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Tuesday, 23 April 2019

Cannabis Extraction

 
Resin, oils and cannabis compounds have been extracted from the cannabis plant from time immemorial. These are used to make concentrates that can be used for  recreational purposes or added in various forms to food, medicines, wellness products,  vaporizers, industrial products, beverages, etc. Cannabis extracts, in the modern context, are increasingly seen as a phase two of the cannabis industry involving oils, concentrates, edibles and resin whereas phase one involved flower and buds. In Canada, where cannabis was legalized in 2018, it was the flower that was legalized first, extracts were legalized subsequently.

Traditional extraction methods involved rubbing the plant to scrape off the resin, pressing the plant material to extract the oils, or cooking it with butter to extract its compounds. The Indian Hemp Drugs Commission of 1895, in its report states that - 'The methods of preparing charas from the fibre plants are described by witness (49). The sujango or female plants, having been cut in November, are spread out to dry for twenty-four hours. The people then sit round in the heat of the day, and pluck off the flower heads, which are now full of seed, discarding the coarser leaves. Each handful is rubbed between the palms for about ten minutes and thrown aside. In course of time a quantity of juice accumulates on the palms, which is scraped off and rolled into balls. These are charas. Sometimes the plants are trodden instead of handled, and the feet scraped. A more uncommon method, by which a choice kind of charas called chahar mulhi is obtained, is to pass the hands up the ripe plants while they are still standing in the field. This plan is not approved, the witness says, because it is supposed to damage the fibre. Other witnesses (21, 43) mention the practice of running through the crop or growth on a dewy morning, and scraping off the resin which adheres to the body. Witness (248) states that the resin, having been collected, is kneaded on hot stones; but the account of witness (49) that the process of manufacture ordinarily ceases with the making of the resin as scraped from the hands into balls is probably reliable. There is a considerable amount of evidence and opinion that charas is prepared from wild plants'. In another place, the Commission reports that - 'The Bhutias of Nepal scatter ashes on the plants in the evening. In the morning they enter and walk through the crop or jungle clothed in leather, to which the resin adheres. This is scraped off and makes a strong kind of charas. It may be noted that Dr. Gimlette, Residency Surgeon, Katmandu, was unable to verify the accounts he had heard of this process, but found that in the country 50 miles round the capital the drug was collected by rubbing the young flowering tops between the hands in situ (Watt). In Yarkand, according to witness (62), the dried plants are beaten over a cloth, and the greyish powder, which falls upon it, is collected and packed in bags, where it agglutinates by some process, of which exposure to the sun forms part. Witness (192) has "seen charas prepared near Peshawar and Kandahar. People go into the fields with leather leggings on, and the charas sticks to them, and is scraped off." 
 
Perhaps the most detailed description of traditional extraction techniques to obtain the resin or charas is detailed in the Indian Hemp Commission's report regarding charas preparation techniques in Yarkand, which was renown for its high quality charas that was imported into India in the 19th century. The Commission, in its report, states that - 'Witness (86) has been in the habit of visiting Ladakh for purposes of trade, and has there learnt the following details from Ladakh merchants: "In Yarkand bhang is cultivated in the month of Baisakh in waste lands and round the fields of other crops for the manufacture of charas. It remains standing for seven months, and is then reaped in the month of Katik, when the blossom is ripe, and then stored on the roofs of houses. It remains there for one month and gets dried in the meantime. The zamindars then thrash the plants after separating the larger leaves by night within their houses. The smaller petals and flowers then fall on the ground and are reduced to powder. It is then sifted thrice, put in bags, and sold to the traders. The merchants go on storing it up until the month of Jeth comes, when they place it in the sun, and a kind of oleaginous substance oozes out of the powder. It is then kneaded like tobacco and put in bags made of cloth. The following three or four kinds of charas are prepared from it - mushak, bahara, pai, and kuppi. They are then closed up in leather." Mr. Dalgleish is quoted by Dr. Watt as giving a description of the preparation similar to the above. The Deputy Commissioner of Bannu says that honey is mixed in the powder of the flowering tops, after which the stuff is packed in leather bags and kept for a year in the sun. Hari Chand, Assistant to the Commissioner of Excise, reported in 1890 of the Yarkand manufacture that "the leaves are ground in December. The flower is kept in bags of five sérs each till June. The bags are then put in the sun, and the flower rubbed with hands and feet till it gives oil. It is then put in leather bags and hammered till it becomes one block. The blocks are of 54 sérs each." There is a certain similarity in all these methods, and they probably give with fair accuracy the general outline of the important manufacture of Yarkand.'
 
