Cannabis infused sweeteners and elixirs

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to cannabis infused sweeteners and elixirs that are bio-available, fast acting and highly metabolizable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cannabinoids are chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant that interact with receptors in the brain and body to create various effects. Herbal cannabis contains over 400 compounds including over 100 cannabinoids, which are aryl-substituted meroterpenes unique to the plant genus Cannabis. The pharmacology of most of the cannabinoids is largely unknown but the most potent psychoactive agent, .DELTA..sup.9-tetrahydrocannabinol (.DELTA..sup.9-THC, or THC), has been isolated, synthesized and much studied due to its abundance and psychoactive attributes. Other plant cannabinoids include .DELTA..sup.8-THC, cannabinol and cannabidiol (CBD). These and other cannabinoids have additive, synergistic or antagonistic effects with THC and may modify its actions when herbal cannabis is smoked.

The best studied cannabinoids include tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN). These structures are shown in FIG. 1. All cannabinoids derive from cannabigerol-type compounds and differ mainly in the way this precursor is cyclized. The classical cannabinoids are derived from their respective 2-carboxylic acids (2-COOH) by decarboxylation (catalyzed by heat, light, or alkaline conditions).

The isolation of THC came from an Israeli chemist by the name of Raphael Mechoulam. In 1964, Mechoulam isolated and synthesized THC from Lebanese hashish, marking the beginning of cannabis research that would lead to the discovery of many other cannabinoids, cannabinoid receptors throughout the body, and "endocannabinoids"--the THC-like compounds the human body naturally produces to maintain stability and health.

CBD and THC levels tend to vary among different plants. Marijuana grown for recreational purposes often contains more THC than CBD. However, by using selective breeding techniques, cannabis breeders can create varieties with high levels of CBD and next to zero levels of THC.

Humans and many other animals have receptor systems that THC binds to, and therefore can also reap the benefits of cannabinoids for both health and enjoyment. The endocannabinoid system (or "ECS"), is a group of specialized signaling chemicals, their receptors, and the metabolic enzymes that produce and break them down. These endocannabinoid chemical signals act on some of the same brain and immune cell receptors (CB1 and CB2) that plant cannabinoids like CBD and THC act on.

THC works by binding to cannabinoid receptors concentrated in the brain and central nervous system to produce psychoactive effects. The main difference between THC and CBD, both of which are very popular cannabinoids, is in their psychoactive effects. THC elicits strong cerebral euphoria, while CBD lacks psychoactive effects altogether. This basically comes down to the fact that THC activates CB1 receptors in the human brain while CBD does not.

It is well known that cannabinoids, especially CBD and THC have many medicinal benefits. CBD's subtle effects are primarily felt in pain, inflammation, and anxiety relief, as well as other medicinal benefits. CBD also does not have any adverse side effects that may occur with consumption of THC. Unlike THC, CBD also does not cause a high. This makes CBD a significant advantage as a medicine, since health professionals prefer treatments with minimal side effects. CBD also appears to counteract the sleep-inducing effects of THC, which may explain why some strains of cannabis are known to increase alertness. CBD also acts to reduce the intoxicating effects of THC, such as memory impairment and paranoia.

THC has a wide range of short-term effects which may or may not be experienced depending on the individual and their body chemistry. Some positive short-term effects of THC include: elation, relaxation, sedation, pain relief, energy, hunger, drowsiness, slowed perception of time and laughter.

There are a variety of medical conditions for which THC offers benefits. The conditions include Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, neuropathic and chronic pain, insomnia, nausea, inflammation, arthritis, migraines, Cancer, Crohn's disease, fibromyalgia, Alzheimer's disease, Multiple sclerosis, Glaucoma, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ("ADHD"), sleep apnea and appetite loss.

Both CBD and THC have been found to present no risk of lethal overdose. However, to reduce potential side effects, medical users are better off using cannabis with higher levels of CBD.

Today the most common way to consume THC is through smoking although they can be consumed orally. However, known methods for orally administered THC have reduced bioavailability due to low absorption and high first-pass metabolism in the digestive system. Thus there is a need for aqueous cannabinoid solutions.

