Comprehensive Report on The Cannabis Extract Movement
Relatório de Viagem - TRAVEL REPORT ENG
1. SENSES BIOTECH
The Cannabis industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. Because of the
different regulatory models of each jurisdiction, it makes it difficult to standardize and
perform the costly protocols to control quality and potency of Cannabis and its derivatives.
In 2015, Samy Abud Yoshima left Brazil, moved to Uruguay and with the help of an
American Investor, founded Senses Biotech - a startup with the mission to offer products
and services that improve personal experiences with Cannabis-based phytotherapies.
Minimizing the risks and possible associated adverse effects, and guaranteeing greater
safety and efficacy in the treatment of diseases related to the endocannabinoid system.
In 2016, Senses Biotech became the Latin American representative of The BeaconTM, a
spectroscopy-based scientific device that uses light to instantly measure the potency of ∆9-
THC, CBD, THC-A and CBD-A of Cannabis in dried flowers and pure extracts.
The BeaconTM was developed in the US by Sage Analytics and uses Near-Infrared (NIR)
spectroscopy ( the science of how light interacts with matter) to instantly measure the
potency of cannabis products at the molecular level. The use of light as an analytical tool
affords a number of distinct advantages over alternative methods, such as GC or HPLC.
Because the light used is non-destructive, spectroscopic-based measurements require no
toxic chemicals for sample prep or analysis, leaving the sample intact for future use.
Report
THE BEACONTM
CHRONICLES
In 2016, the Senses Biotech team
participated in three consumer
events in South America analyzing
Cannabis flowers and extracts
SOUTH AMERICA
Cannabis Chemical Profile
Between November 22nd and December 12th of 2016,
Senses Biotech, in collaboration with Sage Analytics,
participated in three Cannabis expositions with the goal
being to demonstrate The BeaconTM in South American
countries where the plant cultivation is legal. For the
first time on the continent, Senses Biotech analyzed and
compared the chemical profile of hundreds of Cannabis
flowers and extracts grown in Colombia, Chile and
Uruguay.
∆9-THC
molecule
CBD
molecule
2. In Colombia, it became clear that the
Cannabis culture really is part of daily life for the
local population. Even police officers and military
personnel came to ExpoMedeWeed with lots of
questions and curiosities. In addition to the
peace movement experienced by the country,
the Cannabis industry will bring growth to the
economy. “Colombia is the second largest
exporter of flowers in the world and will also be
a world power in the emerging Cannabis
industry”, says Samy.
In Colombia, Senses Biotech participated in the 1st ExpoMedeWeed at the beautiful
Botanical Gardens of Medellín. The Expo organization, led by the activist lawyer Henry
Muñoz Vallejo, along with the indispensable help of Natalia Rivera, helped organize a
Cannabis Cup to reward the flower with the best chemical profile tested during the event.
According to Samy, the best chemical profile was defined as “the one with the largest sum
of the two most important phytocannabinoids”. However, he points out that, in practice,
“the definition of the best chemical profile varies for each person, occasion and specific
medical condition. In the case of Cannabis, the most informative chemical profile is
determined by the potential quantity of the two most present phytocannabinoids, Δ9-THC
and CBD. Both have several medicinal properties and, besides that, the psychoactive effect
of Δ9-THC is associated with toxicological risks. Thus, it is essential to pre-evaluate their
potential quantity”.
To participate in the Cup each competitor brought their flower and 20 thousand
Colombian pesos (equivalent to 6 USD). The prize was equivalent to about 700 USD
collected during the course of the event and was equally shared with Fundaluva
Foundation, an organization that supports children with special needs and their families to
ensure better quality of life. With the help of Luísa, responsible for the NGO Flor Medica,
48 flower samples were analyzed. The winner of the Cup was Daniel, a local grower of the
Mango Haze strain, with 16% Δ9-THC and 8,7% CBD. Franco Loja, the Cannabis industry icon
from Green House Seeds and Strain Hunters, visited the Senses Biotech stand by invitation
from Samy during the Expo. Franco brought Money Maker strain´s flowers which
presented an average of 20,2% Δ9-THC, the same level (20%-22% range) advertised on its
label.