Modern industrial scale extraction techniques are, however, growing increasingly sophisticated, and sadly more energy-intensive than the sustainable, but time-consuming traditional methods. Some of the modern extraction techniques include alcohol distillation methods, extraction using hydrocarbons, liquid chromatography methods, etc. each with its associated pros and cons. Many businesses are involved exclusively in the extraction side of the plant while others are involved in the entire cycle of growing to retail. In some places, the extraction process may require a specific license, whereas in others, it is covered by a more universal license. 

Extraction methods can produce high purity cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG), delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other cannabis compounds. Percentages above 70% are possible, as per my understanding. Many regulatory bodies seem to have an aversion to cannabis extraction, specifically with regard to THC, as they view THC as a harmful compound, and extraction as a method by which the potency of THC can be increased.
 
Currently 0.3% THC, a completely unscientific random limit imposed on THC, differentiates industrial hemp from psychotropic cannabis. With hybrid varieties, cannabis with 28% THC are known to exist in natural plant form. There is no clear evidence available as to what % of THC is the safe limit, beyond which it becomes harmful. Therefore, this concern by regulatory bodies, seems vastly misplaced. THC has been found to be beneficial for a number of ailments and this is becoming  increasingly evident from scientific study. Also considering that many alcohol based drinks contain more than 80% ABV of alcohol, which is a neurotoxin unlike THC, to place such irrational restrictions on cannabis extraction methods is detrimental to science, research, industry and health. This should appear all the more strange, considering that most pharmaceutical based approaches to drugs, both legal and illegal, look at extracting out specific compounds and increasing their potency many times over, so that they can then be sold in widely used pill and inject-able forms. The potency of these compounds mean that they have a very low safety profile with lethal dosage to effective dosage ratios such as 3-50 : 1 for secobarbital, 4-10 : 1 for alcohol, and almost 2:1 for fentanyl, besides very dangerous side effects, unlike cannabis, which is among the safest, with a lethal dosage to effective dosage ratio of around 40000 : 1, according to Lester Grinspoon on his RxMarijuana website. The irrational fear of concentrated cannabis exists worldwide, as can be seen by the aversion with which charas or hashish is treated, as compared to the natural cannabis flower and bud. This would be the equivalent of fearing butter much more than milk.

In terms of storage and distribution of cannabis, cannabis in concentrated form is much easier to handle, especially if it involves large quantities to be moved across long distances. In terms of cannabis usage, what has been noticed is that once people try the flower, bud and concentrates, many individuals and businesses prefer the use of concentrates, either in the form of edibles or oils that can be vaporized or added to food, drink, medicine and wellness products. Many individuals find an aversion to the traditional method of cannabis consumption through flowers and buds in smokable form. Having said that, cannabis in smokable form is a preferred method of administration for a number of illnesses, especially those involving the head and lungs. Some US states, where it was earlier prohibited, the medical cannabis laws have recently been updated to allow the administering of cannabis in smokable form .

All said and done, this is a segment of the cannabis industry to keep an eye on in terms of potential for future growth.

Related articles

The following set of articles related to the subject are taken from various media. Words in italics are the thoughts of yours truly at the time of reading the article.  
 
 
'Hydrocarbon extraction is considered the most dangerous extraction method because it has the potential to blow up if the highly flammable solvents used during the process leak and ignite.

But while hydrocarbon extraction raises the most safety concerns, all of the most commonly used extraction methods have safety risks.

- Carbon dioxide (CO2) extraction risks carbon monoxide poisoning if a leak occurs.
- Ethanol is also highly flammable and can create a flashpoint if enough vapors leak into the air.
- Rosin is considered the safest extraction method, although burns are possible.'

https://mjbizdaily.com/three-key-safeguards-cannabis-extractors-should-consider/


'Cannabis extractors operate with scarce scientific resources or standards to consult, and much of their know-how is gained via word-of-mouth or from other industries.

Manufacturers on all levels of the THC spectrum have had to adapt techniques from food, pharmaceutical and even perfume companies to bring extracted cannabinoids to market.'

https://mjbizdaily.com/extraction-experts-debunk-myths-associated-with-cannabis-processing/

 
'The best cannabis is dried and cured for flower, while the rest heads for extraction, right?

Not anymore.

Cannabis extractors say that gone are the days of blasting low-quality trim with ethanol or hydrocarbons to extract cannabinoids. Increasingly, they’re taking the same care with cannabis inputs that craft-flower producers would.