Decarboxylation of the THC occurs with heating and is the key to enjoying THC, whether it is consumed by smoking or ingesting. In its raw form, cannabis is non-psychoactive, with its primary cannabinoid being THCA. However, by applying heat, either when lighting it in a pipe or cooking it into oil, the THCA is converted to THC.

The invention method provides an advantageous alternative to smoking cannabis by providing a water-soluble cannabinoid composition for oral ingestion that is bioavailable, highly metabolizable and fast acting.

As an aromatic terpenoid, THC has a very low solubility in water, but good solubility in most organic solvents, specifically lipids and alcohols.

The problem with edible cannabis products is they take a varied amount of time to take effect due to the liver's varied ability to process the THC molecule. Depending on liver function at the time, between 2-6% of the THC is able to be metabolized. This process makes it so the THC is absorbed in the esophagus and soft tissues, making it faster acting and more highly metabolizable.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,906,429 to Kolsky discloses lozenges made with THC, coconut oil, sugar and other ingredients. However, there is no use of emulsifiers, which is the main component that makes the cannabis oil hydrophilic and soluble in water.

Unlike anything currently known, the purpose of the invention is to provide cannabis infused sweeteners and cannabis infused elixirs to create cannabis oil infused products for medical and recreational use that are bioavailable, fast acting and highly metabolized, with consistent results that take place in a consistent amount of time.

In general, elixirs are healing botanicals known to address specific imbalances yet, they are not necessarily teaching the body to mimic the healing chemistry in order for the body to continue healing. Also, elixirs are made with delicious flavoring agents, flowers and healthy sweeteners, as well as use a different ratio of medicinal potency. Elixirs are usually a 1:3 or 1:4 in liquid to herb extraction

In making the sweeteners and elixirs according to the invention, a method to make cannabis oil water-soluble is used which uses a combination of emulsifiers and variations in time and temperature of the reaction steps. The process results in a cannabis infused sweeteners and elixirs which provide fast acting, bioavailability and highly metabolizable delivery of the cannabis oil, either alone or in combination with other edible products.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a line of cannabis oil infused sugars and elixirs that share a base of coconut water infused with coconut fat and to sell the products to wholesale distributors for retail sale in legal dispensaries.

More specifically a purpose of the invention is to use the cannabis infused sweeteners and elixirs to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, neuropathic and chronic pain, insomnia, nausea, inflammation, arthritis, migraines, Cancer, Crohn's disease, fibromyalgia, Alzheimer's disease, Multiple sclerosis, Glaucoma, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ("ADHD"), sleep apnea and appetite loss.

Yet another purpose of the invention sugars and elixirs is to treat pain, inflammation, and anxiety relief.

More specifically, the invention sugars and elixirs can be combined with chocolate and/or liquor to create edible products.

Yet another purpose of the invention sugars and elixirs is that it can be used to produce other edible products at home or professionally with predictable results, including being fast-acting, and highly metabolizable, which are referred to herein as super-charged. This lets consumers know that the invention products have markedly different results than other products. These compositions can be marketed in many forms, both in retail and wholesale manufacturing, as well as aiding companies with quality products to use for research and development.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the present invention, these purposes, as well as others which will be apparent, are achieved generally by a cannabis infused sweetener comprising cannabis oil; at least one emulsifying agent selected from the group consisting of xanthan gum, guar gum, lecithin, carrageen, monoglycerides, natural emulsifiers and organic emulsifiers that are safe for ingestion by humans and a sweetener.

The invention sweetener includes cannabis oil that is bio-available, highly metabolizable and fast acting when ingested by the user.

The sweetener used is selected from the group consisting of white sugar, cane sugar, raw sugar, fructose, turbinado sugar, coconut sugar, date sugar, liquid stevia, liquid sugar, powdered sugar, brown sugar, muscovado sugar, honey, agave and other like sweeteners. The sweetener component is present in the range of 98% to 99.88% of the cannabis infused sweetener.

The cannabis oil is selected from the group consisting of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD) and other cannabinoid oils isolated from the marijuana plant. The cannabis oil is present in the range of 1.5 mg to 20 mg per gram of sweetener.

