Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CANNABIS VAPE OIL, METHOD OF USE AND OF MAKING SAME
TECHNICAL FIELD
[01] This application generally relates to the field of cannabis oil for
vaping.
BACKGROUND
[02] Conventionally, electronic vaping devices utilize a liquid supply
reservoir that contains a
liquid material. The liquid material is drawn toward a heater via a wick,
where the heater
vaporizes the liquid material, and the vaporized liquid is entrained in an air
flow that is
discharged into a vaper's mouth for consumption.
[03] In order for the liquid material to function properly in the vaping
device, the liquid
material must have properties, which are suitable for the liquid to vaporize,
namely the liquid
must have a proper viscosity such that it can be adequately metered to the
heating element by the
capillary action of the wick. For instance, a liquid that is too viscous will
not function well
because the wick will have difficulty transferring the liquid to the heating
element. Also, the
liquid should have a flash point that is in proper relation to the temperature
at which the liquid is
heated by the heating element. If the flash point of the liquid is below the
temperature of the
heating element, the liquid may explode in the vaping device, creating a
hazard risk.
[04] A number of liquid material formulations have been proposed for use in
vaping
devices, in particular in connection with the nicotine market (e-cigarettes).
However, such
formulations are not easily transferrable into other markets, such as the
cannabis vaping oil
market. While some sort of thinner agent is required for cannabis
concentrates, which typically
have a viscosity which is too high for use in vaping devices, common thinner
agents used in the
nicotine market have been reported as negatively affecting the organoleptic
properties of
cannabis concentrates.
[05] Despite the widespread population of vaping, cannabis concentrate-
containing liquid
materials for use in a vaping device have remained elusive.
SUMMARY
[06] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a
simplified form that
are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not
intended to
identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter.
CA 3024052 2018-11-13
[07] As embodied and broadly described herein, the present disclosure
relates to a cannabis
oil for use in a vaping device configured for heating the cannabis oil at a
vaporization
temperature to vaporize a cannabinoid contained in the cannabis oil, the
cannabis oil comprising
a mixture of a cannabis concentrate and an additive, the additive having a
flash point below the
vaporization temperature, the cannabis concentrate and the additive
cooperating to produce a
mixture having a flash point above the vaporization temperature of the
cannabinoid.
[08] As embodied and broadly described herein, the present disclosure
relates to a cannabis
oil for use in a vaping device, the cannabis oil comprising a mixture of a
cannabis concentrate
and an additive, the additive having a flash point below 200 F, the cannabis
concentrate and the
additive cooperating to produce a mixture having a flash point above 200 F.
[09] As embodied and broadly described herein, the present disclosure
relates to a cannabis
oil for vaping, the cannabis oil comprising a mixture of a cannabis
concentrate and a carrier oil
of plant origin, the cannabis concentrate being in a proportion sufficient to
bring the flash point
of the cannabis oil above 200 F, the cannabis oil being free of Vegetable
Glycerin (VG),
Polyethylene Glycol (PEG), and Propylene Glycol (PG).
[10] As embodied and broadly described herein, the present disclosure
relates to a cartridge
component of an electronic vaping device, comprising a liquid reservoir
containing the herein
described cannabis oil.
[11] As embodied and broadly described herein, the present disclosure
relates to a method
of manufacturing cannabis vaping oil suitable for use in a vaping device, the
vaping device being
configured for using a vaping oil having a viscosity at room temperature below
a threshold, and
the vaping device further being configured to heat the vaping oil at a
vaporization temperature at
which one or more cannabinoids in the vaping oil vaporize. The method
comprising providing a
cannabis concentrate having a viscosity at room temperature which is above the
threshold, the
cannabis concentrate having a flash point above the vaporization temperature;
providing an
additive having a viscosity below the threshold at room temperature and a
flash point below the
vaporization temperature; and diluting the cannabis concentrate with an
additive to a mixture,
wherein the proportions of cannabis concentrate and additive are selected such
that the mixture
has a viscosity below the threshold and a flash point above the vaporization
temperature.
[12] In one embodiment, the vaporization temperature is above 200 F, or
above 250 F, or
above 280 F, or above 300 F, or above 320 F, or above 350 F, or more.
2
CA 3024052 2018-11-13
[13] All features of exemplary embodiments which are described in this
disclosure and are
not mutually exclusive can be combined with one another. Elements of one
embodiment can be
utilized in the other embodiments without further mention. Other aspects and
features of the
present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art
upon review of the
following description of specific embodiments in conjunction with the
accompanying Figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[14] A detailed description of specific exemplary embodiments is provided
herein below
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[15] Fig. 1A is a plan view of a cartridge component of an electronic
vaping device in
accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[16] Fig. 1B is an isometric view of a battery compartment component of an
electronic
vaping device in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[17] In the drawings, exemplary embodiments are illustrated by way of
example. It is to be
expressly understood that the description and drawings are only for the
purpose of illustrating
certain embodiments and are an aid for understanding. They are not intended to
be a definition
of the limits of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[18] A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the invention is
provided below
along with accompanying figures that illustrate the principles of the
invention. The invention is
described in connection with such embodiments, but the invention is not
limited to any
embodiment. The scope of the invention is limited only by the claims. Numerous
specific details
are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough
understanding of the
invention. These details are provided for the purpose of non-limiting examples
and the invention
may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific
details. For the
purpose of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields
related to the invention
has not been described in detail so that the invention is not unnecessarily
obscured.