In other words, proper drying, curing and storage of cannabis are becoming paramount concerns for extractors who want the best outcomes.'

https://mjbizdaily.com/careful-cannabis-prep-is-key-for-successful-extraction-outcomes/


'Solventless extracts refer to concentrates that use heat, pressure, ice or water to extract cannabinoids, leaving terpenes intact and no trace of chemical residue.

Long beloved by cannabis purists, solventless products are picking up fans among THC and CBD shoppers looking for a whole-plant experience with all terpenes intact.'

https://mjbizdaily.com/solventless-cannabis-extraction-goes-big-with-new-technology-better-breeding/


'The larger the industry gets, the more common color remediation will be, Sanchez predicts. Just like commercial beer and wine is clearer and more consistent than beer or wine made at home by hobbyists, commercial cannabis extracts will lose the muddiness and batch-to-batch variance seen in craft production.

“In the last couple years, it has spread like wildfire. Basically everybody has started to look into how to clean the oil,” Sanchez said.'

https://mjbizdaily.com/some-cannabis-extractors-turning-to-contentious-color-remediation-process/


'Discussion
This review analyses various drying and extraction processes to guide the selection of suitable methods for various types of cannabis products and applications. This is done by outlining traditional and modern methods of drying techniques, exploring the importance of solvents for extraction, visiting solventless extraction procedures, and finally comparing conventional and alternative methods of extraction.

Conclusion
In conclusion, based on the current knowledge, using organic solvents is the most convenient method for medicinal cannabis extraction. However, more research is needed for some of the drying and extraction methods. Also, developing a green and sustainable cannabis extraction method should be considered for future studies.'

https://jcannabisresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42238-021-00087-9


'Cannabis sativa is one of the oldest medicinal plants used by humans, containing hundreds of bioactive compounds. The biological effects and interplay of these compounds are far from fully understood, although the plant’s therapeutic effects are beyond doubt. Extraction methods for these compounds are becoming an integral part of modern Cannabis-based medicine. Still, little is known about how different methods affect the final composition of Cannabis extracts and thus, their therapeutic effects. In this study, different extraction methods were tested, namely maceration, Soxhlet, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and supercritical CO2 extraction methods. The obtained extracts were evaluated for their cannabinoid content, antioxidant properties, and in vitro bioactivity on human colon cancer and healthy colon cells. Our data suggest that Cannabis extracts, when properly prepared, can significantly decrease cancer cell viability while protecting healthy cells from cytotoxic effects. However, post-processing of extracts poses a significant limitation in predicting therapeutic response based on the composition of the crude extract, as it affects not only the actual amounts of the respective cannabinoids but also their relative ratio to the primary extracts. These effects must be carefully considered in the future preparations of new therapeutic extracts.'

https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/3/566


'A rare cannabinoid that mimics the effects of delta-9 THC but can easily be produced from CBD is grabbing headlines and delivering impressive profits to extractors battling slumping prices for other hemp extracts.

But the popularity of the cannabinoid, delta-8 THC, is bringing out sharp divides on the marijuana and hemp sides of the cannabis space.

Some say delta-8 offers a nice alternative for consumers seeking an intoxicating buzz but not the debilitation and anxiety that can result from some highly potent THC products.'

https://mjbizdaily.com/marijuana-hemp-extraction-companies-split-over-delta-8-thc-cannabinoid/


'Sales of marijuana concentrates shot up more than 40% last year and accounted for a larger share of the overall cannabis market, as consumers became more comfortable with the intricate process of dabbing and new technology has made the products easier to use.

In addition, some consumers are moving away from vape products because of respiratory-related health concerns and turning to concentrates such as wax, hash and shatter, according to industry insiders.

Meanwhile, the wholesale price of concentrates – which deliver a stronger dose of THC than other products such as flower – is rising in the face of the increased demand.'

https://mjbizdaily.com/marijuana-concentrate-sales-up-40-percent-as-more-consumers-turn-to-the-product-category/


'Whatever your goals may be, each of the three main types of cannabis extraction has its strengths and its weaknesses – with no hands-down favorite among industry executives.'
https://mjbizdaily.com/choosing-the-right-cannabis-extraction-method/
 

'According to the new cannabis regulations, the federal Government of Canada is responsible for setting the requirements for those who grow and produce cannabis, including the types of cannabis products available for sale. For example, the regulations were amended in October 2019 to allow the production and sale of edible cannabis, cannabis extracts and topicals, and the sale of those products began gradually from December 2019. The provincial and territorial governments, for their part, are Responsible for developing, implementing, maintaining and enforcing systems to oversee the distribution and sale of cannabis.' - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, World Drug Report 2020, https://wdr.unodc.org/wdr2020/field/WDR20_BOOKLET_4.pdf


