would be like their "AM" blend. (which they even tell you on their FAQ page.)

If someone followed the instructions on their page substituting their products with these products they would have the exact same thing.





So yes if SWIY prefers paying for convenience go for it. SWIM enjoys the wonders of home crafting, kitchen chemistry, and understanding how things work and how to make them freeware for the how world to use with out the need of money, so SWIM will always take the Road of Education and Experience over Convenience at a Cost.

I hope this helps anyone in any way.

Metta

Reputation Comments on this post:

thanks. please elaborate.

[xerbannac]

Actually, you are partially right.

Besides their bioavailability enhancer, their FAQ says that their oil blend is better than most oils, including olive oil. I heard that it is digested as a carb and not a fat, so the onset time is faster, plus it needs no refrigeration and will not go rancid. You camn find some similar oils in those shops that bodybuilders shop at - it costs about $40 per quart.

Their decarboxylation is not even a mason jar - the cap is only one piece and there is no neck like mason jars. Theirs is probably cheaper than a mason jar if you can find a good shaped jar that can withstand multiple boils - which is exactly what their so-called 'chamber' is.

Their excipient is simply pharmaceutical-grade corn starch. Simple stuff, but way more effective than regular corn starch -you can buy it from pharma companies in 100kg barrels.

[gungfucuddler]

Heh, actually SWIM is fully correct.

Their oil blend is not better at absorbing THC it is better at not going rancid. Look up caprylic/capric triglyceride, the internet will explain to you what it is and why it does not go bad and also why it is absorbed the way it is. Similar to Glycerin absorption, which is also horrible at absorbing THC but is very good at being absorbed by the body. Also if one takes the time to look for USP Food Grade they will find any Fractionated Oil mighty cheap an in bulk. The reason that the Cannabrex system uses the Decarboxylation chamber instead of a million other methods is because the added pressure and the airtight environment makes the THC absorb quicker with out having the extra problem of the oil grabbing onto more oxygen. SWIM could go into all the chemistry but no one needs to know the chemical process of how a cake rises in an oven to make a cake.

SWIM owns a mason jar that is exactly like their Decarboxylation, it is called a wide mouth one piece top mason jar. SWIM bought a case (12) for less then 10 American dollars. Mason is a company that makes jars, not a jar. The primary style that the Mason company makes has been coined the Mason Jar.

Feed back was requested, Feed Back was given. There is no need to debate preference because preference is not an absolute truth it is a preference.

Also, did SWIY try the cannabrex system? Did it work well for SWIY? Did SWIY enjoy the product? Why not write a review of the product and if the truth of the product shines through and it is a good product maybe people will buy it. Where as if anyone childishly debates semantically others opinions it will only push them away from ever listening to that persons' advice, questions, or reviews.