Herbage Having a Reflective Coating

Abstract

Herbage such as trimmed Cannabis flowers have a reflective coating that sparkles and improves shelf life. The invention includes a first coating of a first Cannabis plant extract including at least 60%-98% Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that forms a hardened layer on the dried herbage to mechanically preserve the shape of the herbage and enables handling and grinding of the herbage. A second coating of a second Cannabis plant extract, including at least 90-99% Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCa) forms crystals, or “diamonds”, that are embedded in the first coating to improve aesthetics by reflecting light. The crystals improve shelf life by reducing absorption of light by the herbage. The weight sum of the combined coatings are in a particular ratio to the herbage. This ratio is between 1:4 and 2:1 on a weight to weight basis to cause the herbage to sparkle, to improve shelf life, and to enable grinding without sticking.

Claims

1. Herbage having a reflective coating that sparkles and improves herbage shelf life, comprising: a. herbage having a moisture content of between 4-15% and a shape; b. a first coating of a first Cannabis plant extract including at least 60%-98% Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is decarboxylated, and forms a hardened layer on the dried herbage to mechanically preserve the shape of the herbage, the hardened surface enables handling and grinding of the herbage; c. a second coating of a second Cannabis plant extract, including at least 90-99% Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCa), which is not decarboxylated, and which forms crystals that are embedded in the first coating to improve aesthetics by reflecting light, and to improve shelf life by reducing absorption of light by the herbage; d. the crystals and the hardened surface of the first coating cooperate to enable handling, storage, and processing of the herbage; e. wherein, the combined coatings are in a particular ratio to the herbage, the ratio is between 1:4 and 2:1 on a weight to weight basis to optimally cause the herbage to sparkle and improve the shelf life.

2. The herbage as set forth in claim 1, wherein the herbage is Cannabis flower that is ground to a desired particle size to form a smokable product, the crystals are visible in the ground Cannabis flower.

3. The herbage as set forth in claim 2, wherein most of the crystals having an average grain size of less than 2.0 millimeters in diameter.

4. The herbage as set forth in claim 2, wherein most of the crystals having an average grain size of greater than 0.1 millimeters in diameter

5. The herbage as set forth in claim 2, wherein the ground herbage is packaged in rolling paper to form a Cannabis cigarette.

6. The herbage as set forth in claim 5, wherein the rolling paper is transparent to reveal the crystals through the rolling paper.

7. The herbage as set forth in claim 2, wherein the ground herbage is packaged in rolling paper to form a Cannabis cigarette having an open end, the crystals are visible at the open end.

8. The herbage as set forth in claim 2, wherein the ground herbage is packaged in rolling paper to form a Cannabis cigarette having two open ends, the crystals are visible at both of the two open ends.

9. The herbage as set forth in claim 2, wherein the ground herbage is packaged in rolling paper to form a Cannabis cigarette having an open end, the open end being coated with the first coating and the second coating.

10. The herbage as set forth in claim 2, wherein the rolling paper is impregnated with the crystals to inhibit ultraviolet degradation of the ground herbage within the rolling paper, and to sparkle.

11. The herbage as set forth in claim 2, wherein the rolling paper is impregnated with the crystals to inhibit ultraviolet degradation of the ground herbage within the rolling paper, and to sparkle, the crystals have an average particle size diameter of less than 0.3 mm.

12. The herbage as set forth in claim 1, wherein the herbage is Cannabis flower in the form of trimmed buds packaged in a transparent glass jar.

13. The herbage as set forth in claim 1, wherein the herbage is Cannabis flower in the form of trimmed buds packaged in glass jars, and the glass jars are presented in a merchandising display.

14. Cannabis flowers having a reflective coating that sparkles and improves shelf life, comprising: a. Cannabis flowers dried to less than 10% moisture content and having a shape; b. a first coating of a first Cannabis plant extract including at least 60%-98% Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the first coating is hardened to preserve the shape of the Cannabis flowers and to provide a moisture barrier; c. a second coating of a second Cannabis plant extract, including at least 90-99% Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCa), which forms crystals that are embedded in the first coating to reflect light, the crystals both improve aesthetics by creating light reflective surface features, and inhibit absorption of ultraviolet light by the Cannabis flowers, d. wherein, the ratio of the combined coatings to the Cannabis flowers is between 1:4 and 2:1 on a weight to weight basis to optimally make the Cannabis flowers sparkle and to improve the shelf life.

