Types of Cannabis Products: FECO and Infused Oils
In the world of cannabis, there are many types of products available, but at FECO Playbook, we recommend two primary types: full-extract cannabis oil (FECO) and infused oils. Knowing the difference is crucial, so here’s a detailed explanation:
- FECO
FECO is the most potent form of ingested cannabis product available. It is created by soaking cannabis in ethanol for a while, allowing the ethanol to extract the cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant material. The solution is then filtered to remove the cannabis material, and the ethanol extract is heated to evaporate the ethanol, leaving behind a pure extract with no other substances diluting it. Heat is also used during this process to convert raw cannabinoids into their neutral counterparts, such as THCA (THC acid) into THC or CBDA (CBD acid) into CBD. This process is called decarboxylation.
Decarboxylation is necessary because without it, the FECO product would be mainly THCA or CBDA. Although these compounds are useful, research and patient experiences do not support their use as much as THC and CBD. THCA cannot activate cannabinoid receptors or produce any “high,” while THC can.
In addition to THC and CBD, FECO also contains other types of cannabinoids like CBG, CBC, CBN, THCV, or CBDV. Although small amounts of acidic cannabinoids are good, they should not dominate the product. The total content of cannabinoids should be between 55-80% of the FECO’s weight, which equates to 550-800mg/g of total cannabinoids.
FECO also contains terpenes that work with cannabinoids to improve their therapeutic effects. The higher the quality of a FECO product, the more terpenes will be present and in higher quantities. Unfortunately, few lab test results show terpene levels, but high and diverse cannabinoid levels indicate the presence of terpenes.
The primary advantage of FECO is the ability to ingest high doses of cannabinoids with small volumes of medicine, making it ideal for cancer patients who need high doses to achieve direct anticancer effects.
- Infused Oils
Infused oils are a less potent type of cannabis product that is also easier to administer than FECO. It is created by soaking cannabis in oil, such as olive, coconut, or salmon oil, for a while, during which the cannabinoids and terpenes become infused into the oil. The solution is then filtered to remove the cannabis material, and heat is applied at various points to decarboxylate the cannabinoids.
Since infused oil is not a pure extract, it has a much lower concentration of cannabinoids. Infused oils tend to be only 1-5% cannabinoids, which is 10-50mg/mL total cannabinoids. However, it is still possible to achieve high doses with infused oil, but you need to take a lot more.
The greatest benefit of infused oils is the precision and ease of dosing. You can simply squeeze some oil into a dropper, put the oil under your tongue, and let it soak in. Due to the lower concentration of infused oils and the method of delivery, it is easier to administer exactly how many milligrams you want of THC or CBD.
- Other Types of Products
Although there are many other cannabis products like capsules, tablets, edibles, transdermal patches, vaporizer cartridges, and raw flower, we do not recommend them as the primary delivery mechanisms.
Capsules and tablets have single, specified dosages that prevent flexibility of dosing, and they are swallowed rather than put under the tongue, which lowers bioavailability.
Edibles can have a little more flexibility, but they are still swallowed, and they tend to be made with unhealthy ingredients, especially large amounts of sugar.
Transdermal patches are expensive and can’t deliver high doses of cannabinoids.
Vaporizer cartridges and raw flower are usually meant to be inhaled, and while this method of delivery can be valuable, it is usually not ideal if it can be avoided. In any case, for achieving the high doses necessary to potentially fight cancer, these methods alone are not suitable. However, inhalation is great for dealing with acute symptoms, as the effect is immediate, where it takes time for ingested delivery mechanisms to kick in.
- Summary
FECO and infused oils are the most effective cannabis products on the market when made properly with high-quality starting material.