The emulsifying agent is present in the range of 0.12% to 2% of the total sweetener. In preferred embodiments the emulsifying agent is a combination of at least two emulsifying agents. The most preferred emulsifying agents are cyclodextrin in combination with at least one other emulsifying agent selected from the group consisting of xanthan gum, guar gum, lecithin, carrageen, monoglycerides, natural emulsifiers and organic emulsifiers that are safe for ingestion by humans.

The invention also provides a cannabis infused elixir comprising cannabis oil; at least one emulsifying agent; a sweetener selected from the group consisting of white sugar, cane sugar, raw sugar, fructose, turbinado sugar, coconut sugar, date sugar, liquid stevia, liquid sugar, powdered sugar, brown sugar, muscovado sugar, honey, agave and other like sweeteners and flavoring extracts or fruit syrups.

The sweetener is present in the range of 98% to 99.8% of the elixir.

The cannabis infused elixir includes cannabis oil and is bio-available, highly metabolizable and fast acting when ingested by the user.

As in the sweetener embodiment, the cannabis oil used in the elixir is selected from the group consisting of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD) and other cannabinoid oils isolated from the marijuana plant. The cannabis oil is present in the range of 3 mg to 50 mg per ounce of elixir.

The elixir is added to a drink solution, such as a carbonated or flat water solution, in a ratio between 1:3 to 1:4 to create a liquid beverage.

The emulsifying agent is present in the range of 0.12% to 2% of the elixir. The emulsifying agent is selected from the group consisting of xanthan gum, guar gum, lecithin, cyclodextrin, carrageen, monoglycerides, natural emulsifiers and organic emulsifiers that are safe for ingestion by humans.

In preferred embodiments the emulsifying agent is a combination of at least two emulsifying agents. In a most preferred embodiment the emulsifying agent is a combination of xanthan gum and cyclodextrin, where the cyclodextrin and xanthan gum are each present in the amount of 0.12 to 2%.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent when the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention is considered which should be construed in an illustrative and not limiting sense.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the chemical structures of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN);

FIG. 2 illustrates the chemical structure of xanthan gum;

FIG. 3 illustrates the chemical structure of guar gum;

FIG. 4 illustrates the chemical structure and the molecular shape of .beta.-cyclodextrin (RCD);

FIG. 5 illustrates the chemical structure of lecithin;

FIG. 6 illustrates the chemical structure of Kappa-carrageen;

FIG. 7 illustrates the chemical structure of monoglycerides.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a cannabis infused sweetener comprising cannabis oil; at least one emulsifying agent selected from the group consisting of xanthan gum, guar gum, lecithin, carrageen, monoglycerides, natural emulsifiers and organic emulsifiers that are safe for ingestion by humans and a sweetener; and cannabis infused elixir comprising cannabis oil; at least one emulsifying agent; a sweetener selected from the group consisting of white sugar, cane sugar, raw sugar, fructose, turbinado sugar, coconut sugar, date sugar, liquid stevia, liquid sugar, powdered sugar, brown sugar, muscovado sugar, honey, agave and other like sweeteners and flavoring extracts or fruit syrups.

In both invention sweetener and elixir embodiments the cannabis oil therein has been modified from its normal hydrophobic state into a hydrophilic ("water-loving") state that is bio-available, highly metabolizable and fast acting when ingested by the user.

Bioavailability refers to the degree to which food nutrients, in this invention, cannabis oil, are available for absorption and utilization in the body. Bioavailability typically applies to nutrients and drugs which pass through first-pass metabolism, i.e. orally consumed substances. Anything absorbed in the gut first passes through the liver before reaching the rest of the circulation, and both the gut and liver may metabolize it to some extent.

Metabolizable refers to the process of changing food/substances into a form that can be used by your body.

The cannabinoid emulsification of the invention is made of at least one emulsifying agent; an aqueous vehicle; a base oil; cannabis oil; and caffeine.

Emulsifiers

Emulsions are produced by dispersing normally unmixable material into another by mixing, colloidal milling or homogenization. The surface-active qualities of emulsifiers of the invention make them effective emulsifying agents that reduce mixing time and maintain the stability of the dispersion.

