THCV and the growth of minor cannabinoids

Incorporated into the products we all know and love are a variety of minor cannabinoids. While one may work for some, it may not work for everyone.

An up-and-coming minor cannabinoid that will likely be seen in more products is THCV. Leading the fad is COAST Cannabis Co., as the dispensary was the first in Massachusetts to launch a gummy with THCV.

Before launching the product in summer 2021, COAST Cannabis Co-Founder Angela Brown said a lot of research was required.

THCV, also known as “skinny weed,” is still relatively new. Like any minor cannabinoid, its effects may differ from person to person. For Brown, she said, “I had a lot of personal success utilizing THCV.”

She continued, “I wasn’t introduced to THCV because I was looking for the effects of it. I got introduced to it just because there was a certain strain that I was really enjoying in a concentrated form that was typically a higher THCV strain – it was Durban Poison.” After consuming it, Brown recalled having a lot of energy, curved hunger and motivation to accomplish her tasks.

“I personally started going on a workout journey and I was noticing that by using the THCV and consuming it, it was giving me that pre workout motivation that a pre workout supplement had given me,” shared Brown. With increased energy and focus, she said the experience is what everyone wants to have when working out.

“At that moment, the lightbulb really went off,” said Brown.

When she entered the world of cannabis, her idea and focus was for sleep and digestion. “I came into cannabis being introduced to it as a way for things at night: how to make you feel better, relaxation. And then here I was consuming cannabis, and it was making me do the opposite of relax. I was going out, I was getting stuff done,” she said. “It really made me realize how magical cannabis was and how there was so much more to the plant than I even realized.”

As Brown’s years of being a consumer turned into being an entrepreneur and launching COAST Cannabis, she shared that she always had the desire to bring more cannabinoids to the frontline. “As someone who got introduced to these specific cannabinoids – CBN and THCV – I knew what magical healing powers they had,” she said.

To bring those attributes to the adult use side, COAST launched Raspberry Lime THC:THCV:CBG Gummies. Increasing energy levels, productivity and combating the dreaded munchies, the gummies can be used to take on any day.

Right now, the Raspberry Lime gummy is the only product with THCV offered by COAST. Working with about 170 stores across the state, Brown said most, if not all, have brought in their Raspberry Lime products.

In 2021, COAST also released a CBN and CBG product. “Over a year later, those two gummies became and still remain our top two selling items,” said Brown. When dispensaries sell out, she shared that customers call and email to find out where the products can be found.

“It’s really proving to us that customers want more than just THC and customers really want products that work and that’s what we’re committed to creating – not just a product that’s going to sell – but a product that’s going to work and it’s going to do exactly what we say it’s going to do,” said Brown.

“We believe, as a company, holistically using the minor cannabinoids is exactly what gets you that effective product,” she added.

As a consumer first, Brown said she looks at products and asks herself, “What would I want to use? What would I want to see in the stores?” She explained that COAST staff operates the same way. “It’s not ‘what’s going to sell and what’s going to make us money?’ No, what do customers actually want and need?” Brown said, “They don’t need another THC gummy. They need something that’s going to put them to sleep when they say sleep or give them that boost of energy that they’re looking for and that’s really our motivation.”

On the horizon, Brown said COAST is looking to roll out a chocolate product with CBN, as their only CBN product is in gummy form. She noted that they have been receiving a lot of requests about sleep time, but for those who don’t enjoy gummies, this could be an alternative.

As THCV continues to grow, more products are made and consumers learn about it, Brown expressed her excitement for the future of the minor cannabinoid.

Before incorporating cannabis into your life, especially if it involves a lifestyle change, always make sure to consult a physician.

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Shas been used for its beneficial effects. Compared to conventionally produced CBD products, its active ingredients are much different. For instance, conventional cannabis extracts use low temperatures and do not contain the richer diversity and balance of cannabinoids.

Real Isolates, a family-owned biotech company based out of Beverly, was recently issued a United States patent for the extraction of cannabinoids and other compounds from cannabis smoke.

“Smokenol™” is the official name of the extracted oil created by this method. It is described as “rich in common and rare cannabinoids and enables a new category of oral, topical and inhaled cannabis products.”

Essentially, the process involves creating smoke/vapor with heat and selectively special filter. The solventless method is a simpler and safer alternative to CO2 or hydrocarbon extraction.

Real Isolates Vice President and Co-Founder Andy Westerkamp said, “A majority of consumers prefer the effects of smoking.”

He explained, there are three reasons why smoking and edibles feel different: absorption, metabolism and “a third reason nobody seems to talk about - the high temperature we use from smoking transforms cannabinoid profiles significantly.”

While most extracts are created at low temperatures, this creates extracts that do not represent the profiles consumed from smoking or vaping. “Our hypothesis was that the temperatures used when vaping and smoking are creating a different effect profile which is largely re-

Westerkamp. “Our research supports that.”

Real Isolates created a filter to selectively capture compounds of interest from the smoke/vapor for use in products like edibles, vapes and topicals, to name a few.

“Now the millions of people that can’t smoke, shouldn’t smoke or have concerns about smoking due to chronic respiratory conditions – or other reasons – have an option to consume these unique profiles in another form,” explained Westerkamp.

When using THC forward input material, the Smokenol™ process will create extracts that are CBN forward and contain other cannabinoids such as THC, THCV, CBD, CBND, CBG, CBC, CBT and CBL. Other THC derivatives are also included like EXO, delta 8, delta 10 and more.

“What is more important than the compounds themselves is the natural formulation and ratios of them in the smoke,” said Westerkamp. “There needs to be much more research on the exact effects of these different cannabinoids, but consumer feedback would suggest that the combinations found in Smokenol™ extracts will feel much more like the effects expected from smoking/vaping.”

In the new year, Westerkamp believes that there will be an increased need and interest in differentiating product offerings.

“Smokenol™ processing is easy, affordable and creates a completely unique profile that will not be replicated with other extraction methods,” he said. “With price compression of THC and flower, we believe Smokenol™ extraction will be an attractive addition to processing facilities that want to create new and valuable offerings that their competition cannot create without Smokenol™.” Now that Smokenol™ obtained patent protection in the United States, it will soon be protected in several other major cannabis markets internationally.

Westerkamp said, “This will be an excellent opportunity to increase brand recognition, thought leadership and revenue for brands, and ultimately address the growing surplus issue that plagues the industry.” share in the coming year – stay tuned for updates,” he concluded.

Real Isolates licenses Smokenol™ to product manufactures. Examples of hemp-derived topicals and tinctures can be found at: profoundnaturals.com.

Additionally, he assured that the Real Isolates team is always in the lab improving the standard operating procedure and business models that will work with their partners.

“There will be a lot of progress to