TOBACCO PRODUCTS WITH CANNABINOID ADDITIVES AND METHODS FOR REDUCING THE HARM ASSOCIATED WITH TOBACCO USE

Abstract

A substantially pure fraction of at least one cannabinoid is added to smokable or smokeless tobacco products to reduce the harm associated with tobacco use. The harm to be reduced includes irritation and carcinogenicity of tobacco. In a preferred embodiment a whole plant cannabis extract is mixed directly with the tobacco during the curing or manufacturing process. For cigarette applications the cannabinoids may be inserted into a cigarette filter, and/or paper. In other embodiments the cannabinoids are purified.

Claims

1. A composition of matter for consumption by a human comprising: tobacco; and an isolated cannabinoid from cannabis to effectively reduce the harmful effects of tobacco use, wherein said cannabinoid is selected from the group consisting of tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol and mixtures thereof and wherein the combination of tobacco and isolated cannabinoid are in a form selected from the group consisting of cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and moist snuff.

2. The composition of matter of claim 1 wherein the tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol are present in a ratio of about 1:20, tetrahydrocannabinol: cannabidiol.

3. The composition of matter of claim 1 wherein the tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol are present in a ratio of between 1:20 to 20:1, tetrahydrocannabinol: cannabidiol.

4. The composition of matter of claim 1 wherein the tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol are present in a ratio of about 1:1, tetrahydrocannabinol: cannabidiol.

5. The composition of matter of claim 1 wherein the isolated cannabinoid is a microencapsulated, highly purified cannabinoid isolate.

6. The composition of matter of claim 1 wherein the isolated cannabinoid is contained in an oil.

7. The composition of matter of claim 1 wherein the isolated cannabinoid is formulated as a dry component.

8. The composition of matter of claim 1 wherein the cannabidiol weight is between 0.1 and 5000 milligrams and the tobacco weight is between 400 to 1200 milligrams.

9. The composition of matter of claim 8 wherein the cannabidiol weight is between about 0.4 and 240 milligrams.

10. A composition of matter for consumption by a human comprising: dried and cured tobacco particles; and an isolated cannabinoid from cannabis to effectively reduce the harmful effects of tobacco use, wherein said cannabinoid is selected from the group consisting of tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol and mixtures thereof and wherein the combination of tobacco and isolated cannabinoid are in a form selected from the group consisting of cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and moist snuff.

11. The composition of matter of claim 10 wherein the tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol are present in a ratio of about 1:20, tetrahydrocannabinol: cannabidiol.

12. The composition of matter of claim 10 wherein the tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol are present in a ratio of between 1:20 to 20:1, tetrahydrocannabinol: cannabidiol.

13. The composition of matter of claim 10 wherein the tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol are present in a ratio of about 1:1, tetrahydrocannabinol: cannabidiol.

14. The composition of matter of claim 10 wherein the isolated cannabinoid is a microencapsulated, highly purified cannabinoid isolate.

15. The composition of matter of claim 10 wherein the isolated cannabinoid is contained in an oil.

16. The composition of matter of claim 10 wherein the isolated cannabinoid is formulated as a dry particle component.

17. The composition of matter of claim 10 wherein the cannabidiol weight is between 0.1 and 5000 milligrams and the tobacco weight is between 400 to 1200 milligrams.

18. The composition of matter of claim 17 wherein the cannabidiol weight is between about 0.4 and 240 milligrams.

19. A composition of matter for consumption by a human comprising: dried and cured tobacco particles; and a paper wrap encasing the tobacco particles and containing an isolated cannabinoid from cannabis to effectively reduce the harmful effects of tobacco use, wherein said cannabinoid is selected from the group consisting of tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol and mixtures thereof and wherein the combination of tobacco and isolated cannabinoid are in a form selected from the group consisting of cigarettes, cigars, and chewing tobacco.

20. The composition of matter of claim 19 wherein the paper wrap is tobacco paper or filter paper.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] These and other systems, methods, objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the embodiments and drawings.