[19] The present disclosure relates to a cannabis vaping oil, which has a
viscosity and a flash
point which are suitable for use in a vaping device where the vaping device is
configured for
using a vaping oil having a viscosity at room temperature below a threshold,
and where the
3
CA 3024052 2018-11-13
vaping device is further configured to heat the vaping oil at a vaporization
temperature at which
one or more cannabinoids in the vaping oil vaporize.
[20] Generally speaking, several options exist to obtain cannabis vaping
oil having the herein
described desired viscosity and flash point for use in a vaping device.
[21] A first option is to dilute a cannabis concentrate having a viscosity
at room temperature
which is above the threshold to the point of obtaining the desired viscosity
with an additive
having a flash point equal to or above the vaporization temperature. The
dilution creates a
mixture that has a sufficiently lower viscosity than the cannabis concentrate
without the additive,
while maintaining a flash point equal to or above the vaporization temperature
for safely
vaporizing one or more cannabinoids contained in the cannabis concentrate.
Furthermore, when
the mixture is loaded into a cartridge component of a vaping device with a
pipette at room
temperature, the mixture flows in and out of the pipette into the cartridge
without much
difficulty. In other words, the mixture behaves like a liquid.
[22] A second option is to dilute a cannabis concentrate having a viscosity
at room
temperature which is above the threshold to the point of obtaining the desired
viscosity with an
additive having a flash point below the vaporization temperature. In this
option, the cannabis
concentrate has a flash point equal to or above the vaporization temperature
such that the
dilution creates a mixture that has a flash point equal to or above the
vaporization temperature
for safely vaporizing one or more cannabinoids contained in the cannabis
concentrate. In this
option, the proportions of cannabis concentrate and additive are selected such
that the mixture
has a viscosity below the threshold while maintaining a flash point equal to
or above the
vaporization temperature.
Additive compound
[23] In a practical implementation, the additive includes a compound which
operates to
lower the viscosity of the cannabis concentrate. The additive can be a single
material or a blend
of different materials. Optionally, the rate of addition of the additive to
the cannabis concentrate
can be adjusted according to expected storage or the vaping device's
operational parameters.
[24] In one embodiment, the additive used in the present disclosure does
not significantly
alter the organoleptic properties of the cannabis concentrate; in other words,
the taste, smell and
touch of the cannabis concentrate is not significantly altered by the addition
of the additive.
4
CA 3024052 2018-11-13
[25] In an advantageous non-limiting embodiment, a single additive is added
to the cannabis
concentrate. This simplifies the manufacturing of the cannabis vaping oil and
may increase
regulatory approval likelihood by local regulatory bodies. However, it is also
conceivable for two
or more different additives to be added to the cannabis concentrate,
especially when particular
further advantageous properties are to be obtained.
[26] In one non-limiting embodiment, the cannabis vaping oil of the present
disclosure
includes a mixture of the cannabis concentrate and the additive, where the
cannabis concentrate
is present in a proportion of? 40 wt.% relative to the weight of the additive.
Preferably, the
proportion of cannabis concentrate is .5. 70 wt.% relative to the weight of
the additive, such that
the cannabis vaping oil retains sufficient free-flowing liquid properties to
afford ease of use with
the vaping device.
[27] Examples of additives that typically have a flash point above the
vaporization
temperature include Vegetable Glycerin (VG), Polyethylene Glycol (PEG), and
Propylene Glycol
(PG). Objectively, those compounds are less desirable than other examples
provided in this
disclosure because they are known to potentially produce toxic and
carcinogenic impurities as a
result of the thermal decomposition of VG, PEG and PG.
[28] In one non-limiting embodiment, the additive includes one or more
carrier oil(s).
[29] In one non-limiting embodiment, the one or more carrier oil(s) is
(are) of plant origin.
For example, but without being limited to, terpenes, essential oils, and the
like, such as for
example, d-limonene, Orange sweet (Citrus sinensis), b-myrcene, Pine (Pinus
sylvestris), Fir
(Abies siberica or Abies balsamea), Juniper Berry Guniperus comm.unis), lemon
Lime Flavor,
peppermint oil, and the like.
[30] In one non-limiting embodiment, the additive includes a medium chain
triglyceride
(MCI) or a mixture of MCT and another additive. For example, the additive can
include a
mixture of peppermint oil and MCT in proportions such that the typical taste
of peppermint oil
is tamed down with the MCT.
