Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1

Black Fin Extracts Inc. (BFE), a Health Canada approved cannabis extracts company located on Vancouver Island, and Camosun College, a post-secondary institution located in Victoria BC, are collaborating on an applied research project to utilize fat by-products from cannabis processing for commercial ointment preparation. BFE has a demonstrated production ability to generate extracts of high quality and purity in large scale. The main goal of the project is to evaluate the suitability of a waste by-product derived from cannabis oil production for use in topical ointment formulations. The by-product is a fat material which has been found to have moisturizing properties. Physical properties and chemical composition will be determined. Data collected will allow comparisons to hemp seed oil, a common ingredient in skin care ointments and creams that does not contain psychoactive agents such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD). Formulation methods will then be researched and evaluated. Camosun College, working through its applied research centre Camosun Innovates, has access to expertise in analytical chemistry and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) systems and laboratory scale distillation equipment that will fill the knowledge gap identified by Black Fin Extracts. Overall, there will be a gain to the research sector as a whole in identifying value added applications for by-products from cannabis oil production.