'While most cannabis users had used more than one product, over three quarters of users purchased and consumed dried cannabis flower or leaf for smoking. Although the sale of edibles and extracts started only at the end of 2019, a substantial share of cannabis users reported using edible cannabis products (26 per cent), cannabis oil or vape pens (19 per cent), hashish (16 per cent) and solid cannabis concentrates (14 per cent) during the same year.' - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, World Drug Report 2020, https://wdr.unodc.org/wdr2020/field/WDR20_BOOKLET_4.pdf


https://www.visualcapitalist.com/cbd-oil-vs-hemp-oil-whats-the-difference/


'The PHWE [pressurized hot water extraction] technique was applied to extract cannabinoid compounds from Cannabis sativa seed. Response surface methodology was used to investigate the influence of extraction time (5–60 min), extraction temperature (50–200 °C) and collector vessel temperature (25–200 °C) on the recovery of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabinol (CBN), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabichromene (CBC) and cannabigerol (CBG) from Cannabis sativa seed by PHWE. The identification and semi quantification of cannabinoid compounds were determined using GCXGC-TOFMS. The results obtained from different extractions show that the amount of THC and CBN was drastically decreasing in the liquid extract when the temperature rose from 140 to 160 °C in the extraction cell and the collector's vessel. The optimal conditions to extract more CBD, CBC, and CBG than THC and CBN were set at 150 °C, 160 °C and 45 min as extraction temperature, the temperature at collector vessel, and the extraction time, respectively. At this condition, the predicted and experimental ratio of THCt (THC + CBN)/CBDt (CBD + CBC+ CBG) was found to be 0.17 and 0.18, respectively. Therefore, PHWE can be seen as an alternative to the classic extraction approach as the efficiency is higher and it is environmentally friendly'
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7144126/
 
 
Cannabit from New Frontier Data...
  • 'The 29 U.S. states having reporting licensed hemp cultivation acreage total nearly half a million acres in combined cultivation land area, a massive increase over 2018’s combined U.S. total of just over 100,000 acres.
  • Colorado leads the nation in hemp cultivation and processing land area with over 80,000 acres reported.
  • Oregon, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Montana lead in hemp program expansion efforts.
  • Tennessee leads in total hemp licenses issued in 2019.
  • At least 70% of the 2019 U.S. hemp harvest is intended for extract production.
  • California is poised to be the top-producing hemp state for both conventional and organic production as thousands of acres have already been planted in 2019'
https://newfrontierdata.com/marijuana-insights/hemp-licenses-issued-by-state-2019/


'At Proof, they aim to make cannabis products more accessible and affordable. Proof first started making their CBD capsules and tinctures for friends, family, and other members of their medical collective and saw amazing results. When they went into dispensaries though, it always shocked them to see the expensive prices for CBD. That when they decided they could do it better, and much more affordable.

Proof products offer all the same benefits everyone is accustomed to with clean, healthy, cannabis-derived CBD at a reasonable price. We talk about how Sarah got into the business in for first place and the pros and cons of what exactly Proof does. As well as let her explain what it was like being in a “Cage Match.”'
https://thecannabisindustry.org/podcasts/extraction-experts-and-their-extraction-methods/


Now, this is the kind of crude extraction and oil refining that the world needs to get into more....

'As the market evolves towards consumer-packaged goods (CPGs) we view extraction services as a key aspect of the marketplace," said analysts at Haywood Capital Markets. "We are of the view that extracted cannabis and value-add products will be in demand over the next couple of years."

Haywood Capital on Feb. 7 initiated coverage of Valens GroWorks with a buy rating. "Not only is the company set up for extraction processing into crude oil, it also has the ability to further refine these extracted products for various oil derivative products that are expected to be approved for the market later this year," Haywood Capital analysts noted.'
https://www.thestreet.com/story/14899442/1/the-future-of-cannabis-edibles-oil-based-products.html


'“Cannabis extraction is a huge growth opportunity in Canada. The reason I say that, is because if you look to the U.S., it was not uncommon to see 75 per cent of the market consuming cannabis flower years ago but as product offerings became more differentiated, we saw the market for flower drop to around 40 per cent, and the market for oils surge to over 60 per cent,” said Beau Whitney, a senior economist at the cannabis research firm New Frontier Data who was previously involved in the cannabis extraction business.'
https://business.financialpost.com/cannabis/why-business-is-booming-for-cannabis-extraction-companies-despite-the-supply-shortages


http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/why-we-shouldnt-ignore-the-cannabis-oil-boom_uk_5a1c25e3e4b0250a107c013e


