Process for producing an extract containing tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol from cannabis plant material, and cannabis extracts

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing an extract from cannabis plant matter, containing tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol and optionally the carboxylic acids thereof. According to said method, the dried plant matter is ground and subjected to a CO2 extraction and the primary extract obtained is separated. The invention method permits Δ8 or Δ9 tetrahydrocannabinol to be selectively obtained both from industrial hemp and from drug-producing hemp, optionally after dissolving the primary extract in ethanol, separating undesirable waxes and removing the solvent under reduced pressure.

1 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A process for producing an extract containing tetrahydrocannabinol and/or cannabidiol, and optionally the carboxylic acids thereof, from a cannabis plant material, the process comprising:
 (1) subjecting the cannabis plant material to CO 2  
 (1a) under supercritical pressure and temperature conditions at a temperature in a range of approx. 31° C. to 80° C. and at a pressure in a range of approx. 75 bar to 500 bar; 
 (1b) in liquefied form in the subcritical range at a temperature of approx. 20° C. to 30° C. and a supercritical pressure of approx. 100 bar to 350 bar; or 
 (1c) in liquefied form under subcritical pressure and temperature conditions; to extract cannabinoid components; and 
   (2) reducing the temperature and/or pressure to separate tetrahydrocannabinol and/or cannabidiol, and optionally the carboxylic acids thereof, from the CO 2 , to form an extract.   
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein in step (1) the CO 2  is under supercritical pressure and temperature conditions at a temperature in a range of approx. 31° C. to 80° C. and at a pressure in a range of approx. 75 bar to 500 bar. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein in step (1) the CO 2  is at a temperature in a range of approx. 45° C. to 65° C. and at a pressure in a range of approx. 100 bar to 350 bar. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein in step (1) the CO 2  is at a temperature of approx. 60° C. and at a pressure of approx. 250 bar. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein in step (1) the CO 2  is at a temperature of approx. 55° C. and at a pressure of approx. 180 bar. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein in step (1) the CO 2  is in liquefied form in the subcritical range at a temperature of approx. 20° C. to 30° C. and a supercritical pressure of approx. 100 bar to 350 bar. 
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein in step (1) the CO 2  is in liquefied form under subcritical pressure of less than 70 bar and subcritical temperature of less than 30.0° C. 
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 21 , wherein in step (1) the CO 2  in liquefied form is at a pressure of about 60 bar. 
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 21 , wherein in step (1) the CO 2 in liquefied form is at a temperature of less than 20.0° C. 
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein in step (2) the CO 2  is under conditions supercritical in temperature and subcritical in pressure. 
     
     
         25 . The process of  claim 24 , wherein in step (2) the CO 2  is at a pressure of about 75 bar or less. 
     
     
         26 . The process of  claim 25 , wherein in step (2) the CO 2  is at a temperature of between about 45° C. to about 55° C. 
     
     
         27 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein in step (2) the CO 2  is under subcritical pressure and temperature conditions. 
     
     
         28 . The process of  claim 27 , wherein in step (2) the CO 2  is at a pressure of about 60 bar or less. 
     
     
         29 . The process of  claim 28 , wherein in step (2) the CO 2  is at a temperature of about 30° C. or less. 
     
     
         30 . The process of  claim 28 , wherein in step (2) the CO 2  is at a temperature of about 20° C. or less. 
     
     
         31 . The process of  claim 15 , further comprising a step of decarboxylating the carboxylic acids of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol in the plant material. 
     
     
         32 . The process of  claim 15 , further comprising a step of subjecting the extract of step (2) to cold ethanol or ethanol solution to precipitate waxes, separating the precipitated waxes by filtration, and then removing the ethanol or ethanol solution. 
     
     
         33 . The process of  claim 15 , further comprising subjecting the CO 2  extracted from step (2) to increased pressure and temperature and recycling said CO 2  to step (1). 
     
     
         34 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein the cannabis plant material contains 0.5% or less of Δ 9 -THC based on the dry plant mass. 
     
     
         35 . A process for producing an extract containing tetrahydrocannabinol and/or cannabidiol, and optionally the carboxylic acids thereof, from a cannabis plant material, the process comprising:
 (1) subjecting the cannabis plant material to CO 2  under supercritical pressure and temperature conditions at a temperature in a range of approx. 31° C. to 80° C. and at a pressure in a range of approx. 75 bar to 500 bar, to extract cannabinoid components;   (2) reducing the temperature and/or pressure to separate tetrahydrocannabinol and/or cannabidiol, and optionally the carboxylic acids thereof, from the CO 2,  to form an extract; and   (3) subjecting the extract of step (2) to cold ethanol or ethanol solution to precipitate waxes, separating the precipitated waxes by filtration, and then removing the ethanol or ethanol solution.   
     
     
         36 . A process for producing an extract containing tetrahydrocannabinol and/or cannabidiol, and optionally the carboxylic acids thereof, from a cannabis plant material, the process comprising:
 (1) subjecting the cannabis plant material to CO 2  in liquefied form in the subcritical range at a temperature of approx. 20° C. to 30° C. and a supercritical pressure of approx. 100 bar to 350 bar, to extract cannabinoid components;   (2) reducing the temperature and/or pressure to separate tetrahydrocannabinol and/or cannabidiol, and optionally the carboxylic acids thereof, from the CO 2 , to form an extract; and   (3) subjecting the extract of step (2) to cold ethanol or ethanol solution to precipitate waxes, separating the precipitated waxes by filtration, and then removing the ethanol or ethanol solution.