Very low nicotine cigarettes

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to tobacco products, including methodology, devices and compositions, for assisting a smoker to transition from conventional tobacco cigarettes to either e-cigarettes or a tobacco heating device. Provided herein are methodology for switching, along with kits, products and apparatuses.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Reconstituted  cannabis  made from a  cannabis  plant in which Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid has been reduced, as compared to a control  cannabis  plant, by down-regulating the expression of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid synthase (SEQ ID NO: 21) in  cannabis  plants. 
     
     
         2 . A very low nicotine cigarette comprising the reconstituted  cannabis  of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a communications module;   a storage unit storing computer-readable instructions; and   at least one processor coupled to the communications module and the storage unit, the at least one processor being configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to:
 receive, via the communications unit, a first signal from a device of a first smoker, the first signal comprising first demographic data characterizing the first smoker and usage data characterizing tobacco use by the first smoker; 
 in response to receiving the first signal, obtain profile data associated with respective one or more second smokers, the profile data comprising (i) second demographic data characterizing the respective second smokers and (ii) program data identifying a product and method utilized by the respective second smokers to transition from conventional cigarettes to an aerosol device; 
 based on an application of a probabilistic algorithm to the first demographic data, the usage data, and the profile data, compute a value indicative of a likelihood that the first smoker transitions from the conventional cigarettes to the an aerosol device using each of a plurality of candidate products and methods for administration to the first smoker capable of transitioning the first smoker from the conventional cigarettes to the tobacco an aerosol device from among the program data identifying a product and method utilized by the respective second smokers to transition from conventional cigarettes to an aerosol device; 
 select one of the candidate products and methods for administration to the first smoker based on the computed values; and 
 transmit, via the communications unit, a second signal that identifies the selected product and method for administration to the first smoker to the device of the first smoker for the device of the first smoker to present, in a user interface, information characterizing an administration of the selected product and service for administration to the first smoker for transitioning the first smoker from the conventional cigarettes to an aerosol device. 
   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the storage unit stores a database maintaining the profile data; and   the at least one processor is further configured to obtain, from the database, a portion of the profile data associated with the one or more second smokers in response to receiving the first signal.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to identify the candidate products and methods for administration to the first smoker based on the portion of the profile data. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the probabilistic algorithm comprises at least one of a statistical process or a machine learning algorithm. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the first demographic data comprises age or sex; and   the second demographic data comprises age or sex.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the usage data comprises number of years smoking or number of cigarettes per day. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to select the one of the candidate products based on a comparison of the first and second demographic data. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 select the one of the candidate products and method for administration to the first smoker based on a maximum value among the for each of the plurality of candidate products and methods for administration to the first smoker capable of transitioning the first smoker from the conventional cigarettes to an aerosol device.   
     
     
         11 . A system for transitioning a smoker from cigarette smoking to an aerosol device, the system comprising:
 a memory storing a database of smoker profiles respectively in association with method and product variables of transition regimens for transitioning smokers from cigarette smoking to an aerosol device, each smoker profile comprising demographic and tobacco use characteristics of the respective smokers; and   a processor configured to execute a program for a method of providing a recommended transition regimen for transitioning a smoker from cigarette smoking to an aerosol device, the method comprising:
 receiving demographic data of the smoker and tobacco usage data of the smoker; 
 determining demographic characteristics and tobacco use characteristics of the smoker, based on the demographic data of the smoker and the tobacco usage data of the smoker; 
 determining one or more smoker profiles in the database having demographic and tobacco use characteristics of the respective smokers similar to the demographic characteristics and tobacco use characteristics of the smoker; 
 determining method and product variables of a transition regimen for transitioning the smoker from cigarette smoking to an aerosol device based on the product variables of transition regimens for transitioning the smokers from cigarette smoking to an aerosol device; and 
 providing, to the smoker, the transition regimen for transitioning the smoker from cigarette smoking to an aerosol device. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the respective smokers comprise smokers successfully transitioning from cigarette smoking to the tobacco an aerosol device, smokers currently transitioning from cigarette smoking to an aerosol device, and smokers unsuccessfully transitioning from cigarette smoking to an aerosol device, and
 wherein the determining method and product variables of a transition regimen for transitioning the smoker from cigarette smoking to an aerosol device comprises:   determining, by predictive learning, method and product variables of a transition regimen for transitioning the smoker from cigarette smoking to an aerosol device based on weighing the method and product variables of transition regimens for transitioning the smokers from cigarette smoking to the tobacco an aerosol device according to probabilities that the method and product variables of transition regimens for transitioning the smokers from cigarette smoking to an aerosol device will transition the smoker from cigarette smoking to an aerosol device.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein each of the demographic of the respective smoker and the demographic data of the smoker comprises at least one of age, race, gender, ethnicity, national origin, education level, occupation, and marital status. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein each of the tobacco use characteristics of the smoker and the tobacco use characteristic of the respective smoker comprises at least one of number of years smoking, number of packs per day, Fagerstrom dependence score, pack-year rating, total smoke dependence score, average number of cigarettes smoked per day over the last month, usual cigarette brand, current or previous use of nicotine products including e-cigarettes, current or previous use of a tobacco heating product, current or previous use of any other tobacco products, number of previous cigarette quit attempts if any, and level of interest in switching to e-cigarettes or a tobacco heating product compared to level of interest in quitting tobacco altogether. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the method and product variables of the transition regimen the smoker from cigarette smoking to an aerosol device are selected from among the method and product variables of transition regimens for transitioning smokers from cigarette smoking to an aerosol device of the one or more smoker profiles in the database having demographic and tobacco use characteristics of the respective smokers similar to the demographic characteristics and tobacco use characteristics of the smoker. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the transition regimen for transitioning the smoker from cigarette smoking to an aerosol device comprises a length of a transitional period, a type of an aerosol device, a type of very low nicotine cigarettes, and recommendations and instructions for using the type of an aerosol device and the type of the very low nicotine cigarettes during the transitional period. 
     