'The results demonstrate that the extraction temperature influences the composition of the extracts. Compounds with potentially useful applications, such as in medicine and in the chemical industry, were also identified in the extracts. However, more research will be needed to optimize the treatment and the further processing of the products in order to estimate the commercial potential of this technique.'
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926669019300627


'We propose herein a Fast High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (Fast-HPLC-DAD) method which allows the efficient separation of CBN (Cannabinol), CBD (Cannabidiol), THC-A and delta9-THC, the major cannabinoids compounds found in cannabis plants in less than 5 min.'
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0039914018309214


'“It has been evidenced that the developed method for the major cannabinoids extraction is a really encouraging example of the wide range of possibilities that a conventional and low cost hard cap espresso assisted extraction could offer in analytical laboratories,” according to the study.'
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/scientists-discover-you-can-use-espresso-machines-make-marijuana-extracts/


'“CPC is ideal for ripping a single active ingredient out of a pretty complex mixture,” Reid, the CSO from ebbu, says. “It’s the only chromatographic technique that does that well.”'
https://www.nature.com/articles/d42473-018-00066-4
 
 
'While the daily or near-daily use of cannabis among high-school students in Colorado has declined, the prevalence of occasional users, that is, those who report having used cannabis one or two times in the past month, has increased since legalization. Nevertheless, 4.7 per cent of high-school students reported using cannabis daily or nearly daily (20 or more times in the past 30 days) in 2017. Moreover, although the share of high-school students smoking cannabis declined from 92 per cent in 2015 to 84 per cent in 2017, there was an increase in the share of those who reported using edibles with high THC content (from 28 per cent in 2015 to 36 per cent in 2017) or “dabbing” cannabis extracts and concentrates (from 28 per cent in 2015 to 34 per cent in 2017) in the past month.' - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, World Drug Report 2020, https://wdr.unodc.org/wdr2020/field/WDR20_BOOKLET_4.pdf


'Trafficking in cannabis resin continues to be far more geographically concentrated than is trafficking in cannabis herb. More than half of all cannabis resin was seized in Western and Central Europe (51 per cent) in 2018, followed by the Near and Middle East/South-West Asia (36 per cent) and North Africa (8 per cent). These three subregions accounted for 95 per cent of all cannabis resin seized worldwide in 2018.' - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, World Drug Report 2020, https://wdr.unodc.org/wdr2020/field/WDR20_Booklet_3.pdf


'Morocco, with 47,500 ha reported to be under cannabis cultivation in 2018, continues to be the most frequently mentioned source country for cannabis resin worldwide in the annual report questionnaire, being mentioned in more than a fifth of all cases as the main country of origin of cannabis resin seized worldwide over the period 2014–2018; Morocco was followed by Afghanistan, where, a UNODC survey found, in 2010 an area of 9,000–29,000 ha was under cannabis cultivation. Cannabis resin produced in Morocco is mainly destined for other markets in North Africa and markets in Western and Central Europe. Some cannabis resin of Moroccan origin is also trafficked to Eastern Europe and South-Eastern Europe. Most cannabis resin of Moroccan origin destined for Europe is first shipped to Spain, from where it is smuggled to other markets in the region. For many years, including in the period 2014–2018, Spain has been identified by other European countries as the principal country of departure and transit for cannabis resin, followed by the Netherlands.' - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, World Drug Report 2020, https://wdr.unodc.org/wdr2020/field/WDR20_Booklet_3.pdf


'Afghanistan appears to be the second most important source country of cannabis resin worldwide, with 19 per cent of all mentions worldwide in the annual report questionnaire over the period 2014– 2018, followed by Pakistan and Lebanon. The cannabis resin produced in these countries is principally destined for other countries in the Near and Middle East/South-West Asia, although cannabis resin originating in Afghanistan has also been identified in Central Asia, Eastern Europe and Western and Central Europe. The Islamic Republic of Iran reported that the cannabis resin found on its territory originated mainly in Afghanistan (followed by Pakistan), with some 65 per cent destined for countries of the Arabian peninsula, 15 per cent for the Caucasus and some 20 per cent for domestic consumption. Cannabis resin originating in Lebanon is mainly found in the Near and Middle East and, to a lesser extent, in Western and Central Europe.' - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, World Drug Report 2020, https://wdr.unodc.org/wdr2020/field/WDR20_Booklet_3.pdf
 

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