Grading
Size matters in drug delivery, and a nanoemulsion is the most versatile delivery system the world has ever seen. A nanoemulsion is how you make THC water-soluble, and we're happy to introduce the world's first grading system because not all cannabis beverages are created equal. This point-based system has been in development for ten years and is the result of an industry-university collaboration. We gathered a wide variety of perspectives, including but not limited to consumers, growers, processors, food scientists, chemists, engineers, and much more. We considered numerous grading factors, but focused on 24 categories as a starting point. Each category below is weighted by the individual item, available options, category consideration, formulation consideration, and final product conditions.
We invite you to sit down with your team and go through each category. If you don't see a check mark or numerical value for an item, then put zero and move on to the next category. The online grading system will automatically calculate your score when you select the radio button on the left-hand side of the item, but you can only select one per category. The point total is located above the FAQs, so you can cross-reference the grading scale. Nanoemulsions infused with cannabinoids like THC are classified as Grade A, B, C, D, F, or special grades for a select few. Grades C, D, and F are the lowest quality and may not be safe for human consumption. Version 1.0 is the first iteration and will be fine-tuned until perfected.
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FAQs
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Grading Scale
LE HERBE 120–115 LE HERBE 114–108 LE HERBE 107–101 A + 100–94 A 93–87 A - 86–80 B + 79–73 B 72–66 B - 65–59 C + 58–52 C 51–45 C - 44–38 D + 37–31 D 30–24 D - 23–17 F 16 and below -
Cannabis Source
- Max: 5
- Min: 1
The maximum rating is 5 because living soil, sunlight, master growers, and Mother Nature grow the best cannabis. The minimum rating is 1 because you may not know how your cannabis was grown (not recommended).
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Cannabis Extract
- Max: 5
- Min: 0
The maximum rating is 5 because these are solventless and full-spectrum extracts. The minimum rating is 0 because you may not know what type of extract was used (not recommended).
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Lab Type
- Max: 5
- Min: 0
The maximum rating is 5 because a registered lab (DEA) is usually an accredited lab. An accredited lab may not be a registered lab. The minimum rating is 0 because you may not know what type of lab, if any, tested your extract (not recommended).
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Extract Analysis
- Max: 5
- Min: 0
The maximum rating is 5 because you can do a full panel analysis of your cannabis extract with a third-party lab. The minimum rating is 0 because you may not test your cannabis extract by a third party lab (not recommended).
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Extract Purity
- Max: 5
- Min: 0
The maximum rating is 5 because your cannabis extract can have a purity of +99%. The minimum rating is 0 because you may not test your cannabis extract by a third party lab and/or even know the exact purity (not recommended).
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Carrier Oil
- Max: 5
- Min: 0
The maximum rating is 5 because a combination of long-chain triglycerides (LCT) and terpenes (essential oils) has better bioavailability than LCT by itself. You need to choose the right oils and ratios! You may choose not to use a carrier oil depending on the type of cannabis extract and processing conditions, but we did not give this a rating at this time. The minimum rating is 0 because you may not know the carrier oil used in the formulation and/or not understand this important category (not recommended).
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Emulsifiers
- Max: 5
- Min: 0
The maximum rating is 5 because most phospholipids are all-natural and enhance bioavailability. The minimum rating is 0 because you may not know the emulsifier(s) used in the formulation and/or not understand this important category (not recommended).
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Processing
- Max: 6
- Min: 0
The maximum rating is 5. Microfluidics can easily make a nanoemulsion that is monodisperse (< 0.1 PDI) by adjusting flow rates for a lab-on-a-chip (LOC). Microfluidics should not be confused with Microfluidizer® or the company Microfluidics International Corporation because it's not the same process. The minimum rating is 0 because you may not know how they made a nanoemulsion and/or think a Vitamix blender will make a nanoemulsion (not recommended).
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Entrapment Efficiency (EE)
- Max: 5
- Min: 0
The maximum rating is 5 because entrapment efficiency (EE) highlights flaws in the standard operating procedures (SOPs), determines the skills of the processor, and if the equipment used to make a nanoemulsion was effective. The minimum rating is 0 because you may not know the entrapment efficiency of your nanoemulsion and/or not understand this important category (not recommended).