The emulsifying agent in the invention is present in the range of 0.15% to 2% of the composition. At least one emulsifying agent is used in the invention process which is selected from the group consisting of xanthan gum, guar gum, cyclodextrin, lecithin, carrageen, monoglycerides, natural emulsifiers and organic emulsifiers that are safe for ingestion by humans. In preferred embodiments, the emulsifying agent is a combination of at least two different emulsifying agents.

Cannabis oil, including THC and CBD, are not water-soluble, so it needs to be "trapped" in something with dual polarity--that is, a compound that reconciles the fact that water is polar and the cannabinoid is not. The emulsifiers provide this. Once trapped in the compound, the THC has new de facto properties, like the ability to dissolve in water, distribute itself evenly, and stay suspended in the solution. It also displays increased bioavailability: while the same amount of cannabis oil in an edible can take up to two hours to reach the bloodstream, the effects of water-soluble cannabis oil dissolved in water can be felt more acutely, in as little as 10 minutes.

It is known that cannabinoids are soluble in fat. It is also known that only water-soluble substances can pass the intestine membrane. Fat is itself not water-soluble because it is like cannabinoids, uncharged. Fat absorption into the membrane requires substances with a dipole character to build up vehicles which can connect at the outer surface with water (charged side) and at the inner surface with the fat and the THC (uncharged side).

The specific emulsifiers used in the invention are detailed below.

Xanthan Gum

Xanthan gum, which is also called xanthene, has the chemical formula C.sub.13H.sub.10O. Its molecular weight is 182.22 grams/mol. FIG. 2 shows the chemical structure of xanthan gum.

In general, xanthan gum is a substance made by fermenting bacteria with sugars. It is an additive found in both foods and medicines. As a food additive, this substance is utilized either as a thickener or stabilizer. This compound has a variety of uses in medicine, such as in the treatment of diabetes, cholesterol and dry mouth.

Specifically, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide secreted by the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris. Its known uses, prior to the invention, is as a food additive and rheology modifier, commonly used as a food thickening agent (in salad dressings, for example) and a stabilizer (in cosmetic products, for example, to prevent ingredients from separating). As seen in FIG. 1, it is composed of pentasaccharide repeat units, comprising glucose, mannose, and glucuronic acid in the molar ratio 2:2:1. It is produced by the fermentation of glucose, sucrose, or lactose. After a fermentation period, the polysaccharide is precipitated from a growth medium with isopropyl alcohol, dried, and ground into a fine powder. Later, it is added to a liquid medium to form the gum.

Guar Gum

Chemically, guar gum is a polysaccharide composed of the sugars galactose and mannose. FIG. 3 shows that the backbone is a linear chain of .beta.1,4-linked mannose residues to which galactose residues are 1,6-linked at every second mannose, forming short side-branches.

In water, guar gum is nonionic and hydrocolloidal. It is not affected by ionic strength or pH, but will degrade at extreme pH and temperature (e.g. pH 3 at 50.degree. C.). It remains stable in solution over pH range 5-7. Strong acids cause hydrolysis and loss of viscosity, and alkalis in strong concentration also tend to reduce viscosity. It is insoluble in most hydrocarbon solvents. The viscosity attained is dependent on time, temperature, concentration, pH, rate of agitation and practical size of the powdered gum used. The lower the temperature, the lower the rate at which viscosity increases and the lower the final viscosity. Above 80.degree., the final viscosity is slightly reduced. The finer guar powders swell more rapidly than coarse powdered gum. Guar gum has almost eight times the water-thickening potency of cornstarch--only a very small quantity is needed for producing sufficient viscosity. Thus, it can be used in various multiphase formulations: as an emulsifier because it helps to prevent oil droplets from coalescing, and/or as a stabilizer because it helps to prevent solid particles from settling.

Cyclodextrin

Cyclodextrins are a group of structurally related natural products formed during bacterial digestion of cellulose. These cyclic oligosaccharides consist of (.alpha.-1,4)-linked .alpha.-D-glucopyranose units and contain a somewhat lipophilic central cavity and a hydrophilic outer surface. Due to the chair conformation of the glucopyranose units, the cyclodextrins are shaped like a truncated cone rather than perfect cylinders. The hydroxyl functions are oriented to the cone exterior with the primary hydroxyl groups of the sugar residues at the narrow edge of the cone and the secondary hydroxyl groups at the wider edge. The central cavity is lined by the skeletal carbons and ethereal oxygens of the glucose residues, which gives it a lipophilic character. The polarity of the cavity has been estimated to be similar to that of an aqueous ethanolic solution.