15. The Cannabis flowers as set forth in claim 14, wherein the Cannabis flowers are trimmed and packaged in a transparent glass jar.

16. The Cannabis flowers as set forth in claim 14, wherein the Cannabis flowers are in the form of trimmed buds packaged in glass jars, and the glass jars are presented in a merchandising display.

17. The Cannabis flowers as set forth in claim 14, wherein Cannabis flowers are in the form of trimmed buds packaged in a transparent bag.

18. The Cannabis flowers as set forth in claim 14, wherein the Cannabis flowers are in the form of trimmed buds and the crystals have an average of between 0.05 to 0.5 mm to visually mimic naturally occurring Cannabis trichomes.

19. The Cannabis flowers as set forth in claim 14, wherein the Cannabis flowers are in the form of trimmed buds and the crystals have an average of between 0.05 to 0.1 mm to visually mimic average sized naturally occurring Cannabis trichomes.

20. The Cannabis flowers as set forth in claim 14, wherein the first coating is sufficiently hard to inhibit the Cannabis flowers from sticking to each other during manufacture, packaging and handling.

21. A Cannabis flower having a reflective coating that sparkles, and is capable of being ground in a mechanical grinder, comprising: a. a Cannabis flower dried to less than 10% moisture content and having a shape; b. a first coating of a first Cannabis plant extract including at least 60%-98% Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the first coating is hardened so that the Cannabis flower is easy to grind without sticking within and fouling the mechanical grinder; c. a second coating of a second Cannabis plant extract, including at least 90-99% Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCa), which forms crystals that are embedded in the first coating to reflect light, the crystals both improve aesthetics by creating light reflective surface features, and inhibits absorption of ultraviolet light by the Cannabis flower, d. wherein, the sum of the combined coatings, and the Cannabis flower have a ratio of between 1:4 and 2:1 on a weight to weight basis to enable the Cannabis flower to both sparkle and be easily ground in a mechanical grinder without sticking.

22. The Cannabis flower as set forth in claim 21, further comprising a plurality of Cannabis flowers.

23. The Cannabis flower as set forth in claim 22, wherein the plurality of Cannabis flowers is ground and rolled into a Cannabis cigarette.

24. The Cannabis flower as set forth in claim 22, wherein the plurality of Cannabis flowers is trimmed and displayed in a clear glass jar, the coatings cooperate to enable the Cannabis flowers to be displayed without sticking to and fouling the clear glass jar.

25. The Cannabis flower as set forth in claim 21, wherein the first and second coating are applied sequentially.

26. The Cannabis flower as set forth in claim 25, wherein the first coating is applied warm and the second coating is applied while the first coating is warm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] FIG. 1 is a merchandising display including glass jars enclosing Cannabis flowers.

[0037] FIG. 2 is a group of trimmed Cannabis flowers.

[0038] FIG. 3 is a group of Cannabis cigarettes with an open end showing crystals.

[0039] FIG. 4 is a Cannabis cigarette with a foot, paper, and an open end with visible crystals.

[0040] FIG. 5 is a Cannabis cigarette with crystals visible at an open end and having paper impregnated with crystals.

[0041] FIG. 6 is a Cannabis cigarette with a transparent paper that enables ground Cannabis flowers having crystals to be viewed through the paper.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] FIG. 1 is a merchandising display generally designated with the reference numeral 10. The display 10 includes a plurality of jars 12. The jars 12 are glass and are transparent for displaying herbage 14 stored within. The jars 12 each include a lid that selectively opens, closes and locks, to seal each respective jar 12 from ambient air. The jars 12 shown are displayed with a closed lid and in a locked orientation.

[0043] FIG. 2 shows Cannabis flowers 16, 18 and 20 that are dried and trimmed. Although trimmed, the flower 16 shows small untrimmed leaf portions that extend beyond the surface of the flower 16. Ideally the leaf portions are trimmed flush with the surface of each Cannabis flower as shown in the flowers 18 and 20. Each flower 16, 18 and 20 sparkles as they are coated with a first coating and a second coating having crystals.

