MEDICATED PRODUCE

Abstract

Methods and products of processes result in novel medicated food items including produce items. Cannabinoids from marijuana plants, including THC, CBD and CBC are infused with fresh fruits and vegetables, resulting in an innovative approach combining cannabinoid ingestion with healthy eating.

Claims

1. A method of producing a medicated food item, comprising the steps of: providing a food item; extracting a cannabinoid from a cannabis plant; loading the cannabinoid into a needle or syringe; and injecting the cannabinoid into the food item.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the food item is a fruit or vegetable.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein: the food item is a citrus fruit having edible sections divided by separating walls; and including the step of determining the positions of the separating walls to ensure that the cannabinoid is injected into one or more of the edible sections.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the cannabinoid is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the cannabinoid is a tetrahydrocannabinol.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the cannabinoid is cannabidiol (CBD).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the cannabinoid is cannabichromene (CBC).

8. A medicated food item produced in accordance with the method of claim 1.

9. A medicated food item produced in accordance with the method of claim 2.

10. A medicated food item produced in accordance with the method of claim 3.

11. A medicated food item produced in accordance with the method of claim 4.

12. A medicated food item produced in accordance with the method of claim 5.

13. A medicated food item produced in accordance with the method of claim 6.

14. A medicated food item produced in accordance with the method of claim 7.

15. A medicated food item produced in accordance with the method of claim 8.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram illustrating a process according to the invention. As an initial step, a desired cannabinoid is extracted from the leaves/buds of the cannabis plant. The cannabinoid, typically in the form of a flowable oil, is loaded into a syringe, which is then used to inject the cannabinoid into an item of produce or other appropriate food item.

[0015] Processes for extracting cannabinoids are known in the art, and this invention is not limited in terms of the extraction method used. As one example, CBD and other cannabinoids may be extracted using high-proof food-safe alcohol. The plant material mixed with alcohol and stirred or agitated to expel the resin.

[0016] The liquid is then filtered with a sieve and collected as an initial raw extraction. The stirring and filtering process can be repeated with a new batch of solvent to extract as much compounds as possible from the plant matter.

[0017] The strained liquid is then strained into the double boiler and heated to evaporate the alcohol until a flowable liquid or oil is produced. The flowable liquid or oil may then be stored or loaded directly into syringes for use in accordance with the invention.

[0018] For more accurate separation of oils into specific cannabinoids, Flashpoints may be used according to the following table:

TABLE-US-00001 Cannabinoid Flashpoint tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) 137.6 C. (279.68 F.) delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol 144.5 C. (292.10 F.) (delta-8-THC) delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol 149.3 C. (300.74 F.) (THC) cannabichromene (CBC) 174.2 C. (345.56 F.) cannabidiol (CBD) 206.3 C. (403.34 F.) cannabigerol (CBG) 207.2 C. (404.96 F.) cannabinol (CBN) 212.7 C. (414.86 F.)

[0019] These flashpoints would then be used in conjunction with a temperature-controlled vaporizer with collection bags and high-grain alcohol. Using such processes, cannabinoids may be collected individually or combined with unwanted cannabinoids being discarded.

[0020] For example, to collect CBD alone, the vaporizer would be set just beyond 175 C or 346 F, or just above the flashpoint for CBC, while still remaining safely below that of the CBD to be collected. Pre-CBD content may be ‘purged’ at roughly 390-400 F. This process may be used for any of the items listed in the table based upon the flashpoints given.

[0021] Once the desired cannabinoid or mixture of cannabinoids is made available by whatever method, the material is injected into a food article, preferably a fresh fruit or vegetable. The fresh produce may be in many forms, from all stages of growth, from seeds and seedlings to ripe/mature produce ready for harvest using the appropriate syringe or injection method. The following example describes one embodiment of the invention:

Example

300 mg CBD Oil

[0022] Fruits (i.e., oranges, banana, watermelon)
Vegetables (i.e., carrots, cucumber, zucchini)
In the case of citrus fruits, look for humps for slices or use X-ray to determine where slices are to ensure that the injection is made into edible fruit itself and not the partitions between the fruit slices.

Needles/Syringes:

[0023] Syringe size: 3.4″×0.9″×0.6″/8.7×2.4×1.5 cm, Capacity: 3 ml.
Blunt tip needles length (stainless steel part): 14Ga-1.5″/38 mm, 18Ga-0.5″/13 mm, 20Ga-1.5″/38 m, 25Ga-0.5″/13 mm.
Injections of 10, 50 and 100 mg were tested for citrus fruit, bananas, cucumber/zucchini and watermelon.

[0024] Note that while injection with a syringe is the preferred method of introducing the cannabinoid, other infusion methods are possible including soaking and genetic modification involving the mutation, insertion, or deletion of fruit/vegetable plant genes. Cannabinoid genetic material may be introduced by attaching the genes to a virus; physically inserting the genetic material into the nucleus of the intended host with a very small syringe; or via electroporation. The preferred technique would exploit more natural forms of gene transfer, such as the ability of agrobacterium to transfer cannabis related genetic material to target plants.