With all of our other projects going on, we haven’t resumed presenting our locally popular Skunk Pharm Research extraction classes yet this year, but did present one as guest speakers at NGF in Portland, on the last Saturday in March.
We volunteered our time pro bono, but were paid for our actual out of pocket expenses for extraction materials used, and cut off attendance at 15 patients. 13 ticket holders actually showed up and one left shortly after we started, complaining that it was too cold and that the exhaust fan was too noisy.
We provided a general overview of BHO, Hexane, QWET, QWISO extraction, reviewed the equipment and processes, and demonstrated a QWET extraction and reduction to oil in class, as well as winterizing non polar extractions to remove the waxes.
Due to the nature of the facilities, we were unable to do our normal BHO extraction, but provided the students with taste samples of BHO Absolute and the QWET we produced in class, for comparison. We also provided them with Holy Anointing Oil Topical, and Holy Shit sublingual samples to try at home later.
The class went relatively smoothly and we got good audience participation. We got some good feedback on how to do better next time and will do our best to incorporate it.
Here are the cut and pasted comments as supplied by NGF after the class:
1) What did you enjoy the most? 4 said everything, detailed Scientifics, chemistry, various ways of extraction very diverse, how informative and how much material was covered, how knowledgeable the presenters are
2) How could we have done better? maybe more handouts about each step, clearer presentation, not sure pretty good, seriously ??, more room, show step by step bho vs rso
3) will you be using skunk pharm? yes 6, most likely, I’ll check it out for sure
4) Did we answer all of your questions? 8 said yes
5) any comments? keep up the good work and stay safe, thank you, good job, very nice, thank you for the education and for your time, too long too cold, fan too noisy
More information when our new class schedule is complete!
Posted by Marc on November 3, 2012 at 6:45 PM
Hey GW and Skunkpharm, All I want for Xmas is to attend an extraction class! Haha but yeah I just feel I would be better off learning your methods! My oil is harsh! I seen an article about winterizing the oil reduces or eliminates the coughing if I’m not mistaken…. At any rate I am willing to pay a entry fee or donation fee when you get a class schedule arranged. All help is greatly appreciated! Thank You
Posted by Skunk Pharm Research,LLC on November 4, 2012 at 5:42 AM
Cannabis essential oil is an expectorant, so it will very likely make you cough even with the waxes removed. The cough isn’t from harshness though, it is more like a lung tickle, which gets under congestion and lifts it out.
What I notice with winterization, is that the exhale no longer leaves a wax after taste, or a palpable coating on my lungs and teeth.
Now that the shack is complete, classes should resume at the shack later this year. So far this year we have been limited due to new construction, so have only presented classes for groups at their location. There are no fees, or donations required, though we do ask that you share the wealth, by paying our graces forward pro bono to those whom you are able to help. Stay tuned for an announcement.
Posted by Randal on November 4, 2012 at 7:51 AM
Greetings SPR, are you in Oregon? Portland area even? I’m wanting to get serious about making the best canna hash oil possible. I have a boatload of pretty darn good (THC 86.5%) ho made using the old Dr. Gold ETOH method. I want to clean it up color wise and also isomerise it. I would be willing to pay you ($50 an hour) for some consulting or have some help in this process. Randal, Portland
Posted by Skunk Pharm Research,LLC on November 4, 2012 at 9:17 AM
Advice and council from old gray retired Moi, is free in Portland Randal, but it may be delayed a week or so, as I am going in for knee replacement surgery tomorrow.
Skunk Pharm Research’s biochemsitry brain trust is young, dashing joeoakes@skunkpharmresearch.com, who is a struggling student, supporting a family, so he might take your money for hands on support in the interim, and just give advice for free. He is who I go to when I’m over my head on the subject.
We also plan to resume extraction classes later this year, which you might want to attend. We limit class size to 10 OMMP members, and there is no charge.
Classes that we conduct for other organizations elsewhere, are at our actual expenses, and whatever the hosting organzation tacks on to recover their expenses from their membership.
GW
Posted by Randal on November 7, 2012 at 4:49 PM
Dear Gray Wolf, I wish you blessings in surgery and a speedy recovery afterwards. My yoga teacher had hip replacement about a year ago. He is an avid bike rider and a yoga instructor and reports that his hip does indeed perform much better then before. I very much would like to attend one of your extraction classes whenever I can: sign me up. Randal
Posted by Skunk Pharm Research,LLC on November 8, 2012 at 7:58 AM
Thanks for the good thoughts and the replacement went well. Now for the full recovery part!