Cannabis concentrate
[31] The cannabis concentrate of the present disclosure may be obtained
with any known
method in the art.
CA 3024052 2018-11-13
[32] For example, the cannabis concentrate may be obtained by a process
including an
extraction step from plant materials using heat decarboxylatiori to convert
cannabinoids in their
acid forms to neutral forms followed by CO, extraction, and then, optionally,
followed by
ethanol winterization to remove waxes, as described for example in US
7,700,368 and US
2004/0049059, which are each herein incorporated by reference in their
entirety. Optionally, the
method for obtaining the cannabis concentrate may further include purification
steps such as a
distillation step in order to further purify, isolate or crystallize one or
more cannabinoids. A
cannabis concentrate obtained by distillation may be further cut with one or
more terpenes (i.e.,
chemicals made and stored in the trichomes of the cannabis plant, with the
cannabinoids.
Terpenes give cannabis its distinctive smell).
[33] The cannabis concentrate includes one or more cannabinoid(s). Examples
of
cannabinoids include, but are not limited to, cannabigerolic acid (CBGA),
cannabigerol (CBG),
cannabigerol monomethylether (CBGM), cannabigerovarin (CBGV), cannabichromene
(cBc),
cannabichromevarin (CBCV), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabidiol monomethylether
(CBDM),
cannabidiol-C4 (CBD-C4), cannabidivarin (CBDV), cannabidiorcol (CBD-C1), delta-
9-
tetrahycirocannabinol (A9-THC), delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid A (THCA-
A), delta-9-
tetrahydrocannabionolic acid B (THCA-B), delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid-
C4 (THCA-C4),
delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-C4, delta-9-
tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), delta-9-
tetrahydrocannabiorcol (THC- C1), delta-7- cis-is o
tetrahydrocannabivarin, delta-8-
tetrahydrocannabinol (A8-THC), cannabicyclol (CBL), cannabicyclovarin (CBLV),
cannabielsoin
(CBE), cannabinol (CBN), cannabinol methylether (CBNM), cannabinol-C4 (CBN-
C4),
cannabivarin (CBV), cannabinol-C2 (CBN-C2), cannabiorcol (CBN-C1),
cannabinodiol (CBND),
cannabinodivarin (CBVD), cannabitriol (CBI),
10-ethoxy-9hydroxy-delta-6a-
tetrahydrocannabinol, 8,9-dihydroxy-delta-6a-tetrahydrocannabinol,
cannabitriolvarin (CBTV),
ethoxy-cannabitriolvarin (CBTVE), dehydrocannabifuran (DCBF), cannabifuran
(CBF),
cannabichromanon (CBCN), cannabicitran (CBT), 10-oxo-delta-6a-
tetrahydrocannabionol
(OTHC), delta-9-cis-tetrahydrocannabinol (cis-THC), 3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-7-
hydroxy-alpha-alpha-
2-trimethy1-9-n-propy1-2, 6-meth.ano-2H-1-benzoxocin-5-methanol (OH-iso-
HHCV),
cannabiripsol (CBR), trihydroxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (tri0H-THC),
cannabinol propyl
variant (CBNV), and derivatives thereof.
[34] In some embodiments, the cannabinoid is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
THC is only
psychoactive in its decarboxylated state. The carboxylic acid form (THCA) is
non-psychoactive.
6
CA 3024052 2018-11-13
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (49-THC) and delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (6,8-
THC) produce
the effects associated with cannabis by binding to the CB1 cannabinoid
receptors in the brain.
[35]
In some embodiments, the cannabinoid is cannabidiol (CBD). The terms
"cannabidiol" or "CBD" are generally understood to refer to one or more of the
following
compounds, and, unless a particular other stereoisomer or stereoisomers are
specified, includes
the compound "A2-cannabidio1." These compounds are: (1) A5-cannabidiol (2-(6-
isopropeny1-3-
,
methy1-5-cyclohexen-l-y1)-5-pentyl-1,3-benzenediol); (2) A4-cannabidiol (2- (6-
is oprop eny1-3-
methy1-4-cyclohexen-l-y1)-5-p enty1-1,3-benzenediol); (3) .6,3-cannabidiol (2-
(6-is oprop eny1-3-
methy1-3-cyclohexen-l-y1)-5-pentyl-1,3-benzenediol); (4) A3,7-cannabidiol (2-
(6-isopropeny1-3-
methylenecyclohex-1-y1)-5-penty1-1,3-benzenediol); (5) A2-cannabidiol (2- (6-
is oprop eny1-3-
methy1-2-cyclohexen-l-y1)-5-p enty1-1,3-benzenediol); (6) A1-cannabidiol (2-
(6-is oprop eny1-3-
methyl-l-cyclohexen-l-y1)-5-pentyl-1,3-benzenediol); and (7) .6,6-cannabidiol
(2-(6-isopropeny1-3-
methy1-6-cyclohexen-l-y1)-5-pentyl-1,3-benzenediol) .