The natural .alpha.-, .beta.- and .gamma.-cyclodextrin (.alpha.CD, .beta.CD and .gamma.CD) consist of six, seven, and eight glucopyranose units, respectively. The natural cyclodextrins, in particular .beta.CD, are of limited aqueous solubility meaning that complexes resulting from interaction of lipophiles with these cyclodextrin can be of limited solubility resulting in precipitation of solid cyclodextrin complexes from water and other aqueous systems. In fact, the aqueous solubility of the natural cyclodextrins is much lower than that of comparable acyclic saccharides. This is thought to be due to relatively strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding in the crystal state. Substitution of any of the hydrogen bond forming hydroxyl groups, even by lipophilic methoxy functions, results in dramatic improvement in their aqueous solubility. Water-soluble cyclodextrin derivatives of commercial interest include the hydroxypropyl derivatives of .beta.CD and .gamma.CD, the randomly methylated .beta.-cyclodextrin (RM.beta.CD), and sulfobutylether .beta.-cyclodextrin sodium salt (SBE.beta.CD).

FIG. 4 and Table 1 were taken from an article entitled "Cyclodextrins" (A. Magn sdottir, M. Masson and T. Loftsson, J. Incl. Phenom. Macroc. Chem. 44, 213-218, 2002).

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Water solubility of cyclodextrins. Solubility in MW.sup.b water.sup.c Cyclodextrin n R = H or Subst. (Da) (mg/L) .alpha.-Cyclodextrin (.alpha.CD) 0 --H 0 972 145 .beta.-Cyclodextrin (.beta.CD) 1 --H 0 1135 18.5 2-Hydroxypropyl-.beta.-cyclodextrin 1 --CH.sub.2CHOHCH.sub.3 0.65 1400 >- ;600 (HP.beta.CD; Kleptose .RTM. HPB) Sulfobutylether .beta.-cyclodextrin sodium 1 --(CH.sub.2).sub.4SO.sub.3.sub.- 0.9 2163 >500 salt (SBE.beta.CD; Captisol .RTM.) Na.sup.+ Randomly methylated .beta.-cyclodextrin --CH.sub.3 1.8 1312 >500 (RM.beta.CD) .gamma.-Cyclodextrin (.gamma.CD) 2 --H 0 1297 232 2-Hydroxypropyl-.gamma.-cyclodextrin 2 --CH.sub.2CHOHCH.sub.3 0.6 1576 >- ;500 (HP.gamma.CD) .sup.aAverage number of substituents per glucose repeat unit; .sup.bMW: Molecular weight; .sup.cSolubility in pure water at approx. 25.degree. C.

Cyclodextrins create highly concentrated and water-soluble granules. Cyclodextrins are circular structures of sugar molecules that are known to absorb other compounds into their center. They form inclusion complexes with poorly water-soluble compounds. Acting like a molecule magnet, cyclodextrins absorb other molecules and assume their properties. These molecules can absorb up to 60% of their weight in alcohol while remaining in powdered form. It isn't until you mix them with water that they dissolve.

Experiments with THC-cyclodextrin compounds increase THC water solubility by nearly 1000 times. For this reason, in preferred embodiments, the emulsifying agent is a combination of at least two different emulsifying agents with at least one being cyclodextrin and the other emulsifying agent selected from the group consisting of xanthan gum, guar gum, lecithin, carrageen, monoglycerides, natural emulsifiers and organic emulsifiers that are safe for ingestion by humans.

It is noted that cyclodextrin is very expensive and some versions even cause unwanted side effects when ingested. In the invention a lesser amount of cyclodextrin is used in combination with other emulsifiers that are less costly to provide the same or better solubility results. This provides an economic solution to using a lesser amount of cyclodextrin with the benefits at lower cost.

