About the Experience
My cannabis experience had always been unsatisfying due to inconsistent products and mis information, but that is changing. As the market is maturing so are expectations. It is therefore important to produce products that are reliable, available and scalable.
When I was child, a friend of my mother returned from the Vietnam war with a diagnosis of cancer. We would go to the hospital to meet him while he was undergoing chemotherapy. I remember him mentioning that chemotherapy made him loose his appetite, but smoking cannabis helped him overcome the nausea and be able to eat. He also mentioned that he had heard the Veterans Administration might investigate approving cannabis use, since it was becoming known this was true for many patients suffering the same symptoms. As this was the mid 70’s, we know this did not become true.
Since my parents were both Corrections Officers, I had strict guidance to avoid cannabis during most of my youth. While in college and had the opportunity to experience cannabis more freely, I found that I did not like it because I could not predict the results. The feelings ranged between cerebral, couch lock or paranoia, and the feeling never aligned to the mood I was in or trying to achieve. Due to this, I basically gave up on cannabis, although I was often around it and had friends who continued to enjoy it. I would politely pass on joining the experience.
After I moved to Seattle, WA and had broad exposure cannabis consumption, I still refrained, but became interested in the industry. I noticed several things. Many people regularly used cannabis with no negative impact to their lives, people were selective about what they would consume because there were choices, people were successfully using cannabis as medicine, rather than pharmaceuticals drugs. As a result, I began to personally research cannabis.
In 2012 Washington had on the ballot the option to vote for adult use and legalized sales, which I fully supported. However, my long-term partner did not. She was concerned about legalization and voted no.
Once legalized, a dispensary opened close to our house on a transitional block with a history of crime. There were initial concerns that this would draw more crime to the area. This turned out to be unfounded and due to the volume of customers and caliber of the business, the block transformed.
My experiences with retail cannabis brought me back to my earlier days of unpredictable experiences. Even though budtenders attempted to describe the proposed effect based on whether the product was indica or sativa based, we now know this is not necessarily relevant. If I did find a product I liked, the chances were that it would not be available again the next time I visited the dispensary or if I decided to try a different product, I was left guessing on what the effect would be and gave up due to unpredictability.
In 2015 we moved to California, and I became more interested in the cannabis industry. California has a huge medical market; the traditional market is much larger. I was fascinated by the scale and efficiency of both. I also learned that there were actual cannabis connoisseurs and other experts who could accurately describe the experience based on the product.
In 2016 California had on the ballot the option to legalize adult use and recreational sales, which I supported and so did my partner, who previously voted no in Washington. She had seen the transformation and realized like so many others that cannabis is more of a benefit than a harm.
Over the next few years, I began to learn about the various products, different consumption methods and manufacturing processes. More importantly, how to predict the experience based on profile of the plant. No longer focusing on indica or sativa but terpene profiles and the entourage effects. As well as, quality of material, cultivation and manufacturing process. Due to size and scale of the market it was easier to find similar products, but I still noticed there were challenges in consistently finding the actual same product.
In 2018 we moved to Washington, DC. The cannabis market in DC is limited due to the small number of medical dispensaries, so consistent supply is a challenge. However, home cultivation is allowed. I decided to cultivate plants that I was familiar with and that would produce a similar effect.
As my cultivation skills improved, I quickly had far more than could be consumed even after giving large amounts away to friends and family. This forced me to learn how to process into other forms for longer term storage. I began performing several extraction techniques. First making tinctures via alcohol extraction, then other edibles (honey, coconut oil, mints). With a desire to make a more artisanal product, I started to make hash, hash rosin and vape pens.
At my partner’s request, I cultivated a plant high in CBD and very low THC. We knew that CBD worked well for minor aches and pains and were not happy with the cost or the quality of CBD products purchased in stores. In 2021 she broke her ankle, instead of painkillers she chose to consume gummies high in CBD, for longer term pain management. The gummies were made with CBD from the plant I cultivated. I was concerned that it would not work for a broken ankle but throughout the time it took her ankle to heal, she opted for the CBD. We have now given the CBD to friends when needed, and they agree it works.
Once the CoronaVirus pandemic hit, I used the time available to ramp up my study of the cannabis market. I wanted to better understand the history of consumption, and how to customize and or make the effects consistent.
My goal is to engineer products for an experience the consumer desires based on advanced research, superior manufacturing practices and at scale so that they are always available. Once accomplished, I feel this advances the cannabis market by including more people not willing to consume based on fear of undesired effects. I find it compelling to know if I purchase something to help pick me up during the day that it is not going to make me drowsy. I also find it provoking to educate consumers on effect profiles and how to tailor them. Hence, Capitol Extracts was formed.