[36] In one embodiment, the cannabis oil of the present disclosure
includes? 300 mg/ml of
CBD, for example, 5 650 mg/ml, 5 550 mg/nil, 5 550 mg/ml, 5 460 mg/ml, 5 450
mg/nil, _5
400 mg/ml, and the like.
[37] In one embodiment, the cannabis oil of the present disclosure
additionally or
alternatively includes _5 30 mg/ml THC, for example, 30 mg/ml, _5 25 mg/ml, _5
20 mg/ml, and
the like.
Cartridge component of a vaping device
[38] The cannabis oil of the present disclosure can be used in any suitable
cartridge
component of a vaping device.
[39] For example, Fig. 1A is a plan view of a non-limiting example of a
cartridge 100
component of an electronic vaping device. A vaping device can also be referred
to as a vaporizer,
a vaporizer pen, a vape pen or an electronic or "e-" cigarette, for example.
The cartridge 100
includes a vapor outlet 50 at one end thereof, which includes a tip 40 and
sidewalls 20 and 25,
which could be sides or parts of the same cylindrical sidewall in some
embodiments.
[40] The cartridge 100 further includes a liquid reservoir 60 for
containing the cannabis oil.
The vapor outlet 50, in addition to sealing an end of an interior space of the
liquid reservoir 60,
7
CA 3024052 2018-11-13
also provides a mouth-piece portion through which a user can draw vapor from
the electronic
vaping device. The mouthpiece could be tapered, as shown, or otherwise shaped
for a user's
comfort. The present disclosure is not limited to any particular shape of the
vapor outlet 50.
[41] The vapor outlet 50 could be made from one or more materials including
metal,
ceramic, wood, or a combination thereof. However, other materials could also
or instead be
used.
[42] The liquid reservoir 60 holds the vaporization substance prior to
vaporization. The
liquid reservoir 60 includes outer walls 10 and 15, which could be a single
wall such as a
cylindrical sidewall. The outer walls 10 and 15 of the liquid reservoir 60
could be made from one
or more transparent or translucent materials, such as medical grade glass, in
order to enable a
user to visibly determine the quantity of vaporization substance in the
chamber.
[43] The liquid reservoir 60 engages the vapor outlet 50, and could be
coupled to the vapor
outlet 50, via an engagement or connection at 116. A gasket or other sealing
member could be
provided between the liquid reservoir 60 and the vapor outlet 50 to seal the
vaporization
substance in the liquid reservoir 60.
[44] Although some liquid reservoir are "non-tecloseable" (or sealable) and
cannot be
opened after initial filling, others are recloseable chambers in which the
engagement at 116,
between the vapor outlet 50 and the liquid reservoir 60, is releasable. For
example, the vapor
outlet 50 could be a cover that releasably engages the liquid reservoir 60 and
seals a vaporization
substance in the liquid reservoir 60, thereby preventing the vaporization
substance from leaking
out of the liquid reservoir 60. A releasable engagement could include, for
example, a threaded
engagement or other type of connection, or an abutment between the liquid
reservoir 60 and the
vapor outlet 50, without necessarily an actual connection between the chamber
and the vapor
outlet. Such a releasable engagement permits the vapor outlet 50 to be
disengaged or removed
from the liquid reservoir 60 so that the chamber can be cleaned, emptied,
and/or filled with a
vaporization substance, for example. The vapor outlet 50 could then re-engage
with the liquid
reservoir 60 to seal the vaporization substance inside the chamber.
[45] Fig. 1A also illustrates a stem 110 inside the liquid reservoir 60.
The stem 110 is a hollow
tube or air channel through which vapor can be drawn into and through vapor
outlet 50. The
stem 110 may also be referred to as a central column, a central post, a
chimney, a hose or a pipe.
Materials such as stainless steel, other metal alloys, plastics and ceramics
could be used for stems
8
CA 3024052 2018-11-13
such as the stem 110. The stem 110 couples the vapor outlet 50 via an
engagement or connection
(not shown). The stem 110 may include at its base one or more intake holes
(not shown) having a
suitable opening size, such as for example 1.2 or 1.6 mm.
[46] In one embodiment, screwing the vapor outlet 50 onto the stem 110
could also engage
the vapor outlet 50 with the liquid reservoir 60, or similarly screwing the
vapor outlet 50 onto the
liquid reservoir 60 could also engage the vapor outlet 50 with the stem 110.
[47] Fig. 1B shows a battery compartment 200 that includes supplies power
to the cartridge
100. The battery compartment 200 engages, and could also be coupled to the
cartridge 100 via a
female engagement 130 which receives a male thread 30 present at an end of the
cartridge 100. In
this embodiment, the engagement 130 and thread 30 is a releasable engagement.