     
         17 . A kit for transitioning a smoker of conventional cigarettes to using a tobacco heating device during a transitional period, said kit comprising one or more compartments comprising very low nicotine cigarettes, a tobacco heating device, a supply of tobacco sticks and information and recommendations,
 wherein the transitional period is less than 85 days,   wherein a number of very low nicotine cigarettes equals a product of an average number of cigarettes the smoker smokes per day and a number of days in the transitional period, multiplied by a factor of at least 17 percent,   wherein each of the very low nicotine cigarettes comprises equal to or less than 2.0 mg of nicotine,   wherein a number of tobacco sticks equals at least a product of the average number of cigarettes the smoker smokes per day over a time period and the number of days in the transitional period,   wherein each of the tobacco sticks comprises equal to or greater than 2.0 mg of nicotine, and   wherein the information and recommendations include instructions on how the smoker uses the very low nicotine cigarettes and the tobacco heating device during the transitional period in an attempt by the smoker to switch from smoking cigarettes to using a tobacco heating device.   
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 17 , wherein each of the very low nicotine cigarettes further comprises a collective cannabinoid content at least 1 mg. 
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein each of the very low nicotine cigarettes further comprises very low Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)  cannabis  comprising Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid/Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol of equal to or less than 1.25 mg/g. 
     
     
         20 . A system for transitioning a smoker from cigarette smoking to a tobacco heating device, the system comprising:
 a memory storing a database of smoker profiles respectively in association with method and product variables of transition regimens for transitioning smokers from cigarette smoking to a tobacco heating device, each smoker profile comprising demographic and tobacco use characteristics of the respective smokers; and   a processor configured to execute a program for a method of providing a recommended transition regimen for transitioning a smoker from cigarette smoking to a tobacco heating device, the method comprising:   receiving demographic data of the smoker and tobacco usage data of the smoker;   determining demographic characteristics and tobacco use characteristics of the smoker;   
       based on the demographic data of the smoker and the tobacco usage data of the smoker;
 determining one or more smoker profiles in the database having demographic and tobacco use characteristics of the respective smokers similar to the demographic characteristics and tobacco use characteristics of the smoker; 
 determining method and product variables of a transition regimen for transitioning the smoker from cigarette smoking to a tobacco heating device based on the product variables of transition regimens for transitioning the smokers from cigarette smoking to a tobacco heating device; and 
 providing, to the smoker, the transition regimen for transitioning the smoker from cigarette smoking to a tobacco heating device. 
 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the respective smokers comprise smokers successfully transitioning from cigarette smoking to the tobacco a tobacco heating device, smokers currently transitioning from cigarette smoking to a tobacco heating device, and smokers unsuccessfully transitioning from cigarette smoking to a tobacco heating device, and
 wherein the determining method and product variables of a transition regimen for transitioning the smoker from cigarette smoking to a tobacco heating device comprises:   determining, by predictive learning, method and product variables of a transition regimen for transitioning the smoker from cigarette smoking to a tobacco heating device based on weighing the method and product variables of transition regimens for transitioning the smokers from cigarette smoking to a tobacco heating device according to probabilities that the method and product variables of transition regimens for transitioning the smokers from cigarette smoking to a tobacco heating device will transition the smoker from cigarette smoking to a tobacco heating device.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein each of the demographic characteristics of the respective smokers and the demographic data of the smoker comprises at least one of age, race, gender, ethnicity, national origin, education level, occupation, and marital status. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein each of the tobacco use characteristics of the smoker and the tobacco use characteristic of the respective smokers comprise at least one of number of years smoking, number of packs per day, Fagerstrom dependence score, pack-year rating, total smoke dependence score, average number of cigarettes smoked per day over a time period, usual cigarette brand, current or previous use of nicotine products including e-cigarettes, current or previous use of a tobacco heating product, current or previous use of any other tobacco products, number of previous cigarette quit attempts if any, level of interest in switching to a tobacco heating product, and level of interest in quitting tobacco use altogether. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the method and product variables of the transition regimen are selected from among the method and product variables of transition regimens for transitioning smokers from cigarette smoking to a tobacco heating device of one or more smoker profiles in the database having demographic and tobacco use characteristics of the respective smokers similar to the demographic characteristics and tobacco use characteristics of the smoker. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the transition regimen for transitioning the smoker from cigarette smoking to a tobacco heating device comprises a length of a transitional period, a type of a tobacco heating device, a type of very low nicotine cigarettes, and recommendations and instructions for using the type of a tobacco heating device and the type of the very low nicotine cigarettes during the transitional period.