Size matters in drug delivery, and a nanoemulsion is the most versatile delivery system the world has ever seen. It's considered the gold standard for food and beverage formulations infused with cannabinoids like Delta-9 THC (D9). Le Herbe is happy to introduce the world's first grading system for cannabis nanoemulsions because not all formulations are created equal. This point-based system has been in development for seven years and is the result of an industry-university collaboration. We gathered a wide variety of perspectives, including those of connoisseurs, growers, processors, food scientists, chemists, engineers, and much more. We considered numerous grading factors but ultimately came up with 12 categories as a starting point. Each category is weighted by the individual item, available options, category consideration, formulation consideration, and final product conditions.
Le Herbe invites you to sit down with your team, go through each category, add up the item points in each of the 12 categories, and double- and triple-check your numbers. If you don't see a check mark or numerical value for an item, then put zero and move on to the next item or category. Cannabis nanoemulsion is classified as Grade A, B, C, D, F, or special grades for a select few. Grade F is 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.
Contact us today if you would like to add a category, add an item, exclude an item, change a rating, or want to have a conversation about the world's first nanoemulsion grading system. Share with your friends or colleagues, and let's make better cannabis products together.
Version 1.6
Start Here
Cannabis Source | + 5 | + 4 | + 3 | + 2 | + 1 |
Sun Grown (Outdoor) | |||||
Hydroponic (Indoor) | |||||
Biosynthesis (Yeast) | |||||
Cannabis Extract | + 5 | + 4 | + 3 | + 2 | + 1 |
Hash Rosin | |||||
Live Rosin | |||||
Isolate | |||||
Live Resin | |||||
Badder | |||||
Distillate | |||||
Shatter | |||||
Extract Analysis | + 5 | + 4 | + 3 | + 2 | + 1 |
CoA (Full Panel) | |||||
CoA (Potency + Microbiology) | |||||
CoA (Potency Only) | |||||
Registered Lab (DEA) | |||||
Accredited Lab (ISO17025) | |||||
Non-Accredited Lab | |||||
Purity | + 99% | 99-95% | 95-90% | 90-80% | 80-70% |
Carrier Oil | + 5 | + 4 | + 3 | + 2 | + 1 |
LCT + Flavor Oil | |||||
LCT | |||||
LCT + MCT + Flavor Oil | |||||
LCT + MCT | |||||
MCT + Flavor Oil | |||||
Emulsifiers | + 5 | + 4 | + 3 | + 2 | + 1 |
Lecithins | |||||
Saponins | |||||
Proteins | |||||
Esters | |||||
Gums | |||||
Processing | + 5 | + 4 | + 3 | + 2 | + 1 |
Microfluidics | |||||
High Pressure | |||||
Sonication | |||||
Rotor-Stator | |||||
Combo | |||||
Taste the Emulsion | + 5 | + 4 | + 3 | + 2 | + 1 |
Flavorless | |||||
Umami | |||||
Sweet / Sour | |||||
Salty | |||||
Bitter | |||||
Lab Analysis | + 5 | + 4 | + 3 | + 2 | + 1 |
DLS | |||||
D50 | < 40nm | 40-75nm | 75-100nm | 100-150nm | 150-200nm |
D90 | < 40nm | 40-75nm | 75-100nm | 100-150nm | 150-200nm |
PDI | < 0.05 | 0.05 - 0.1 | 0.1 - 0.2 | 0.2 - 0.3 | 0.4 - 0.5 |
EE | + 95% | 94-90% | 89-85% | 84-80% | 79-75% |
TEM | |||||
ELS | |||||
Zeta Potential (pH 3) | ± 40mV + | ± 39-35mV | ± 34-30mV | ± 29-25mV | ± 24-20mV |
Zeta Potential (pH 7) | ± 40mV + | ± 39-35mV | ± 34-30mV | ± 29-25mV | ± 24-20mV |
Bio Analysis | + 5 | + 4 | + 3 | + 2 | + 1 |
In Vitro | |||||
In Silico | |||||
In Vivo (Humans) | |||||
In Vivo (Animals) | |||||
In Vitro + In Vivo | |||||
In Silico + In Vivo | |||||
Bioaccessibility (Vitro/Silico) | + 85% | 84-75% | 74-65% | 64-55% | 54-49% |
Bioavailability (Vivo) | + 85% | 84-75% | 74-65% | 64-55% | 54-49% |
Packaging | + 5 | + 4 | + 3 | + 2 | + 1 |
Stick Pack / Sachet (Powder) | |||||
Aluminum Can | |||||
Plastic Bottle (Opaque) | |||||
Plastic Bottle (Translucent) | |||||
Plastic Bottle (Transparent) | |||||
Glass Bottle (Opaque) | |||||
Glass Bottle (Translucent) | |||||
Glass Bottle (Transparent) | |||||
Tincture (w dropper) | |||||
Filling | + 5 | + 4 | + 3 | + 2 | + 1 |
Filling (Automated) | |||||
Filling (Semi-Automated) | |||||
Filling (Hand Filled) | |||||
Headspace (LN2) | |||||
Headspace (CO2) | |||||
Headspace (O2) | |||||
Storage | + 5 | + 4 | + 3 | + 2 | + 1 |
Inside / Dark (< 50° F) | |||||
Inside / Dark (50-60° F) | |||||
Inside / Dark (60-75° F) | |||||
Inside / Light (< 50° F) | |||||
Inside / Light (50-60° F) | |||||
Inside / Light (60-75° F) |