Solid delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta9-thc) compositions

Abstract

The invention relates to a solid Δ9-THC composition containing Δ9-THC and a powder former and having a molar ratio of Δ9-THC to powder former to form a flowable Δ9-THC powder. The powder former is selected from the group consisting of adenine, aspartame, caffeine, lactose, mannitol, nicotinamide, β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, pipecolic acid, saccharin, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glutamine, histidine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, tryptophan, valine, Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), 2-Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPbCD), and Trimethyl-beta-cyclodextrin (TOMBC) and mixtures thereof. The invention also relates to methods of making a solid Δ9-THC composition of the invention. The Δ9-THC may be synthetic Δ9-THC or may be extracted Δ9-THC. The invention provides pharmaceutical or nutraceutical composition containing a solid Δ9-THC composition of the invention and a pharmaceutically- or nutraceutically-acceptable carrier where Δ9-THC is present in a pharmaceutically or nutraceutically effective amount. The invention also provides methods of treating a disease, disorder, or condition by administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a solid Δ9-THC composition. A solid Δ9-THC composition of the invention may also be incorporated into food and beverage products.

The claimed invention is: 
     
         1 . A solid Δ 9 -THC composition comprising Δ 9 -THC and aspartame as a powder former and having a molar ratio of Δ 9 -THC to aspartame powder former to form a flowable Δ 9 -THC powder. 
     
     
         2 . A solid Δ 9 -THC composition of  claim 1  wherein the molar ratio of Δ 9 -THC to aspartame powder former ranges from about 4:1 to about 1:4. 
     
     
         3 . A solid Δ 9 -THC composition of  claim 1  wherein the molar ratio of Δ 9 -THC to aspartame powder former ranges from about 3:1 to about 1:3. 
     
     
         4 . A solid Δ 9 -THC composition of  claim 1  wherein the molar ratio of Δ 9 -THC to aspartame powder former ranges from about 2:1 to about 1:2. 
     
     
         5 . A solid Δ 9 -THC composition of  claim 1  wherein the molar ratio of Δ 9 -THC to aspartame powder former is about 1:1. 
     
     
         6 . A solid Δ 9 -THC composition of  claim 1  characterized by an X-ray powder diffraction pattern substantially as shown in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 21 ,  FIG. 24 ,  FIG. 32 ,  FIG. 33 ,  FIG. 34  or  FIG. 35 . 
     
     
         7 . A method of making a solid Δ 9 -THC composition comprising the step of combining Δ 9 -THC with aspartame as a powder former under conditions and in a molar ratio to form a flowable Δ 9 -THC powder. 
     
     
         8 . A method of making a solid Δ 9 -THC composition of  claim 7  comprising the steps of: dissolving the Δ 9 -THC and the aspartame powder former in a solvent system to form a solution, and removing the solvent from the solution to yield a solid Δ 9 -THC composition. 
     
     
         9 . A method of  claim 7 , wherein the dissolving step comprises the steps of: dissolving the Δ 9 -THC in a solvent system to form a Δ 9 -THC solution, dissolving the aspartame powder former in a solvent system to form a powder former solution, combining the Δ 9 -THC solution and the powder former solution to form a combined solution containing both Δ 9 -THC and the powder former compound, and removing the solvent from the combined solution to yield a solid Δ 9 -THC composition. 
     
     
         10 . A method of  claim 7  wherein the molar ratio of Δ 9 -THC to aspartame powder former ranges from about 4:1 to about 1:4. 
     
     
         11 . A method of  claim 7  wherein the molar ratio of Δ 9 -THC to aspartame powder former ranges from about 3:1 to about 1:3. 
     
     
         12 . A method of  claim 7  wherein the molar ratio of Δ 9 -THC to aspartame powder former ranges from about 2:1 to about 1:2. 
     
     
         13 . A method of  claim 7  wherein the molar ratio of Δ 9 -THC to aspartame powder former is about 1:1. 
     
     
         14 . A method of  claim 7  wherein the Δ 9 -THC is synthetic Δ 9 -THC. 
     
     
         15 . A method of  claim 7  wherein the Δ 9 -THC is extracted Δ 9 -THC. 
     
     
         16 . A method of  claim 8  wherein the solvent is removed from the solution by lyophilization or by evaporation. 
     
     
         17 . A method of  claim 9  wherein the solvent is removed from the solution by lyophilization or by evaporation. 
     
     
         18 . A pharmaceutical or nutraceutical composition comprising a solid Δ 9 -THC composition of  claim 1  and a pharmaceutically- or nutraceutically-acceptable carrier, wherein Δ 9 -THC is present in the composition in a pharmaceutically or nutraceutically effective amount. 
     
     
         19 . A method of treating a disease, disorder, or condition comprising: the step of administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a solid Δ 9 -THC composition comprising Δ 9 -THC and aspartame as a powder former and having a molar ratio of Δ 9 -THC to aspartame powder former to form a flowable Δ 9 -THC powder, or the step of administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutic composition comprising a solid Δ 9 -THC composition a solid Δ 9 -THC composition comprising Δ 9 -THC and aspartame as a powder former and having a molar ratio of Δ 9 -THC to aspartame powder former to form a flowable Δ 9 -THC powder and a pharmaceutically- or nutraceutically-acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         20 . A food or beverage product comprising a solid Δ 9 -THC composition of  claim 1 .