COLOMBIA
A Cannabis Peace Movement
Ceiling of the
Botanical Garden
of Medellín
FrancoLoja – When the master
tests the testing machine.
3. CHILE
The entrepreneurship of Cannabis
The following week Senses Biotech was already in Santiago to be part of ExpoWeed,
which had the largest audience of the three events with more than 15,0000 people,
including some Brazilians. At ExpoWeed, the tests were carried out free of charge, since
foreign companies can not sell services in the country during the event. What madness!
More than 100 flowers and 20 extracts tested!!!
During ExpoWeed, Senses Biotech tested Cannabis flowers´ extracts of the Spanish
company Medical Seeds, owned by Javier Zarzuela. Two samples of the same extract tested
on two consecutive days, showed an average of 15%-17% Δ9-THC and 45%-50% CBD,
similar values at the same ratio (1:3) of those obtained from HPLC tests carried out by
Canna Foundation in Spain.
According to Samy, the most special moment of the trip took place at ExpoWeed,
when Winy Solange appeared at the Senses Biotech booth to test flowers from her home-
grown garden. Winy is the mother of a boy with a genetic condition that has caused him to
have 300 seizures per month since the early age of 5 months. After overcoming their own
prejudices regarding Cannabis, 12 years of inefficient treatments and various side effects,
she saw the number of seizures reduce to 60 per month with extracts made of Cannabis
flowers. Recently, she harvested a special strain whose oils reduced her son's convulsions to
3 per month.
Winy brought us samples from this strain to our booth. The results showed a high
level of CDB (10.1%) and the lowest Δ9-THC/CBD ratio (0.26) observed so far. She also
analyzed another strain with Δ9-THC/CBD ratio of 1:1 and 7% level of phytocannabinoids.
This data will help Winy and her son to establish a dose-response pattern to treat the
convulsions with the new strain´s extracts. "It was very emotional to see Winy's happiness
in verifying that the medicine she grows at home has a chemical profile consistent with the
improvement observed in the health of her child. It's in those moments that you feel the
meaning of pursuing a life and work´s purpose”, said Samy.
Winy and the Cannabis equation - The
difference between 300 or 3 convulsions per
month is equal to the proper chemical
profile cultivated at your home, plus a
statistical error, here expressed by the smile
of a mother with a green thumb and an open
heart to change her own mind about the
medicinal potential of Cannabis.
In Chile, the number of Cannabis
growshops and headshops is impressive. The
prevalence of Cannabis use in the country is
one of the largest in the continent, and it
confirms that entrepreneurship in Chile is a
virtue that makes their economy stronger.
Javier– Extract
analysis with
proportion 1:3,
THC>15%, CBD>45%.
4. URUGUAY
Back home
BCBD team at the
Senses Biotech stand
Before the end of the week, Senses Biotech was already in Montevideo to
participate at ExpoCannabis 2016. Lia Esumi, our scientific consultant, helped us test more
than 53 flowers and 19 extracts. The tests had a promotional cost of 200 and 500 UY. In
addition to the Uruguayans, Brazilians and Argentines tested lots of samples, revealing that
national borders are not enough to restrain the love for the Cannabis plant or the curiosity
to test the chemical profile of its flowers and medicines.
BCBD Medicinal S.A., an innovative company in the application of CBD and Δ9-THC in
food, medical and veterinary products, was a highlight presence at the event. With a deep
knowledge about the operation of the most modern technologies of the Cannabis industry,
the BCBD team tested more than 10 samples of extracts, flowers and Cannabis leaves.
Phytoplant Research, a Spanish group, analyzed a purified sample of CBD. The Beacon
LuminaryTM indicated 92% level, similar to the 95% level obtained by in their own
laboratory analysis. The small difference between the two tests can be explained by the
presence of small aggregates of CBD crystals in the sample tested at the busy
ExpoCannabis.