However, in
some embodiments, this could be a fixed connection. In some embodiments, the
thread 30 may
take the form of a 510 thread, which typically may include a connector having
a length of 5 mm
and having 10 threads. In the embodiment shown, the releasable engagement
enables removal or
disengagement of the battery compartment 200 from the cartridge 100 to permit
recharging of
the battery contained within the elongated body 110 of the battery compartment
200 or
permuting the battery compartment 200 with another identical or different
battery compartment
200'.
[48] The battery compartment 200 generally includes circuitry to supply
power to the
cartridge 100. For example, the battery compartment 200 could include
electrical contacts that
connect to corresponding electrical contacts with the battery. The battery
compartment 200
could further include electrical contacts that connect to corresponding
electrical contacts in the
cartridge 100. The battery compartment 200 could reduce, regulate or otherwise
control the
power/voltage/current output from the battery. However, this functionality
could also or
instead be provided by the battery itself. The battery compartment 200 could
be made from one
or more materials including metals, plastics, elastomers and ceramics, for
example, to carry or
otherwise support other base components such as contacts and/or circuitry.
However, other
materials could also or instead be used.
[49] The battery compartment 200 includes sidewalls 140 and 141, a bottom
142 and a
button 144. The sidewalls 140 and 141, could be a single wall such as a
cylindrical sidewall. The
battery compartment 200 could include single-use batteries or rechargeable
batteries such as
lithium-ion batteries. The battery compartment 200 powers the vaporization
device and allows
9
CA 3024052 2018-11-13
powered components of the vaporization device, including at least the
cartridge 100, to operate.
Other powered components could include, for example, one or more light-
emitting diodes
(LEDs), speakers or other indicators of device power status (on / off), device
usage status (on
when a user is drawing vapor), etc. In some embodiments, speakers and/or other
audible
indicators could produce long, short or intermittent "beep" sounds as a form
of indicator of
different conditions.
[50] As noted above, in some embodiments, the vapor outlet 50, the liquid
reservoir 60, the
stem 110, the battery compartment 200 are cylindrical in shape or otherwise
shaped in a way such
that sidewalls that are separately labeled in Fig. 1A and/or Fig. 1B could be
formed by a single
sidewall. In these embodiments, the sidewalls 140 and 141 represent sides of
the same sidewall.
Similar comments apply to outer walls 10 and 15, and sidewalls 20 and 25, and
other walls that
are shown in the drawings and/or described herein. However, in general, vapor
outlets, liquid
reservoirs, stems, cartridges, battery compartments that are not cylindrical
in shape are also
contemplated. For example, these components could be rectangular, triangular,
or otherwise
shaped.
[51] It should be appreciated, that the example cartridge 100 and the
example battery
compartment 200 are solely for the purpose of illustration. Other embodiments
are also
contemplated. For example, the vaping device could be a multi-chamber device
vape device or a
pen-and-pod device as commercialized by FAX (e.g., the FAX Erami).
Definitions
[52] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used
herein have the same
meaning as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to
which the present
invention pertains. As used herein, and unless stated otherwise or required
otherwise by context,
each of the following terms shall have the definition set forth below.
[53] For the purpose of this specification, the expression "vaporization
temperature" in the
context of cannabis vaping oil means the temperature which allows formation of
an aerosol
(commonly called vapor) from the cannabis vaping oil, which contains one or
more
cannabinoid(s), and which a user of the vaping device can inhale. The
vaporization temperature
is not a fixed value. Cannabinoids will likely typically evaporate within a
range of temperatures,
especially when the vaporization is assisted by air flow or suction created by
a user's mouth. At
the lower end of the range, the evaporation will be slower and conversely at
the high end of the
CA 3024052 2018-11-13
range the evaporation will be quicker. Hence, "vaporization temperature"
therefore refers to any
temperature in that range where a cannabinoid is evaporated for inhalation and
subsequent
desired effect on the human body. The vaporization temperature of pure
cannabinoids can be
found, for example, in McPardand and Russo U. of Cannabis Therapeutics, Vol.
1, No. 3/4, 2011, p.
103-132).
[54] For the purpose of this specification, the expression "viscosity
threshold" in reference
to a cannabis vaping oil means the highest viscosity value at room temperature
which remains
suitable for use in a particular vaping device and allow proper use of that
vaping device, e.g., for
loading cannabis oil into the cartridge, properly feeding the cannabis oil to
the heating element of
the vaping device in order to vaporize one or more cannabinoid(s) while
minimizing clogging of
cartridge internal components, the viscosity of the cannabis oil may also
assist with the
performance of the vaping device such as by preventing or minimizing leakage
of the cannabis
oil from the vaping device when not in use, and optimizing the performance of
the vaping device
and its delivery of the cannabinoid(s), and the like.
[55] For the purpose of this specification, the expression "cannabis
concentrates" means an
extract of a cannabis plant that concentrates a cannabinoid concentration by
processing a
cannabis plant to purify / isolate the cannabinoids. Typically, cannabis
concentrates have a
viscosity, which is too high for use in a vaping device, but has a flash
point, which is equal to or
above the vaporization temperature of the cannabinoids.