[0015] All documents mentioned herein are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference. References to items in the singular should be understood to include items in the plural, and vise versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise or clear from the text. Grammatical conjunctions are intended to express any and all disjunctive and conjunctive combinations of conjoined clauses, sentences, words, and the like, unless otherwise stated or clear from context

[0016] The cannabinoids are a class of molecules primarily obtained through the extraction of cannabis plant material. The various cannabinoids include tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), and cannabidivarin (CBDV) as well as others. Various cannabinoids, used alone or in combination have shown a variety of significant biological effects including but not limited to pain relief, anti cancer, anti inflammatory, anti emetic, anti convulsant, and several others.

[0017] With respect to cannabinoid additives for tobacco, CBD is particularly useful due to its non-intoxicating, antineoplastic, anti-inflammatory, and pain relieving effects. While specific embodiments of tobacco products including cannabinoids are discussed with respect to CBD, it is noted that other cannabinoids may be added to or substituted depending on the specific effects desired from the additives. Therefore, in an embodiment, a substantially pure, dry powder of CBD is mixed directly with the tobacco used in smokable or smokeless tobacco during the manufacturing process and/or directly into smokable or smokeless tobacco products. CBD can also be inserted or mixed into mixtures of lamina tobaccos, reconstituted tobacco and lamina tobacco mixed with reconstituted tobacco as well as into a cigarette filter, holder, paper or wrapper. One may also place the additive in tobacco prior to curing so long as it will remain stable enough to sustain its benefits all the way through processing and in storage. Other forms of cannabinoid additives, namely oils can be used in the present invention. Oils may be particularly useful do the fact that it is difficult to get substantially pure, solid forms of many cannabinoids. Oils may be particularly useful in chewing tobacco, and as a coating for the interior surface of cigarette and cigar wrappers. Other formulations of cannabinoids may be incorporated into tobacco products such as microencapsulated, particleized cannabinoids.

[0018] Cannabinoids can be incorporated into a tobacco or non tobacco product in a number of different ways including being directly mixed with the tobacco or inserted into a cigarette/cigar filter, holder, or wrapper either in a dry, oil, or microencapsulated form. In an embodiment of the present invention, a substantially pure, dry form of CBD can be blended into, sprayed or dusted onto the full or cut tobacco or non-tobacco leaves during the curing or manufacturing process. In that way, the substantially pure, dry form of CBD will already be incorporated onto the tobacco when it is rolled into the cigarette packaged in a bulk smokeless container. While the quantity of CBD to be used in this process can vary, it is expected that between 0.1 and 5000 milligrams of CBD or other cannabinoid would be a suitable amount for a cigarette or smokeless tobacco wad containing 400-1200 milligrams of tobacco, with a more preferred amount of CBD or other cannabinoid to be between 0.1% to 20.0% by weight of tobacco or 0.4 milligrams to 240 milligrams for a cigarette or smokeless tobacco wad containing 400-1200 milligram of tobacco. In some embodiments the cannabinoids are added by adding an amount of a whole plant cannabis extract.

[0019] In another embodiment the tobacco and cannabinoid additives are provided as a kit comprising separate portions of tobacco and cannabinoid extracts, enabling users to combine the tobacco and cannabinoid additives in proportions of their choosing.

[0020] In another embodiment, the cannabinoid(s) are incorporated into the cigarette filter either as dispersed particles, liquid infused into the filter medium or microencapsulated particles. The cannabinoid(s) may also be incorporated into tobacco paper, plug wrap, and or filter paper.

[0021] In other embodiments, the cannabinoid(s) are added to the tobacco after the tobacco has been dried, cured and otherwise processed to be ready for formulation into cigarettes, smokeless and other forms. The addition of cannabinoids at this stage is beneficial as it avoids the possibility of degradation of the cannabinoids over time and during the processing steps of the raw tobacco leaves. It also has the added benefit of enabling a more accurate and precise dosage of cannabinoid(s).

