MEDICINAL EXTRACTS
Synthetic medicines based on Cannabis and medicines containing isolated cannabinoids such as dronabinol (THC), or synthetic THC (Marinol) have been recorded to be dismal failures worldwide and to date, even after forty years of intense research in laboratories around the world, an effective, safe synthetic version of Cannabis medicine has yet to be developed. It is a complete waste of time and money as the plant itself is perfectly designed to work with the natural endo-cannabinoid system found in all creatures for the most effective healing possible.
Current pharmaceutical products produced under license generally focus on isolating specific cannabinoids supplied in micrograms in a carrier oil.This is done at great expense, when all the cannabinoids are available in a properly extracted product at a fraction of the cost. Full flower full extract oil combined with a sound nutrition, hydration, oxygenation and lifestyle modification causes the return to full health.
PRIMARY EXTRACTS
FULL EXTRACT CANNABIS OIL
​​Full extract Cannabis oil, used with medical supervision, is indicated where severe breakdown has occurred in the body and where healing time to life expectancy is close or even not positive. Using full extract when not indicated is simply a waste of money as the body only uses what is needed and the rest is excreted.
Full extract oil is a very thick, sticky substance, dark in colour with a mild Cannabis odour. Sharp chemical smells are an indication that inferior solvents were used to extract. Extracting with solvents and heat can be a dangerous process which requires training.
S.A.C.C.R.A. does NOT advertise or encourage people to randomly attempt this. Not everyone has the chemistry or technical knowledge to handle the process. Unless you have seen oil blow up in someone's face, even someone who knows what they are doing, or seen a still implode or explode, you don't get the full picture of how dangerous it can be. And many factors come into play.
HASH BLOCKS AND TRADITIONAL TINCTURE
"Hash blocks" are an excellent method for storing concentrated cannabinoids that are not decarboxylated through heat and an easy way to reduce/dilute domestically in various ways is from hash blocks.
The method of harvesting the resin in "hash" form, which is solid and unheated, is somewhat complicated for the layman to process, and requires specific knowledge and expertise. This method is completely safe, and the product is versatile in that it can be safely reduced into butter, carrier oils, or in many other ways. Only tiny doses are required.
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Traditional tincture is made by soaking the resin coated flowers in strong alcohol to extract the cannabinoids, terpenoids and flavonoids. This cold press product takes several weeks to make with store bought vodka, and anything less than 46% alcohol is unlikely to extract well. Knowledge of the applications and the type and strain of Cannabis are primary. Note that even a few drops of a strong tincture can stop an epileptic fit or serious tremors, and can also cause a drop in blood pressure!
SECONDARY EXTRACTS
Secondary extracts such as topical balms, bath oils, butters, oils etc are made using full extract Cannabis oil obtained from a verified primary producer. We call these products reduced extracts simply because they are no longer as concentrated as full extract oil. They are relatively easy to mix up either domestically, or for the creative cannaprenuer (secondary producer) for commercial distribution in which case regulatory agreements and safety standards apply.
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The beauty of doing things this way, is that everyone has access to professionally made, properly extracted, top quality primary Cannabis extracts which have been tested and whose applications are properly indicated. This medicine can even be fun! It is also a simple matter, with the right equipment, to reduce the full extract to precise percentage per volume doses and titrate via capsules, suppositories and even edibles. Some secondary extracts use specific carriers identified to assist with particular illnesses and are also to be used under medical supervision if indicated.
TERTIARY EXTRACTS
Tertiary extracts such as cosmetics are made using reduced extracts as their primary purpose is not medicinal although, apart from being more healthy than chemically formulated products, they will also still have some medicinal benefit. They are also relatively easy to mix up either domestically, or for the creative cannaprenuer (secondary producer) for commercial distribution in which case regulatory agreements and safety standards apply.​ This applies to personal hygiene products as well e.g. deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, heat protection products, sunblocks, lip & heel balms.
NB: NOTE ON SOLVENTS
Using benzene, butane, naphtha, petroleum ether (which includes benzene) or isopropyl alcohol to make medicine defies common sense as they all contain toxic, carcinogenic elements. Popular belief that these can be purged outside of laboratory conditions is misleading as the degree of precision required to remove trace elements of these substances is enormous and simply not available to the layman.
We are encouraging ill people to stay away from toxic medicines like chemotherapy - why would we encourage them to put carcinogenic material in their bodies which are already battling disease, even in so-called negligible amounts? And although CO2 is considered safer than solvents, the equipment required to extract full strength oil is hugely expensive and the cheaper machines are not effective.
The focus of healing is on wholeness and wellness, and if this is not reflected in the medicine how can it reflect in the body?
The safest solvent for commercial full extraction intended for ingestion, according to S.A.C.C.R.A. standards set in consultation with industry experts, is potable alcohol i.e. up to max. 96.4% which also ensures an extract with a high terpene content. Absolute alcohol, sold as 99.9% often erroneously referred to as "food/medical grade" alcohol contains carcinogenic chemicals which concentrate in the extraction.
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The cost of properly extracted oil is extremely low relative to its value in creating results. So, if the possible cost is your life, or that of another, making considered and verified choices based on the available evidence, is what will work. For non-life threatening severe illness where medication will be chronic, tiny doses are taken so, although the doses may sound small, the concentration is huge compared to other extraction methods.