[56] For the purpose of this specification, the expression "cannabis oil"
refers to an oil that
contains anything referred to in item 1 or 3 of Schedule 1 of the Canadian
Cannabis Act S.C.
2018, c.16 and that is in liquid form at a temperature of 22 2 C.
[57] The term "vegetable glycerin (VG)" is also known in the art as
"monoglycerol" or
"glycerol", generally obtained from plant and animal sources where it occurs
as triglycerides.
[58] The tern-1 "polyethylene glycol (PEG)" is also known in the art as
polyethylene oxide
(PEO) or polyoxyethylene (POE), depending on its molecular weight and refers
to a
compound with the chemical formula H¨(0¨CH2¨CH2).--OH.
[59] The term "propylene glycol" is also known in the art as propane-1,2-
diol and refers to a
synthetic organic compound with the chemical formula C3H802.
11
CA 3024052 2018-11-13
[60] The term "of plant origin" is used interchangeably with "plant-based"
or with "plant-
derived" and refers to a compound that is extracted or prepared from plant raw
material. In one
embodiment, this compound can be synthetic.
[61] The term "essential oil" does not mean indispensable as with the terms
essential amino
acid or essential fatty acid which are so called since they are nutritionally
required by a given
living organism, rather, the essential oil is "essential" in the sense that it
contains the "essence
of" or "at least a portion of the essence of" the plant's fragrance - the
characteristic fragrance of
the plant from which it is derived. Essential oils are generally extracted by
distillation, often by
using steam. Other processes include expression, solvent extraction,
sfumatura, absolute oil
extraction, resin tapping, wax embedding, and cold pressing. As such, in the
present disclosure,
essential oils are a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aroma
compounds from
plants.
EXAMPLES
[62] The following examples describe some exemplary modes of making and
practicing
certain compositions that are described herein. It should be understood that
these examples are
for illustrative purposes only and are not meant to limit the scope of the
disclosure.
Example 1¨ Cartridge
[63] In accordance with a non-limiting example of the present disclosure,
the inventors
propose to use an A3-C full ceramic vape cartridge (Transpring Technology,
USA) in order to
test the cannabis oil of the present disclosure.
[64] The A3-C full ceramic vape cartridge has a full ceramic heating core,
a 0.5 nil liquid
reservoir, a resistance of 1.4/1.6Q, and 1.2 mm/1.6 mm oil intake hole size.
The liquid reservoir
is made of medical grade glass and the rest of the cartridge is made of chrome-
plated brass. The
cartridge includes a 510 thread for coupling with the battery compartment.
Example 2 ¨ Battery compartment
[65] In accordance with a non-limiting example of the present disclosure,
the inventors
propose to use an LO-A vape battery compartment (Transpring Technology, USA)
in order to
test with the A3-C cartridge of example 1.
12
CA 3024052 2018-11-13
[66] The LO-A vape battery has a capacity of 320 mAh, an output voltage of
2.6-4.0V with 3
adjustable voltages (green 2.6V, blue 3.3V, red 4.0V), a preheating output of
1.8V, a preheating
time of 15 seconds, and 2 optional vaping ways: vape directly / vape with
button-pressing.
Example 3 ¨ Additive
[67] In accordance with a non-limiting example of the present disclosure,
the inventors
tested a number of additives.
[68] In order to be safe and, thus, suitable for vaping, the inventors
sought to identify an
additive having a proper flash point, i.e., at least 200 F (at least 93.3
C). This is because a
number of cannabinoids require temperatures of at least 200 F in order to
vaporize, such that
having a cannabis vaping oil containing an additive with a flash point below
200 F in
proportions sufficient to reduce the flash point of the mixture to values
below 200 F would
likely represent a fire / explosion hazard when heated in the vaping device.
[69] The inventors first set out to identify the flash point of a number of
candidate additives.
Several models were used and their results compared. The following table 1
sets out the flash
point of these candidate additives:
TABLE 1
Candidate additive Flash point WHIMS*
( c)
d-limonene 45 2
Orange sweet (Citrus sinensis) 45 3
b-myrcene 39 2
Pine (Pinus glvestiis) 43 2
Fir (A bier sibetica or Abier balsamea) 45 3
Juniper Berry (funiperus communis) 43 2
lemon Lime Flavor 25 3
peppermint 69 2
Vegetable Glycerin USP 160 1
Propylene Glycol 99 11
13
CA 3024052 2018-11-13
*Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System
[70] Except for vegetable glycerin (VG) and propylene glycol (PG), none of
the candidate
additives has a flash point equal to or above the vaporization temperature of
at least 200 F (at
least 93.3 C). Note that this vaporization temperature is in practice near
the lower end of the
vaporization range of certain cannabinoids. In other words, for a faster and
stronger effect on
the human body a higher vaporization temperature should be used, further
amplifying the flash
point differential and the attendant hazard.