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Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS)
- Max: 5
- Min: 0
The maximum rating is 5 because dynamic light scattering (DLS) or multi-angle dynamic light scattering (MADLS) showcases the particle size of your nanoemulsion and the distribution of those particles. The minimum rating is 0 because you may not know the D50, D90, and/or not understand this important category (not recommended).
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Polydispersity Index (PDI)
- Max: 5
- Min: 0
The maximum rating is 5 because anything below <0.04 is monodisperse and very difficult to accomplish. The minimum rating is 0 because you may not know the polydispersity index (PDI) of your nanoemulsion and/or not understand this important category (not recommended).
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Electrophoretic Light Scattering (ELS)
- Max: 5
- Min: 0
The maximum rating is 5 because electrophoretic light scattering (ELS) showcases the zeta potential or electrical charge of your nanoemulsion. The minimum rating is 0 because you may not know the zeta potential of your nanoemulsion at pH 3, pH 7, and/or not understand this important category (not recommended).
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Drug Localization (DL)
- Max: 5
- Min: 0
The maximum rating is 5 because drug localization (DL) identifies the location of your active (i.e., D9) in a nanoemulsion. The minimum rating is 0 because you may not know where the drug is located in a nanoemulsion and/or not understand this important category (not recommended).
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Pharmacokinetics (PK)
- Max: 5
- Min: 0
The maximum rating is 5 because you can simulate digestion in vitro and confirm bioavailability potential in vivo with a human pharmacokinetic study (PK). The minimum rating is 0 because you may not perform a PK analysis and/or not understand this important category (not recommended).
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Bioavailability
- Max: 5
- Min: 0
The maximum rating is 5 because more than 90% bioavailability is very difficult to acheive with oral consumption. The minimum rating is 0 because you may not know the bioavailability of your formulation and/or not understand this important category (not recommended).
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Taste Modulation
- Max: 5
- Min: 0
The maximum rating is 5 because flavorless formulations are very technical. Umami is very complex. Sweet and/or sour flavors hide the bitterness of your cannabis extract, cheap ingredients, or a bad formulation. A salty nanoemulsion does not taste great and may affect the zeta potential or stability of the formulation. The minimum rating is 0 because bitter nanoemulsions are not appealing to consumers. Humans have natural instincts, and we think that anything bitter is bad for your health. Ask for some help, or take your product off the shelf.
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Preservative
- Max: 5
- Min: 0
The maximum rating is 5 because powder does not require preservatives due to the removal of water. The minimum rating is 0 because you may not add preservatives, refrigerate after opening, and/or not understand this important category (not recommended).
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Container
- Max: 5
- Min: 1
The maximum rating is 5 and based on the conversion of a nanoemulsion to powder. Nanoemulsions degrade over time and have a typical shelf life of 3-6 months with preservatives, proper packaging and storage conditions. THC powder has a shelf life of 3 years and gets better with age via curing. Warning: Some companies put nanoemulsions in tinctures and disregard consumer safety. Tinctures come in transparent, translucent, or opaque glass. If a water-based tincture (alcohol-free) is not stored in the refrigerator after you open it, or the manufacturer forgot to add preservatives, or you have contamination of the dropper, then you have product liability (not recommended).
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Filling
- Max: 5
- Min: 1
The maximum rating is 5 because you can fully automate your packaging and filling of your liquid nanoemulsion with a clean-in-place (CIP) system. The minimum rating is 1 because you may hand-fill your nanoemulsion (not recommended).
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Headspace
- Max: 5
- Min: 1
The maximum rating is 5 because you can infuse your liquid with liquid nitrogen (LN2) or gas flush your powder in a nitrogen atmosphere. The minimum rating is 1 because you may package your nanoemulsion in an oxygenated environment and/or not understand this important category (not recommended).
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Closure
- Max: 5
- Min: 1
The maximum rating is 5 because you don't need a closure when you convert to powder. The minimum rating is 1 because you may package your nanoemulsion with an aluminum lid / cap and not understand the complexities of polymer coatings (not recommended).
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Storage
- Max: 5
- Min: 0
The maximum rating is 5 because you can store your cannabis nanoemulsion in a controlled environment. The minimum rating is 0 because you may store your nanoemulsion above 75 °F in a lighted environment or even outside (not recommended). We considered that transporting nanoemulsions may cause confusion because they could have numerous storage conditions. Do not take transportation into the equation at this time.