[0022] In some embodiments terpenes, either alone or in combination with cannabinoids are added as additives to the tobacco products.

[0023] In some embodiments the cannabinoids present as additives are THC and CBD present in ratios in the range of 1:100 to 100:1, particularly between 1:20 to 20:1. In some embodiments the cannabinoids present are THC and CBD in a 1:1 ratio.

[0024] There are several benefits associated with cannabinoid additives to tobacco products, especially as a harm reduction measure. One benefit is the reduced irritation associated with tobacco product use. In particular, the addition of CBD, with its known anti inflammatory and pain relieving properties is particularly beneficial in reducing some of the discomfort associated with tobacco use. The use of THC as an additive to tobacco products is beneficial, especially in states where the recreational use of cannabis is permitted and as a way to reduce the nausea that sometimes accompanies tobacco use.

[0025] The use of cannabinoids as tobacco additives, may be particularly useful as a mechanism to reduce the carcinogenicity associated with tobacco products. Substantial evidence has been presented that these compounds can reduce tumor growth in animal models of cancer. A large body of scientific evidences strongly support THC and other cannabinoid agonists exert anticancer actions in preclinical models of cancer (including immunocompetent mice) through a well-established mechanism of action. See ie The Use of Cannabinoids as Anticancer AgentsVelasco et al. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, Jan. 4 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0026] The use of cannabinoids as tobacco additives, may be particularly useful as a mechanism to reduce the inflammatory response often caused by the use of tobacco products. Tobacco use is known to cause various inflammatory responses including but not limited to inflammation and irritation of the mouth and throat. Various cannabinoids are known to have an anti-inflammatory effect. See ie Comparative topical anti-inflammatory activity of cannabinoids and cannbivarinsTubaro et al. Fitoterapia, (2010) 816-819, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0027] Therefore, In one embodiment, the invention is a smokable or non smokable composition comprising tobacco and at least one additive selected from the group consisting of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), and cannabidivarin (CBDV).

[0028] Another embodiment is, method of reducing the harm associated with tobacco use comprising providing tobacco users with tobacco products to which have been added at least one cannabinoid selected from the group consisting of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), and cannabidivarin (CBDV). In some cases the harm associated with tobacco use that is to be reduced is the inflammation that is associated with tobacco use. In some cases the harm associated with tobacco use that is to be reduced is the carcinogenicity of tobacco. In some cases the harm associated with tobacco used that is to be reduced is the mouth discomfort associated with the use of smokeless tobacco.

[0029] Another embodiment is a tobacco mixture with a reduced carcinogenicity profile comprising tobacco with a cannabinoid additive selected from the group consisting of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), and cannabidivarin (CBDV).

[0030] Another embodiment is method for reducing free radical damage to the oro-pharyngeal cavity, respiratory tract and lungs from tobacco smoke, the method comprising adding a cannabinoid additive to tobacco products, the additive selected from the group consisting of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), and cannabidivarin (CBDV).

[0031] Another embodiment is a cigarette comprising a paper wrapper surrounding a charge of tobacco, said cigarette further comprising a composition for reducing free radical damage to the oro-pharyngeal cavity, respiratory tract and lungs from tobacco smoke generated by said cigarette, said composition comprising a cannabinoid additive to tobacco products, the additive selected from the group consisting of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), and cannabidivarin (CBDV).

[0032] While the present disclosure includes many embodiments shown and described in detail, various modifications and improvements thereon will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the present invention is not to be limited by the foregoing examples, but is to be understood in the broadest sense allowable by law.

[0033] With respect to the above, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components listed or the steps set forth in the description or illustrated in the drawings. The various apparatus and methods of the disclosed invention are capable of other embodiments, and of being practiced and carried out in various ways that would be readily known to those skilled in the art, given the present disclosure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are for descriptive purposes and should not be construed as in any way limiting.

[0034] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may be utilized as a basis for designing other inventions with similar properties. It is important therefore that the embodiments, objects, and claims herein, be regarded as including such equivalent construction and methodology insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.