Posted by Randal on October 12, 2012 at 8:18 AM
Greetings, I live in Oregon and have access to a very nice hash oil product made with ethanol alcohol. I had it tested recently: 86.5 THC/2.26 CBD/8.91 CBN. The only problem I see is with the dark color. I’m guessing the dark color comes from chlorophyll that the ETOH process brings along. Question, how can I get the chlorophyll back out now that the oil is completed and how could I have done it sooner in the process. I want to keep using the ETOH but I know that after the initial ETOH extraction petroleum ether can be used to clean out the chlorophyll. I would be willing to pay a consulting fee for this information. Randal
Posted by Skunk Pharm Research,LLC on October 12, 2012 at 8:51 AM
Two ways could be used; activated charcoal method or phosphoric acid method. The charcoal method is basically dissolve and dilute your oil in etoh. Slurry with as little ( pre-extracted ) activated charcoal as it takes to decolor in 48 hrs. I am currently preparing to do this very experiment. The problem is that you’re sample is always going to be different so I can only ballpark any measurements once the experiment is complete. The benefit comes from the method validation of success in general. The phosphoric acid method is straightforward but has the added inherent risk of working with strong mineral acids. You need lots of safety equipment and a lab is generally helpful. With charcoal you just have to extract it in whatever solvent you use so you remove any impurities that would be exchanged into your solution. Then do a serial dilution with a small amount of your extract solution to determine the amount of charcoal to add to your stock solution. The quicker you decolor the more product you’ll lose. At the 48 hr time point you should have minimal loss. Hope this helps more than confuses.
Joe
Posted by Randal on October 12, 2012 at 9:03 AM
We have tried the activated carbon (less then 48 hours) with too little change in color. one last question for today does the carbon soak up the thc also?
PS: this is a great resource! How can I help your efforts? Randal
Posted by Skunk Pharm Research,LLC on October 12, 2012 at 10:34 AM
As I understand it, it will initially bind both hydrophobic and charged compounds. But the binding isn’t permanent. Chlorophyll has both charged and hydrophobic surfaces. Leaving it in for a longer period allows the larger more suitable chlorophyll molecule to bind to the available surfaces. By using just enough carbon you essentially don’t leave room for a measurable loss of product. I would stir or agitate the solution frequently to help the process since they have to come into contact to bind together. I would also try plant tissue culture grade carbon. The purity and ion binding qualities have been evaluated thoroughly before shipment.
The phosphoric acid method is a patented process for precipitation of chlorophyll from rapeseed oil. It involves heating and stirring an oil with acid to break the chlorophyll molecule into two lipid insoluble compounds. They then centrifuge to separate the two and remove the oil.
If you have a chemical fume hood and the experience look up the patent and try it. We have gotten some very clear oils using sulphuric acid to do the same but we were also forming an acetate. Then precipitation of unreacted product with sodium hydroxide solution to a pH of 10 then brine dilution/wash to pH 7 in a sepratory funnel. If not acetalated the oil tends to be red.
Joe
Posted by SWpdx on July 28, 2012 at 12:00 PM
Hi, I am very interested in taking an extraction class from you.
Thanks
Posted by Skunk Pharm Research,LLC on July 30, 2012 at 5:59 AM
Thanks for your interest SP! We are putting the finishing touches on the new skunk shack and will will be publishing a new class schedule soon.
GW
Posted by SliplikeFreudian on July 6, 2012 at 7:57 AM
Hey I’m an OMMP patient and extractor in the portland area that also volunteers at a local cannabis club, I have a tamisium and a purge chamber going on now with a few other things, kind of interested in classes but more so would love to come check out your area and check out the terpenator to learn more. I love the amount of knowledge you have on the site though it’s insanely helpful especially to those just beginning I’m sure. Thank you for everything and hope to meet you soon, thank you!
Posted by Skunk Pharm Research,LLC on July 6, 2012 at 9:38 AM
Thanks for the good thoughts! Sounds like more discussion might be in order. I sent you contact information to your e-mail address.
Peace!
GW
Posted by Loose gear on June 26, 2012 at 9:10 PM
you are using patented materials for your classes, cease and desist or FACE A PATENT INFRINGEMENT LAWSUIT
Posted by Skunk Pharm Research,LLC on June 27, 2012 at 7:16 AM
Thanks for the warning. If you would be more specific about what patent we violate in our classes, that you have never attended and I have never detailed on line, I will pass it on to our attorneys to review for appropriate action.
Posted by baylov3 on May 10, 2012 at 11:45 AM
Hello I’m interested.
Posted by Skunk Pharm Research,LLC on May 11, 2012 at 7:38 AM
Watch our space! We will be posting class schedules soon. Still finishing up our new digs.