Cannabinoid conversion in cannabis extracts

Abstract

The present invention is a process for producing various types of cannabis extract from harvested cannabis. A quantity of harvested cannabis, which typically includes the inflorescence, floral leaves, and small stems of a flowering cannabis plants, is pre-frozen. The harvested cannabis is first subjected to cryogenic grinding to produce pulverized cannabis. The pulverized cannabis is then subjected to alcohol extraction to produce an initial cannabis extract, which can be subjected to one of several forms of further processing according to the desired chemical profile of the final product. The initial cannabis extract may then be subjected to chemical processing that promote the conversion of THCA to Δ9 THC; the conversion of THCVA to THCV; the conversion of THCA to cannabinol (“CBN”); or the conversion of THCA to Δ8-THC.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of producing a refined  cannabis  extract, the method comprising the steps of:
 converting a quantity of harvested  cannabis  to pulverized  cannabis  using cryogenic grinding;   extracting the pulverized  cannabis  with alcohol to yield an initial  cannabis  extract; and   subjecting the initial  cannabis  extract to a decarboxylation process.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the decarboxylation process comprises the steps of:
 adding a quantity of alcohol to the initial  cannabis  extract to produce a diluted solution; and   refluxing the diluted solution at a temperature of about 180° C. for a period of about 1-3 hours.   
     
     
         3 . A refined  cannabis  extract prepared by a process comprising the steps of:
 converting a quantity of harvested  cannabis  to pulverized  cannabis  using cryogenic grinding;   extracting the pulverized  cannabis  with alcohol to yield an initial  cannabis  extract; and   subjecting the initial  cannabis  extract to a decarboxylation process.   
     
     
         4 . The refined  cannabis  extract of  claim 3 , wherein the decarboxylation process comprises the steps of:
 adding a quantity of alcohol to the initial  cannabis  extract to produce a first diluted solution;   adding a quantity of water to the first diluted solution to produce a second diluted solution; and   refluxing the second diluted solution at a temperature of about 80-100° C. for a period of about 1-3 hours.   
     
     
         5 . The refined  cannabis  extract of  claim 3 , wherein the decarboxylation process comprises the steps of:
 adding a quantity of alcohol to the initial  cannabis  extract to produce a first diluted solution;   adding a quantity of water to the first diluted solution to produce a second diluted solution; and   refluxing the second diluted solution at a temperature of about 120° C. for a period of about 1-2 hours.   
     
     
         6 . The refined  cannabis  extract of  claim 3 , wherein the decarboxylation process comprises the steps of:
 adding a quantity of alcohol to the initial  cannabis  extract to produce a diluted solution; and   refluxing the diluted solution at a temperature of about 180° C. for a period of about 1-3 hours.   
     
     
         7 . The refined  cannabis  extract of  claim 6 , wherein the decarboxylation process further comprises the steps of:
 after refluxing, adding a quantity of bleaching clay and a quantity of activated charcoal to the second diluted solution to produce a mixture; and   distilling the mixture at a temperature of about 157-220° C.   
     
     
         8 . A method of producing a refined, decarboxylated  cannabis  extract, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) freezing a quantity of  cannabis  to make frozen  cannabis;      b) grinding the frozen  cannabis  at cryogenic temperatures to produce pulverized  cannabis;      c) extracting the pulverized  cannabis  with a quantity of alcohol;   d) separating the alcohol from the pulverized  cannabis  to obtain an initial  cannabis  extract;   e) diluting the initial  cannabis  extract with a quantity of alcohol to produce a diluted initial  cannabis  extract; and   f) refluxing the diluted initial  cannabis  extract at a temperature of about 180° C. for a period of about 1-3 hours whereby the diluted initial  cannabis  extract is decarboxylated to produce the refined, decarboxylated  cannabis  extract.   
     
     
         9 . A method of decarboxylation of  cannabis  extract comprising the steps of:
 adding a quantity of alcohol to an initial  cannabis  extract to produce a diluted solution; and   refluxing the diluted solution at a temperature of about 180° C. for a period of about 1-3 hours.