Example 4 ¨ Nicotine vaping carrier oils
[71] In accordance with a non-limiting example of the present disclosure,
the inventors
sought to better understand whether using additives typically used in nicotine-
based vaping
devices, was more suitable for using in the cannabis vaping oil of the present
disclosure.
[72] The additives assessed are petroleum-based propylene glycol (PG) and
polyethylene
glycol 400 (PEG 400), and natural agents vegetable glycerin (VG) and medium
chain triglycerides
(MCT). Troutt and DiDonato (J Altem Complement Med. 2017 Nov;23(11):879-884)
report that
heating these oils at temperatures appropriate for cannabis oil vaporization
(e.g., at 230 C)
resulted in formation of vapor containing harmful carbonyls, such as
acetaldehyde, acrolein, and
formaldehyde. To test the levels of the three carbonyl compounds screened for,
each thinning
agent was vaporized in 3 blocks of 25 'puffs', for a total of 75 puffs per
agent. Puffs were
vaporized every 30 seconds, each for a duration of 4 seconds and a volume of
55 mL. The vapor
was then analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to
individually
measure amounts of acetaldehyde, acrolein, and formaldehyde.
[73] Analyses showed that PEG 400 produced significantly higher levels of
acetaldehyde and
formaldehyde than PG, MCT, and VG. Formaldehyde production was also
significantly greater
in PG compared with MCT and VG. Acrolein production did not differ
significantly across the
agents. PG and PEG 400 produced high levels of acetaldehyde and formaldehyde
when heated
to 230 C. Formaldehyde production from PEG 400 isolate was particularly high,
with one
inhalation accounting for 1.12% of the daily exposure limit, nearly the same
exposure as smoking
one cigarette.
[74] These results are in line with those disclosed by Grana et al.,
(Circulation, 2014;
129:1972-1986) where vapors produced from vaping device using liquid material
containing
14
CA 3024052 2018-11-13
nicotine and propylene glycol (PG) with or without vegetable glycerin (VG)
produced 0.2 to 5.61
ug of formaldehyde per puff, which while may appear safer than the 1.6 to 52
p.g of
formaldehyde produced by one puff from a tobacco cigarette, nevertheless, has
been perceived
as not being ideal from a public health policy perspective.
[75] As such, the inventors have concluded that the PG, PEG and VG
typically used in
nicotine-based vaping devices are not without health risk when used in the
cannabis vaping oil of
the present disclosure.
Example 5 ¨ Cannabis oil flash point
[76] The inventors discovered that even though an additive mixed with the
cannabis
concentrate has a flash point below the desired vaporization temperature, the
cannabis
concentrate, nevertheless, owing to its relatively high flash point operates
to increase the
flashpoint of the mixture such that it is equal to or above the desired
vaporization temperature.
Accordingly, it is therefore possible to provide a cannabis oil for vaping
that is safe, in terms of
reducing the likelihood of explosion in the vaping device resulting from a
flash temperature of
the cannabis oil that is too low, the viscosity of the cannabis oil is in the
proper range and can be
used in the vaping device and finally does not produce the harmful vapors
produced by
propylene glycol (PG), polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400) and vegetable
glycerin (VG).
[7] The precis physical properties of cannabinoids are not known. The
inventor had to use
various mathematical models from the field of thermodynamics to calculate the
flashpoint of
cannabinoids. Several models were used to calculate the mixture's flash point
and their results
compared. The following table 2 sets out the outcome of these results, for a
number of cannabis
oil formulation prepared by mixing cannabis concentrate (containing 2.14% THC
and 84.6 %
CBD) and peppermint oil (50 ml) at room temperature without heating.
CA 3024052 2018-11-13
TABLE 2
Cannabis THC CBD Flash point
Concentrate concentration concentration equal to or
added (g) (mg/ml) (mg/m1) above
vaporization
temperature?
6 5.1 93.3 No
29 13.12 304 Yes
63 20.496 466 Yes
95 24.85 558 Yes
190 30.272 666 Yes
[78] To elaborate, adding 63 g of cannabis concentrate to 50 ml produced a
113 g sample. In
this sample, the peppermint oil weight is 44.25% and the cannabis concentrate
weight is 55.75%.
The first calculation was made using CBD's effect on flash point using two
math models, which
gives a first calculated flash point of 93.69 C ¨ higher than the flash point
of peppermint oil on
its own. To this first calculation, the inventors made a second calculation by
adding the
contribution of THC, which resulted in a second calculated flash point of
98.48 C. The
inventors then made a third calculation by taking into account the remaining
cannabinoids and
wax content present in the cannabis concentrate in terms of their effect on
the flash point; the
inventors calculated that the contribution of the remaining cannabinoids was a
factor of 1.68,
which resulted in a third calculated flash point of 157.39 C (314.6 F).
These calculations were
made instead of proceeding with actually attempting to flash the mixture in a
laminar hood
because of obvious hazard risks (exploding on purpose a mixture).