Lecithin

Lecithins are used in the invention as emulsifiers. They are surface-active; simultaneous hydrophilic (water-loving) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) properties enable lecithins to make stable blends of materials that otherwise do not mix easily and tend to separate.

Lecithin is a generic term to designate any group of yellow-brownish fatty substances occurring in animal and plant tissues, which are amphiphilic--they attract both water and fatty substances (and so are both hydrophilic and lipophilic). Lecithins are generally used for smoothing food textures, dissolving powders (emulsifying), homogenizing liquid mixtures, and repelling sticking materials. Lecithins are composed of phosphoric acid with choline, glycerol or other fatty acids usually glycolipids or triglyceride. Glycerophospholipids in lecithin include phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine, and phosphatidic acid.

When added to cannabis coconut oil lecithin increases absorption of THC and other cannabinoids into the cell membranes and speeds up the process.

Carrageen

Carrageens are a family of linear sulphated polysaccharides that are extracted from red edible seaweeds. They are widely used in the food industry, for their gelling, thickening, and stabilizing properties. Their main application is in dairy and meat products, due to their strong binding to food proteins. There are three main varieties of carrageenan, which differ in their degree of sulphation. Kappa-carrageenan has one sulphate group per disaccharide, Iota-carrageenan has two, and Lambda-carrageenan has three.

Monoglycerides

Monoglycerides are a class of glycerides which are composed of a molecule of glycerol linked to a fatty acid via an ester bond. As glycerol contains both primary and secondary alcohol groups, two different types of monoglycerides may be formed; 1-monoacylglycerols where the fatty acid is attached to a primary alcohol, or a 2-monoacylglycerols where the fatty acid is attached to the secondary alcohol.

Monoglycerides are primarily used as surfactants, usually in the form of emulsifiers. Together with diglycerides, monoglycerides are commonly added to commercial food products in small quantities which helps to prevent mixtures of oils and water from separating.

Cannabis Oil

The cannabis oil used in the invention is in a pure state. This is important since the intended end use of the products of the invention are to be ingested by humans for medical or recreational use, where permitted.

The cannabis oil used can be extracted from the marijuana plant by CO2 extraction, water extraction, butane extraction and extraction methods that leave a zero testing for residuals. Representative structures of the cannabis oil are illustrated in FIG. 1.

The cannabis oil used in the invention is selected from the group consisting of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD) and other cannabinoid oils isolated from the marijuana plant. The cannabis oil in the sweetener is present in the range of 1.5 mg to 20 mg per gram of sweetener. The cannabis oil present in the elixir is in the range of 3 mg to 50 mg per ounce of elixir.

Sweetener

The sweetener used in both the infused sweetener and the elixir is selected from the group consisting of white sugar, cane sugar, raw sugar, fructose, turbinado sugar, coconut sugar, date sugar, liquid stevia, liquid sugar, powdered sugar, brown sugar, muscovado sugar, honey, agave and other like sweeteners. The sweetener component is present in the range of 98% to 99.88% of the cannabis infused sweetener.

The sweetener is present in both embodiments in the range of 98% to 99.88% of the respective cannabis infused sweetener or cannabis infused elixir.

Method of Making

The invention sweeteners are made by starting with high quality sweeteners including sugar, coconut sugar, date sugar, stevia, and any other quality sweeteners. The sweeteners are then infused with emulsified cannabis oil using the process described below.

The cannabis oil used is dissolved with alcohol, but it doesn't make the oil water-soluble. The invention emulsifying agents are needed to modify the cannabis oil from its natural hydrophobic state to a "water-loving" hydrophilic state. The amount of cannabis oil used depends on the desired potency, but preferably 1 to 10 grams of pure extracted cannabis oil per pound of sweetener is used.

The amount of alcohol used in the invention process is typically 4 oz per lb of sugar. Preferably grain alcohol is used in the invention, although other similar alcohols can be used. At the end of the process, there is zero residue in the resulting product.

The cannabis oil is placed in a water bath and heated to between 120 to 220 degrees F. for between 4 and 30 minutes. The cannabis oil is added to the alcohol and placed in a rotor blade machine and held at a temperature between 120.degree. F. and 220.degree. F. for between 1-7 minutes. During this process, an emulsifying agent, or combination of emulsifying agents, is then added to the heated mixture in an amount between 0.15% to 3% of the total weight of the finished product.

