Abstract: The present invention describes a method which outlines a process for conversion of CBD to a ?9-tetrahydrocannabinol (?9-THC) compound or derivative thereof involving treating a naturally produced CBD intermediate compound with an organoaluminum-based Lewis acid catalyst, under conditions effective to produce the ?9-tetrahydrocannabinol compound or derivative thereof at a relatively high concentration. The source of the CBD is from industrial hemp having less than 0.3% ?9-THC and extracting and purifying a CBD distillate or isolate or a combination thereof. This procedure will produce ?9-THC that is essentially free from any other cannabinoids other than some trace amounts of the initial CBD starting material, or about 95% ?9-THC and 2-4% CBD. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a process for further purification and enrichment of the ?9-THC using distillation and collecting an essentially pure fraction of ?9-THC using additional distillation or enrichment form of purification.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method which outlines a process for conversion of CBD to a ?9-tetrahydrocannabinol (?9-THC) compound or derivative thereof involving treating a naturally produced CBD intermediate compound with an organoaluminum-based Lewis acid catalyst, under conditions effective to produce the ?9-tetrahydrocannabinol compound or derivative thereof at a relatively high concentration. The source of the CBD is from industrial hemp having less than 0.3% ?9-THC and extracting and purifying a CBD distillate or isolate or a combination thereof. This procedure will produce ?9-THC that is essentially free from any other cannabinoids other than some trace amounts of the initial CBD starting material, or about 95% ?9-THC and 2-4% CBD. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a process for further purification and enrichment of the ?9-THC using distillation and collecting an essentially pure fraction of ?9-THC using additional distillation or enrichment form of purification.

Abstract: The present invention describes a process to isomerize industrial hemp derived Cannabidiol (CBD) to a pure ?8-tetrahydrocannabinol (?8-THC) extract. This procedure will produce ?8-tetrahydrocannabinol that is essentially free from any detectable levels of ?9-tetrahydrocannabinol (?9-THC). Included in this filing are methods and processes to scale the reaction from the lab to process to large scale manufacturing. Additionally, the resulting extract from said methods and processes consists of higher purity than previously reported in the art and greater efficiency compared to prior art.