[79] In performing these calculations, the inventors discovered that using
at least about 40
wt.% cannabis concentrate relative to total weight of the additive was ideal
in terms of having a
flash point suitable for using a vape device at the vaporization temperatures.
In other words, by
increasing the relative amount of cannabis concentrate, the inventors were
able to resolve the
flash point issue observed with the additive on its own. This was surprising
and unexpected. The
same calculations were repeated with d-limonene and similar results were
obtained. The
inventors reasonably expect that cannabis vaping oils with such proportions of
cannabis
concentrate will be suitable for use in a vaping device.
16
CA 3024052 2018-11-13
Example 6 - Cannabis vaping oil saturation
[80] In accordance with a non-limiting example of the present
disclosure, the inventors
sought to test the viscosity obtained with mixing various amounts of the
additive with the
cannabis concentrate and assess whether the resulting viscosity was suitable
for use in a vaping
device. The following table 3 sets out a number of cannabis oil formulation
prepared by mixing
various amounts of cannabis concentrate (containing 2.14% THC and 84.6 % CBD)
and
peppermint oil (50 ml) at room temperature without heating.
TABLE 3
Resin added Amounts of CBD % resin:oil
(g) cannabinoids concentration
(g) (mg/ml)
1 0.868 15.10 2.00
2 1.735 30.20 4.00
3 2.603 45.30 6.00
4 3.470 60.40 8,00
4.338 75.50 10.00
6.15 5.335 92.86 12.30
5.31 4.606 80.18 10.62
8 6.940 120.80 16.00
9 7.808 135.90 18.00
8.675 150.99 20.00
17.88 15.511 269.98 35.76
17.350 301.99 40.00
,
29.34 25.452 443.02 58.68
40 34.700 603.98 80.00
50 43.375 754.97 100.00
63.86 55.399 964.25 127.72
95.72 83.037 1445.32 191.44
133.1 115.464 2009.74 266.20
190.76 165.484 2880.38 381.52
17
CA 3024052 2018-11-13
[81] The following table 4 sets out a number of additional cannabis oil
formulation prepared
by mixing various amounts of cannabis concentrate (containing 2.14% THC and
84.6 % CBD)
and peppermint oil (100 ml) at room temperature without heating.
TABLE 4
Resin added Amounts of CBD % resin:oil
(g) cannabinoids concentration
(g) (mg/ml)
20 17.35000 150.99 20.00%
40 34.70000 301.99 40.00%
50 43.37500 377.49 50.00%
80 69.40000 603.98 80.00%
[82] The inventors discovered that using up to 190 g cannabis concentrate
with 50 ml (i.e.,
380 wt.%) of additive afforded cannabis vaping oil, which still flows at room
temperature and
can still be pipetted in a pipette, i.e., meeting the desired characteristic
that the mixture remains
liquid at room temperature.
[83] The inventors further optimized the relative proportions of cannabis
concentrate to
additive in order to obtain an optimum flash point for the mixture which is
equal to or above the
vaporization temperature of specific cannabinoids while maintaining an optimum
viscosity below
the threshold viscosity (at which is intended to function the vaping device),
which affords
optimal use in a vaping device. The optimized proportions discovered by the
inventors are in the
range of 40 to 70 wt.% of cannabis concentrate to additive.
[84] Other examples of implementations will become apparent to the reader
in view of the
teachings of the present description and as such, will not be further
described here.
[85] Note that titles or subtitles may be used throughout the present
disclosure for
convenience of a reader, but in no way these should limit the scope of the
invention. Moreover,
certain theories may be proposed and disclosed herein; however, in no way
they, whether they
are right or wrong, should limit the scope of the invention so long as the
invention is practiced
according to the present disclosure without regard for any particular theory
or scheme of action.
[86] All references cited throughout the specification are hereby
incorporated by reference
in their entirety for all purposes.
18
CA 3024052 2018-11-13
[87] It will be understood by those of skill in the art that throughout the
present
specification, the term "a" used before a term encompasses embodiments
containing one or
more to what the term refers. It will also be understood by those of skill in
the art that
throughout the present specification, the term "comprising", which is
synonymous with
"including," "containing," or "characterized by," is inclusive or open-ended
and does not
exclude additional, un-recited elements or method steps.
[88] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used
herein have the same
meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which
this invention
pertains. In the case of conflict, the present document, including definitions
will control.
[89] As used in the present disclosure, the terms "around", "about" or
"approximately" shall
generally mean within the error margin generally accepted in the art. Hence,
numerical quantities
given herein generally include such error margin such that the terms "around",
"about" or
"approximately" can be inferred if not expressly stated.
[90] Although various embodiments of the disclosure have been described and
illustrated, it
will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the present
description that numerous
modifications and variations can be made. The scope of the invention is
defined more
particularly in the appended claims.
19
CA 3024052 2018-11-13