This mixture is then combined with the sweetener and is heated to 120 to 220 degrees F. for 10-60 minutes to complete the emulsification and to evaporate the residual alcohol from the sweetener. There is 1 to 4 grams of oil to 4 oz of grain alcohol per pound of sweetener.

Possible variations include: percentage of emulsifier, from 0.01% to 4%; the combination of emulsifiers to make up that percentage; the temperature and time as mentioned in the previous section. These sweeteners provide a flexible, controllable, low-dose cannabis experience, delivered in an understandable and desirable form. They can be used in beverages, such as coffee or tea.

The invention sweeteners assure that the THC is both fast acting and highly metabolizable. It assures that the consumer experiences a consistent experience from ingesting the product, instead of having a wide variation of experiences, including how long it takes to take effect, and how the effect will be each time.

The extracts of the invention can be mixed with other ingredients such as soda and other like liquids.

The process for making the cannabis infused elixirs of the invention is as follows. The elixirs are essentially syrups, fruit syrups, and various flavored and unflavored syrups. The ingredients to make a batch of the invention elixirs include an emulsifying agent in the amount of 0.12 to 2%. A gallon of fruit syrup; flavored or unflavored and cannabis oil in the amount between 1000-2000 mg.

The syrup is heated to 120-220 degrees F. The cannabis oil is added to this heated mixture and blended in a rotor for 1 to 7 minutes, during which time the emulsifier is added in. Each serving size has 3 to 20 mg per ounce of water-soluble cannabis oil.

Other variations include various doses of cannabis oil in the range of 5 to 30 mg and different flavor profiles including lime, pomegranate, orange, lemon and others; and different serving sizes between 1 and 64 oz.

The disclosure is further described with the help of the following examples. These examples, however, should not be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure.

Example 1

A cannabis infused chocolate is provided that is bioavailable and delivers fast acting effects of the cannabis when ingested. The method of making such includes use of 5 to 10 oz of a base oil of either vegetable glycerine or coconut oil. A high quality liquor such as cognac or whiskey can be added but is optional. The base oil liquid is heated to between 120 to 220.degree. F. The cannabis oil extract is added equal to 110 to 1120 mg THC. The emulsifiers are added next, generally in the following amounts: 0.5% lecithin, 0.15% xanthan gum, 0.1% cyclodextrin. The emulsifiers can be used individually or in combination. The hot mixture is blended in a high speed blender or other machine, run on high speed for 2 minutes. The mixture is allowed to cool to room temperature.

After the mixture has cooled, 10 lb of melted chocolate is added and allowed to temper before depositing in a mold then cooling to 55.degree. F.

Example 2

Several experiments were run using several different emulsifiers and combinations of different coconut oils: solid and liquid (MCT). (Note: liquid MCT is coconut oil that has medium chain triglyceride). Guar gum, lecithin, and cyclodextrin were tested as emulsifying agents and provided good results. However, xanthan gum was the most effective and provided the best emulsification of the oil and water, at the lowest viscosity.

The emulsification process that was determined the best had the added effect of making the THC more bioavailable by making the oleo molecule water-soluble. This had another added effect of making it fast acting, taking effect in as little as 15 minutes.

The method used to produce the invention emulsifications, included first heating extra virgin organic coconut oil to between 120 to 220 degrees F. CO2 extracted cannabis oil is added. In a high speed blender (or similar machine) coconut water is added to the coconut fat (oil) to ensure emulsification. While blending, xanthan gum powder is added in an amount between 0.15% and 0.45% of the total volume of finished product. Percentages used herein are on a dry weight basis and are based on the total volume of the finished product. The blender is run at high speed for between 30 seconds and 2. The resulting emulsification is used to produce a variety of cannabis infused products. The invention process makes the THC more bioavailable by making the oleo molecule water-soluble. Thus, upon ingestion, making it fast acting, taking effect in as little as 15 minutes.