This was the 3rd annual ExpoCannabis in Uruguay, with participation of more than
9,000 visitors, many musical attractions and a comfortable exhibitor space with excellent
infrastructure. The organizer of the event was extremely skillful in choosing the location of
the Senses Biotech & Sage Analytics´ booth, which were between the garden exhibit and
the educational laboratory areas. It created a quiet environment for those interested in
testing their flowers and extracts, without disturbances that could interfere with the test
results.
ExpoCannabis- Garden with several stages of
development of Cannabis. In the background, the
educational laboratory and the stand of Senses Biotech.
Female
flower
Seed
Leaves
5. P h yto can n ab in o id s (% )
Strains
0 5 1 0 1 5 2 0 2 5 3 0 3 5
M a ng o (D a nie l)
C ha r lote W e b (O r ig e n)
T r om pe ta kush
P or te la C a uc a nna bissss
P unto R O ojo (M a te o)
N ic ol K ush (D a nie l N a va r e z)
Sug a r C a ndy (M ike )
P ina ple C hong
T r iple X JJ
W hite B e r r y (D on P a blo)
M a ng o B ic he (D on V ito)
B W x SC (M ike )
C r bla c km a r ir i
M a r ic e la H a ze
M e dic a ljose m
M one y M a ke r (Str a in H unte r s)
O ld Sc hool C hino
C hw pU N O
O G K ush T r om pe ta
C m c bdpU N O
E x otic a l
C hihua hua B r e e de r s
C hw pT R E S
V e r de M a nza na (M a r io)
C hw pD O S
Zig ua r a ya
R e sina C r itic a l
C m c bdpT R E S
C r e a m C a r a m e l A ndr e s D a nk
la ve g a T r ista n
A g om e zdos
N nc a os
K a lic ha na E ste ba n O
C m c bdpD O S
A g om e z
H a ze (D a nie l)
L im a (G a br ie l)
C a nna lope JJ
N njha
A FG H A N + C O L D H Sta M a r ia
K ushbe r r y JJ
B a na na c otton
C a na lope H a ze (Je r r y)
N nosc a r
L e m on H a ze
1 2 R O D
Supe r c hoc o
M a nda r ine H a ze
Po ten cial TH C
Po ten cial C B D
Colombia
RANKING
Chemical profile of Cannabis flowers.
Unprecedented in South America.
Predicting experience is possible.
1ª EXPOMEDEWEED
COLOMBIA
P o te n cial T H C
PotencialTHC(%)
0
5
1 0
1 5
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
2 3 ,1 (m a x)
T ro m p e taku sh
1 6 ,3 (m e a n )
8 ,0 (m in )
C h w p D O S
P o ten cial C B D
PotencialCBD(%)
0
5
1 0
1 5
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
1 0 ,8 (m a x)
C h arlotte's W eb
6 ,2 (m e an )
4 ,0 (m in ) C an n alo p e JJ
T H C /C B D ratio
THC/CBD 0
1
2
3
4
5
4 ,1 (m a x)
2 ,3 (m e an )
0 ,8 (m in )
N u m b e r o f an alyzed
sam p le s
N
o
ofsamples
0
5 0
1 0 0
1 5 0
4 8
B e st ch em ical
p ro file
Phytocannabinoids(%)
M a ng o H a ze (D a nie l)
0
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
Po ten cial TH C
1 6 ,0 %
Po ten cial C B D
8 ,7 %
6. P h y to c a n n a b in o id s (% )
Strains
0 5 1 0 1 5 2 0 2 5 3 0 3 5
T a n g ie (D N A )
T a n g ie lo p e (D N A )
D a n c e W o rld
O G K u s h
M o b y D ic k
O G 1 8 (D N A )
O ld S c h o o l
S o m a n g o
C h o c o lo p e 4 2 0
S p id e r S k u n k
S u p e r Le m o n H a z e 1
Z u m b i K u s h
Lu is
Y C B D
Ja c k H e re r (A le ja n d ro )
Ja m a ic a n D re a m (A le ja n d ro )
C ritic a l P u rp le
D J G o ld
A n e s te s ia Lo re n a
U rb a n P o is o n (R a u l)
