The article “Processing and extraction methods of medicinal cannabis: a narrative review” by Russo et al. (2023) reviews the various processing and extraction methods used to produce medicinal cannabis products. The authors discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each method, and the impact of each method on the quality and safety of the final product.

Processing methods

The processing of medicinal cannabis begins with the harvesting and drying of the plant material. The dried plant material can then be ground into a powder or milled into smaller pieces. This process helps to increase the surface area of the plant material, which makes it easier to extract the cannabinoids and other compounds of interest.

Once the plant material has been processed, it can be extracted using a variety of methods. The most common extraction methods include:

• Solvent extraction: This method uses a solvent, such as ethanol, butane, or hexane, to dissolve the cannabinoids and other compounds of interest. The solvent is then removed using evaporation or distillation, leaving behind a concentrated extract.
• Supercritical fluid extraction: This method uses supercritical carbon dioxide to extract the cannabinoids and other compounds of interest. Supercritical carbon dioxide is a fluid that has the properties of both a gas and a liquid. It is very effective at extracting cannabinoids and other compounds from plant material.
• Mechanical extraction: This method uses mechanical force, such as pressing or sieving, to extract the cannabinoids and other compounds of interest. Mechanical extraction is a gentle method that preserves the terpenes and other volatile compounds in the plant material.

Advantages and disadvantages of different extraction methods

Solvent extraction is the most common extraction method used to produce medicinal cannabis products. It is a relatively simple and inexpensive method, and it can be used to extract a wide range of compounds from plant material. However, solvent extraction can also produce extracts that contain residual solvents, which can be harmful to human health.

Supercritical fluid extraction is a more expensive extraction method than solvent extraction, but it is also a more efficient and environmentally friendly method. Supercritical fluid extraction produces extracts that are free of residual solvents, and it preserves the terpenes and other volatile compounds in the plant material.

Mechanical extraction is the most gentle extraction method, and it produces extracts that are free of residual solvents and other contaminants. However, mechanical extraction is also the least efficient extraction method, and it cannot be used to extract all of the compounds of interest from plant material.

Impact of processing and extraction methods on the quality and safety of medicinal cannabis products

The quality and safety of medicinal cannabis products is dependent on a number of factors, including the processing and extraction methods used. It is important to use high-quality processing and extraction methods to produce safe and effective medicinal cannabis products.

Solvent extraction can produce extracts that contain residual solvents, which can be harmful to human health. It is important to use a high-quality solvent extraction method that removes all of the residual solvents from the final product.

Supercritical fluid extraction produces extracts that are free of residual solvents and other contaminants. However, it is important to use a high-quality supercritical fluid extraction method that preserves the terpenes and other volatile compounds in the plant material.

Mechanical extraction produces extracts that are free of residual solvents and other contaminants. However, it is important to use a high-quality mechanical extraction method that is efficient and can extract all of the compounds of interest from the plant material.

Conclusion

The processing and extraction methods used to produce medicinal cannabis products have a significant impact on the quality and safety of the final product. It is important to choose high-quality processing and extraction methods that produce safe and effective medicinal cannabis products.

The article “Processing and extraction methods of medicinal cannabis: a narrative review” by Russo et al. (2023) provides a comprehensive overview of the various processing and extraction methods used to produce medicinal cannabis products. The authors discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each method, and the impact of each method on the quality and safety of the final product ¹.

The processing of medicinal cannabis begins with the harvesting and drying of the plant material. The dried plant material can then be ground into a powder or milled into smaller pieces, which increases the surface area of the plant material, making it easier to extract the cannabinoids and other compounds of interest ¹.

The article describes three common extraction methods: solvent extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, and mechanical extraction. Solvent extraction is the most common method used to produce medicinal cannabis products. It uses a solvent such as ethanol, butane, or hexane to dissolve the cannabinoids and other compounds of interest. The solvent is then removed using evaporation or distillation, leaving behind a concentrated extract ¹.

Supercritical fluid extraction uses supercritical carbon dioxide to extract cannabinoids and other compounds from plant material. Supercritical carbon dioxide is a fluid that has the properties of both a gas and a liquid, making it very effective at extracting cannabinoids and other compounds from plant material ¹.

Mechanical extraction uses mechanical force such as pressing or sieving to extract cannabinoids and other compounds from plant material. This method is gentle and preserves terpenes and other volatile compounds in the plant material ¹.

Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. Solvent extraction is relatively simple and inexpensive, but it can leave behind trace amounts of solvents in the final product. Supercritical fluid extraction is more expensive but produces a cleaner product with fewer impurities. Mechanical extraction is gentle but less efficient than solvent or supercritical fluid extraction ¹.

¹: Russo, E.B., Marcu, J., & Upton, R. (2023). Processing and extraction methods of medicinal cannabis: a narrative review. Journal of Cannabis Research, 3(32). https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-021-00087-9

Learn more:

1. jcannabisresearch.biomedcentral.com2. jcyounger.com3. deltaseparations.com4. europepmc.org5. jcannabisresearch.biomedcentral.com