Example 3

A variety of cannabis infused products were prepared and tested in a random study group of 40 individuals. The products tested included cannabis infused sugar, a cannabinoid/caffeine emulsification and a cannabis infused elixir and are summarized in the tables below. The product in Table 3 is the subject of a co-pending patent application by the same inventor entitled "Cannabinoid and Caffeine Emulsifications"; and the subject of a co-pending patent application by the same inventor entitled "Method of Making Cannabis Oil Hydrophilic Using Emulsifiers and Related Cannabinoid Compositions" is relevant to making these products, all of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Each of the 40 individuals tested one of the products from Tables 2, 3 and 4. The breakdown of products tested was 10% (4 people) of the cannabinoid/caffeine emulsification; 20% (8 people) of cannabinoid elixirs and 70% (28 people) of the cannabis infused sugar.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Cannabis infused sugar (Serving size 1 tsp) Sugar Product #1 #2 #3 #4 #5* Cannabis Oil 20 40 20 40 40 (mg/tsp) Sugar (lbs) 5 3 10 3 3 Alcohol (oz) 20 12 40 12 6 Lecithin (%)** 2 2 2 1 0 Cyclodextrine (%)** 0 0 0.03 0.12 0.25 *The sugar used in this sample was maple sugar. **% of final product.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Cannabinoid/caffeine emulsification (Serving size 2 oz) Amount in Component emulsification THC (per serving) 10 mg Coconut Fat (SOLID) 2.75% MCT 0.65% Coconut Water 96% Cyclodextrin 0.12% Xanthan Gum 0.12% Caffeine 1000 mg *Lime and coconut extract were added for flavor

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Cannabinoid elixirs (flavored syrups) (Serving size 1 oz) Amount in Component emulsification THC 10 mg/oz Flavored syrup 2.75% Cyclodextrin 0.16% Xanthan Gum 0.12% Cannabis Oil 0.04%

Participants in the study were asked a series of questions, the results of which are summarized in the tables below. Q1. How long until you experienced an initial onset of effect after ingestion? The results are in Table 5. In all three products tested the onset of the cannabis effects were less than 15-20 min.

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Results for Onset of Effect Time >10 min 10-15 min 15-20 min 20-30 min 30-40 min <40 min Sugar 10.71% 28.57% 32% 7.14% 7.14% 14.29% Emulsification 0 50% 50% 0 0 0 Elixir 12.4% 25% 25% 25% 12.5% 0

Q2. On a scale of 1 to 5, the participants were asked to describe the strength of the initial onset experience after ingestion. A majority of respondents said the effects were mild to moderate. The results are in Table 6.

TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Results for Strength Time 1 No 2 Very effect Mild 3 Mild 4 Moderate 5 Strong Sugar 3.57% 3.57% 39.29%% 46.43% 7.14% Emulsification 0 0 50% 50% 0 Elixir 0 25% 50% 12.5% 12.5%

Q3. Compared to other cannabis edibles, the participants were asked how they would characterize the rapidity of the onset of the products they tested. The respondents were comparing the invention products to other products they ingested including gummy bears, brownies and baked goods containing cannabis. The results are in Table 7.

TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 Results for Comparsion to Other Cannabis Edibles Time 2 1 Much Somewhat 3 No 4 Somewhat 5 Much Slower slower difference faster Faster Sugar 3.85% 3.85% 0 34.62% 57.69% Emulsification 0 0 0 75% 25% Elixir 0 0 0 25% 75%

In sum, in all embodiments, i.e. the cannabis infused sugar, emulsification and elixir 92.7% to 100% said that the invention products acted faster than other cannabis edibles.

The cannabinoid and caffeine emulsifications of the invention provide a beneficial experience for people experiencing a variety of ailments: insomnia, muscle aches, anxiety, etc, or are in recovery from surgery, or in chemotherapy. The emulsifications make the cannabis oil molecules hydrophilic, and thus water-soluble, which makes the THC bioavailable, faster acting, and more highly metabolizable.

Medical marijuana patients are often challenged by the mediums they are offered for consuming cannabis. The water-soluble cannabis of the invention provides them a convenient, and smokeless, alternative to access the cannabinoids they need to alleviate their ailments.

The foregoing description of various and preferred embodiments of the present invention has been provided for purposes of illustration only, and it is understood that numerous modifications, variations and alterations may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the claims.