M u s ta n g V 8
M a g n u m
Ja c k H e re r 2
C h e e s e & a m p ; C h o n g
F ra n c is c a H a z e
G h o s t S tra in H a z e (A n d re l)
2 4 K (D N A G e n e tic s )
C a li M is t
E n e rg iz e r
M ig u e l H a z e
M ixx
M a la k o ff (M e d S e e d s )
G irls S c o u t C o o k ie s
M a z a t D P
S w e e t A fg h a n D e lic io u s
K im b o K u s h
A K 4 7 - Ja c k H e re r
C re a m M a n d a rin
M a z a r D P
E rlie S k u n k
Y G rie g a
B lo o d y S k a n k (A n d re s )
A c a p u lc o (S e b a )
N o rth e rn Lig h t
N Y C
C h a n n e l +
A m n e s ia A u to (Le o )
W h ite R u s s ia n
2 0 4 6 (M e d ic a l S e e d s )
C y n th ia H a z e
C B D T h e ra p y
Le m o n H a z e
O G
B ria n
C B D C re w C lu b
S k u n k 1 1
C h a n n e l +
N a tio n a l
S LH C ro s s
N o rth e rn lin e -
D a rk D e v il (E z e q u ie l)
C re a m M a n d a rin
C la u d io H a z e
T u n ta k a m b (P y ra m id S e e d s )
A fg h n a
W h ite W id o w
S w e e t S e e d s N a m e le s s
S u p e r S k u n k
G S C
Y
C ritic a l A u to
C re a m C a ra m e l
C a rita
P H D
Ju a n ita
D e s fra n
# 8
X X L
P a ta g o n ia
O G K u s h
Ja c k H e re r 1
W h ite B e rry P a ra d is e
M o h a n
E l S e g re d o
S ilv e r H a z e
A m n e s ia H a z e
P o xip o l
C a ra m e l A u to
E u p h o ria G u ille
Ja m a ic a n D re a m
S u p e r C ritic a l
N e v il H a z e
Ja c k H e re r
C re a m N e s to r C a ra m e l
S u p e r Le m o n H a z e
B lo o d y S k u n k A u to
A u to P u rp le
B la n q u ita
O G K u s h (F e lip e )
A u to X tre m
Ja v ie r H a z e A u to
Ja m a ic a n D re a m 1
D a rk D e v il A u to
B lu e D re a m
A u to G e n g is k h a n
M o b y D ic k A u to
P o te n c ia l T H C
P o te n c ia l C B D
EXPOWEED
CHILE
Chile
RANKING
Chemical profile of Cannabis flowers.
Unprecedented in South America.
Do you know what you are cultivating?
P o ten cial C B D
PotencialCBD(%)
0
5
1 0
1 5
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
1 3 ,5 (m a x)
D a n ce W o rld
6 ,7 (m e a n )
4 ,3 (m in ) Ja m a ica n D re a m
P o te n cial T H C
PotencialTHC(%)
0
5
1 0
1 5
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
2 7 ,9 (m a x)
O G K u sh
1 4 ,9 (m e a n )
2 ,6 (m in )
E u p h o ria
T H C /C B D ratio
THC/CBD
0
1
2
3
4
5 4 ,6 (m a x)
2 ,1 (m e an )
0 ,2 (m in )
N u m b e r o f an alyzed
sam p le s
N
o
ofsamples
0
5 0
1 0 0
1 5 0
1 0 6
B e st ch em ical
p ro file
Phytocannabinoids(%)
T a ng ie (D N A G e ne tic s)
0
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
Po ten cial TH C
2 4 ,4 %
Po ten cial C B D
5 ,3 %
7. P h yto can n ab in o id s (% )
Strains
0 5 1 0 1 5 2 0 2 5 3 0 3 5
N o rth en Ligh ts
C ritic al P lu s
A m n esia (Jo n ath an )
O rigin al A m n esia
Z io n H aze
O G K u sh En p a
A m n esia C B D
C ritic al P lu s 1
N / A (C arlo s)
C ritic al M D
B lu e K u sh D in afem
A K 4 7 (S eb astian )
M o b y D ic k
V iagra 1
A lien
G 1 3 A u to U ru gu ay S eed s
C h arly e
A m n esia C B D 2
C B D C ritic al
K alash n ik o v a G H S
Tan gielo p e D N A G en etic s
Jac k La M o ta
G u id o
C B D Th erap y
P u rp le W id o w
M ed ic al K u sh
C ritic al K u sh
B B D B Th erap y 0 0 5
