CRYSTALLINE COATED HERBAGE HAVING A CONSISTENT CANNABINOID CONCENTRATION

Abstract

Herbage such as cannabis flower having a thin coating including crystallized cannabinoids having an average diameter of less than 100 microns. The thin coating is in a ratio of no more than 1:10 on a weight to weight basis so that the total cannabinoid content of the herbage does not exceed 35% by weight. THCA crystals in the form of granules or powder to coat the herbage. In one embodiment, the herbage is heated to less than 100 degrees F. to enable the coating to adhere. The coating improves structural integrity of the herbage so it resists crushing when transported or stacked in a container or during storage. The coating inhibits deleterious interactions between the herbage and ambient air while achieving a standardized THC.sub.total content.

Claims

1. A cannabis flower product having a coating consisting essentially of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid crystals having an average diameter of less than 100 microns, wherein the cannabis flower product has a total cannabinoid content and the coating comprises less than 10% of the total cannabinoid content.

2. The cannabis flower product as set forth in claim 1, wherein the average crystal diameter is between 20-70 microns, an the coating comprises less than 2% of the total cannabinoid content.

3. The cannabis flower product as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cannabis flower product has a total cannabinoid content of between 20-30%.

4. A cannabis flower product having a coating consisting essentially of cannabinoid crystals having an average diameter of less than 100 microns.

5. The cannabis flower product of claim 4, wherein the cannabinoid crystals are selected from the group consisting of crystalline tetrahydrocannabinolic acid THCA, crystalline cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), crystalline cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), crystalline tetrahydrocannabivarinic acid (THCVA), and combinations thereof.

6. The cannabis flower product of claim 4, wherein the cannabinoid crystals are selected from the group consisting of: crystalline tetrahydrocannabinolic acid THCA and crystalline cannabidiolic acid (CBDA).

7. The cannabis flower product of claim 4, wherein the cannabinoid crystals are selected from the group consisting essentially of crystalline tetrahydrocannabinolic acid THCA, crystalline cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), crystalline cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), crystalline tetrahydrocannabivarinic acid (THCVA).

8. The cannabis flower product as set forth in claim 4, wherein the cannabis flower product has a total cannabinoid content with the coating of cannabinoid crystals comprises less than 10% of the total cannabinoid content.

9. The cannabis flower product as set forth in claim 8, wherein the cannabis flower product is rolled into a cannabis cigarette to yield a standardized cannabis flower product.

10. A method of manufacturing a standardized cannabis flower product including a cannabis flower having a surface with a coating of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid crystals, comprising: a) providing cannabis flower having a surface and naturally occurring oils, the cannabis flower has an initial total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content; b) providing tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) crystals; c) heating the cannabis flower to between 80 and 100 degrees F. to express a portion of the naturally occurring oils from the cannabis flower onto the surface of the cannabis flower; and d) applying the tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) crystals to the oils on the surface of the cannabis flower to achieve a final total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content.

11. The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the step of applying includes tumbling the cannabis flower in the THCA crystals, wherein the THCA crystals have an average diameter of less than 100 microns.

12. The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the step of applying includes spraying the cannabis flower in the THCA crystals.

13. The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein after the step of applying, the cannabis flower includes a final total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content that is greater than the initial total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content, each said total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content is measured in accordance with the formula: THCtotal=THC+(0.877×THCA).

14. The method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising multiple batches of cannabis flowers; the total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC.sub.total) content across all of the multiple batches is no more than 10% greater than the initial total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content across all of the multiple batches, to standardize the consistent total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC.sub.total) content of the cannabis flower product at a desirable level.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein at least one of the multiple batches of cannabis flower is rolled into a cannabis cigarettes.

16. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein as least some of the multiple batches of cannabis flower is rolled into a cannabis cigarettes, each cannabis cigarette having an equal amount of THC.sub.total.

17. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein as least some of the multiple batches of cannabis flower is rolled into a cannabis cigarettes having an equal weight, each cannabis cigarette having an amount of THC.sub.total equal to 20% of the cannabis cigarette weight.

18. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein at least multiple batches of cannabis flower have a THC.sub.total that is standardized at 20% THC.sub.total content.

19. The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the THCA crystals comprise less than 10% of the final total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content.

20. The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the THCA crystals comprise less than 2% of the final total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0061] FIG. 1 is a merchandising display including glass jars enclosing cannabis flowers.

[0062] FIG. 2 is a group of trimmed cannabis flowers.

[0063] FIG. 3 is a group of cannabis cigarettes with an open end showing crystals.

[0064] FIG. 4 is a cannabis cigarette with a foot, paper, and an open end with visible crystals.

[0065] FIG. 5 is a cannabis cigarette with crystals visible at an open end and having paper impregnated with crystals.

[0066] 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

[0067] 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.

[0068] 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.

[0069] 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.

[0070] 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. More preferably, the standardized THC.sub.total is 20% of the cannabis flower product to enable users to enjoy smoking without excess bioactivity.

[0071] 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.

[0072] 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.

[0073] 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.

[0074] 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.

[0075] 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.

[0076] 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.

[0077] 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.

[0078] 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.

[0079] 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.

[0080] 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.

[0081] This patent application describes the invention by way of example only, and the true scope of the invention is expressed in the appended claims.