Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for upgrading a cannabinoid mixture that comprises tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and one or more non-THC cannabinoids, when the cannabinoid mixture has a THC content of less than about 20 wt. %. The method comprises contacting the cannabinoid mixture with a benzoquinone reagent under reaction conditions comprising: (i) a reaction temperature that is within a target reaction-temperature range for the benzoquinone reagent and the cannabinoid mixture; and (ii) a reaction time that is within a target reaction-time range for the benzoquinone reagent, the cannabinoid mixture, and the reaction temperature; such that the THC content of the cannabinoid mixture is reduced to a greater extent than that of at least one of the one or more non-THC cannabinoids on a relative wt. % reduction basis.

Abstract: Hemp seed protein fractions are provided with particular applicability for forming stable emulsions for microencapsulating lipid based components. The hemp seed protein fraction is extracted from a hemp seed protein source by aqueous alkaline extraction, followed by separation to provide a aqueous hemp protein solution and residual hemp protein source solids. The hemp seed protein fraction is isolated from the aqueous hemp protein solution by either i) precipitating hemp proteins from the separated aqueous hemp protein solution at or above the isoelectric pH and at a temperature no greater than 70° C., and separating the precipitated proteins to produce a hemp seed protein fraction; or ii) ultrafiltering the separated aqueous hemp protein solution to produce a hemp seed protein fraction having a molecular weight of 5,000 Da and higher. The isolated hemp seed protein fractions form stable emulsions with lipid based components and form microencapsulated powders.