C lassic S k u n k (Erik )
Tan gielo p e D N A
Y (Lo u is)
B lac k Jac k
K ali
Jac k D iesel
D a F ro n teira
S traw b erry B an an a
C o lo m b ian H aze
S tar B o m b
2 0 4 6
M o b y D ic k N V
M ed ic in al
O G K u sh
B o tafu m eiro N V
C . G o ld
Tierra V iv a
Tan gielo p e
V iagra
H o m e M ad e
B lac k D o m in a
V an illa K u sh
W est C o ast O G
P u rp le
M o b y D ic k 1
Po ten cial TH C
Po ten cial C B D
EXPOCANNABIS
URUGUAY
Uruguay
RANKING
Chemical profile of Cannabis flowers.
Unprecedented in South America.
Shedding light on medicinal Cannabis.
P o te n cial T H C
PotencialTHC(%)
0
5
1 0
1 5
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5 2 9 ,8 (m a x)
N o rth e rn Lig h ts
1 7 ,2 (m e a n )
1 2 ,4 (m in )
M o b y D ick 1
P o ten cial C B D
PotencialCBD(%)
0
5
1 0
1 5
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
8 ,9 (m a x)
B B D B T h e rap y 005
6 ,3 (m e an )
4 ,6 (m in ) A m n esia C B D
T H C /C B D ratio
THC/CBD
0
1
2
3
4
5
2 ,4 (m e an )
4 ,2 (m a x)
1 ,0 (m in )
N u m b e r o f an alyzed
sam p le s
N
o
ofsamples
0
5 0
1 0 0
1 5 0
5 3
B e st ch em ical
p ro file
Phytocannabinoids(%)
N or the r n L ig hts
0
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
Po ten cial TH C
2 9 ,8 %
Po ten cial C B D
< 4 ,5%
8. METHODOLOGY
Accuracy and testing protocol for
The BeaconTM
Finally, an observation related to the accuracy of The BeaconTM tests’ results. After
the three events and more than a year of testing, the equipment has proved to be at least
as accurate as the quality and representation of the samples provided. Because the
samples were brought in by the participants themselves for each event , none of Senses
Biotech suggested testing protocols were ever followed or adopted. The testing protocols
listed below , aim to increase the accuracy of the results.
The Senses Biotech protocol is based on the following assumptions: (1) Different
plants have different ∆9-THC/CBD ratios, even if they belong to the same species and
lineage; (2) Different parts of the same plant have different amounts of cannabinoids, but
the ∆9-THC/CBD ratio remains constant on average; and (3) climate and growing conditions
change the amount of cannabinoids, but not affect the averageof the ∆9-THC/CBD ratio.
Thus, Senses Biotech suggests that dried flowers from different parts of the same
plant should be collected totaling at least 5 grams in order to ensure homogeneous and
representative test samples (A). These samples shall be grinded (B), mixed and kept in a
sealed package (C) kept away from light, air and heat until the analysis (D, E, F). Senses
Biotech performs the test at least three times for three samples, that is, three tests are
performed for the same plant in order to verify the average of the results in the end. Lastly,
the samples should be stored adequately for subsequent comparative tests that allow us to
evaluate the chemical profile´s evolution over time.
A B C
D E FSampling
protocol
suggested by
Senses
Biotech.
Samy Abud Yoshima
Founder and Director
say@sensesbiotech.com
Lia Assae Esumi
Scientific consultant
lia.esumi@gmail.com
/SensesBiotech
sageanalytics.com
CONTACT
INFORMATION