[0044] FIG. 3 shows a pack 50 of cigarettes 26 aligned in a row. The packaging material is not shown, but can be a paper, tin, or plastic wrapper. Each cigarette 26 has an open end 24 revealing ground herbage coated with a first and second coating to show light reflective crystals at the open ends 24 of the cigarettes 26. The cigarettes 26 in one embodiment are made primarily from dried, trimmed and ground hemp flowers having a detectable cannabidiolic acid (CBDa) that are coated in accord with the present invention. Preferably, the hemp flower material has a CBDa content of at least 10% on a weight to weight (w:w) basis.

[0045] In another embodiment, the cigarettes 26 are made primarily from marijuana flower having a detectable THC content. Preferably, the marijuana flower has at least a 10% THCa content on a weight to weight (w:w) basis. The combination of the marijuana flower and the coatings have a combined THC and THCa content of at least 40% in one embodiment of the invention and is readily identifiable by the reflective crystals at the open ends.

[0046] FIG. 4 is a Cannabis cigarette generally designated by the reference numeral 22. The Cannabis cigarette 22 is made from either dried trimmed Cannabis flower that is coated in accordance with the present invention. Cannabis is a common term that includes marijuana, hemp and hybrids thereof. Cannabis, from a botanical perspective, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae.

[0047] The Cannabis cigarette 22 includes a foot 28 for holding the cigarette 22, which has very little, if any, Cannabis material. It is simply a way of holding the Cannabis cigarette 22 while using it. The Cannabis cigarette 22 includes a paper 26 wrapped around ground Cannabis flower. The Cannabis cigarette 22 includes an open end 24 that has crystals that sparkle. The sparkles are shown as dark specs in this drawing, but the physical crystals are somewhat translucent, transparent and reflective to reflect light.

[0048] FIG. 4 is a Cannabis cigarette 30 having a foot 36 attached to a paper 34, revealing an open end 32. Both the paper 34 and the open end 32 are impregnated or coated with the first and second coatings in accord with the present invention. In another embodiment, the paper 34 is coated only with the second coating. The reflective crystals are shown as dark dots on the surface of the paper 34 and the open end 32.

[0049] FIG. 5 is a Cannabis cigarette 38 having a foot 44, paper 42, and an open end 40. The paper 42 holds Cannabis material in the Cannabis cigarette 38 in the shape of a cylinder defining a longitudinal axis between the foot 44 and the open end 40, and the paper 42 is at least somewhat reflective being coated or embedded with reflective crystals of THCa.

[0050] The Cannabis material is preferably trimmed, dried and ground Cannabis flower having at least 10% cannabinoid content. The cannabinoid content can be selected from the group consisting of tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, cannabigerol, cannabinol, the acid forms thereof, and combinations thereof. Any of the at least one hundred known cannabinoids can be used in accord with the present invention so long as a crystal that reflects light can be made visible on the herbage material.

[0051] In one embodiment of the invention, a first coating coats the Cannabis flower with hardened THC. In a variation of this embodiment, a second coating of crystallized THCa, where the crystallized second coating reflects light through the open end 40. In this embodiment, the paper is also coated to reflect light using crystallized THCa. Accordingly the coating of the paper 34 cooperates with the coated Cannabis flower to reflect light longitudinally and through the end 32.

[0052] FIG. 6 is a cigarette 38 having a foot 44, a paper 42 and an open end 40. The paper 42 is transparent to reveal the herbage inside the cigarette 38. The herbage is coated with crystallized THCa and reflects light through the paper 42 and via the open end 40.

[0053] Although open ends are shown on the various cigarettes, the open end can be closed by rolling the paper tightly into a point in the traditional way a hand rolled joint are rolled. In addition, although a foot of the cigarettes is shown, cigarettes without a foot can be fabricated to have two open ends to reflect light. Further both ends can be rolled tightly in the embodiments having transparent paper, or coated paper, so that the aesthetic effects of the crystals are not hidden or totally lost.

[0054] Further, it can be appreciated that the Cannabis material, or herbage, need not be presented in the form of a cigarette, but can be packaged in any way desirable by the smoking customer. For example, the herbage (i.e. Cannabis flower) presented in a jar can be extricated from the jar and re-packaged in a transparent plastic tube, baggie, or other container for sale to a customer. In such a case the herbage is still visible along with the reflective crystals.

[0055] It can also be appreciated that while coated herbage, or Cannabis flower, is coated in accordance with the present invention, it is possible to simply mix ground herbage, or Cannabis material, with crystalline THCa to make cigarettes.

[0056] This patent application describes the invention by way of example only, and the true scope of the invention is expressed in the appended claims.