Cannabis testing focuses on harm reduction, by testing for unwanted pesticides, heavy metals and biological contamination. On one side, cannabinoid levels are precisely measured in the product. Although these final product tests miss one important aspect of cannabis consumption. The actual process of consumption. For inhalable products, like joints and vape cartridges, the dosing of cannabinoids and chemical changes during burning/vaporization are mostly unknow. We have developed a testing platform to quantify cannabinoid and terpene levels on a puff per puff basis. This setup also allows us to screen the aerosol and gas phase for potential toxicants present. We also looked at cannabinoid concentrations puff by puff, how those compare between joints and vapes, and how those levels change over the lifecycle of a product. In this talk we will present our findings from our latest vape and joint experiment and answer the longstanding question: Which part of a joint is the best to smoke? And, will cannabis kill you?

1. Tim Sun, Dr. Hart Plommer, Sajni Shah
Dr. Markus Roggen
Hot Topics and Hotboxing:
Latest Research on Cannabis
Aerosols

2. An Introduction
At 4:20, how perfect!

3. Let’s light one up for science
• ~209 mil. cannabis users globally
• Traditional joint smoking: Most common cannabis consumption
method (70%)
• Sales of pre-rolled joints doubled year over year
• Important to develop a reliable, consistent product
• Previous study: particle size affects joint qualitative smoking
experience
• Lack of quantitative research on smoking chemistry

4. Let’s light one up for science
• Study on flower particle size's impact on joint performance and
cannabinoid delivery
• Utilization of smoking machine to measure smoke aerosols at
three joint life stages
• Objective: Provide tools for cannabis pre-roll manufacturers to
control cannabinoid delivery and inform users about
consumption amounts
• Significant effects of particle size on cannabinoid delivery

5. Who are We?
DELIC Labs is a research venture that seeks to add fundamental
scientific insight to the field of cannabis and mushroom
production.
We seek to support the cannabis and mushroom industries by
establishing a centralized hub in Vancouver, BC, for collaborative
research focused on:
• Process Design
• Process Optimization
• Process Analytics
• Formulation Research

6. Collaborative Research
DELIC Labs collaborates with academic, industry and private
groups around the globe. Some highlights of those collaborations
are:
• University of British Columbia, Vancouver
• Loyalist College, Belleville
• Via Innovations by Dr. Monica Vialpando
• Verdient Science by Dr. Linda Klumpers
Fundamental Collaboration

7. • Chemometrics and data analytics for process control and
optimization
• Kinetic studies to understand mechanisms
• In-process analytics for process control
• Computational studies to understand mechanisms
• Process development, like crystallization
Fundamental Cannabis and Mushroom Chemistry
Research Topics

8. Abstract
• Investigated how particle size affects the quantity of
cannabinoids delivered via smoking
• 1-mm particle size yielded more potent puffs than 3- and 5-mm
particle sizes
• 5-mm particle size led to longer lasting joints regardless of
flower used
• Variability observed suggests the importance of improving joint
architecture for better consumer experiences

9. Experimental
We get paid to smoke joints.

10. Joint Preparation
• 3g of cannabis flower
ground using a
coffee grinder
• Separated into 1-, 3-,
and 5-mm particle
sizes
• Joints rolled with
approx. 0.5g of
flower
Joint # Sieve Size (mm) Flower Type Replicate # Paper Weight (g) Full Weight (g) Weed Weight (g) # of puffs
1 1 THC 1 0.2891 0.8158 0.5267 39 s
2 1 THC 2 0.2877 0.7833 0.4956 24 s
3 1 THC 3 0.2814 0.7729 0.4915 22 s
4 3 THC 1 0.2889 0.7767 0.4878 55 w
5 3 THC 2 0.2872 0.7975 0.5103 47 w
6 3 THC 3 0.2849 0.7966 0.5117 55 w
7 5 THC 1 0.2829 0.7816 0.4987 64 k
8 5 THC 2 0.2846 0.7878 0.5032 48 k
9 5 THC 3 0.2899 0.784 0.4941 50 m
10 1 CBD 1 0.2825 0.781 0.4985 18 s
11 1 CBD 2 0.2862 0.7839 0.4977 20 s
12 1 CBD 3 0.2821 0.7878 0.5057 18 s
13 3 CBD 1 0.2703 0.7683 0.4980 21 s
14 3 CBD 2 0.2867 0.7852 0.4985 24 s
15 3 CBD 3 0.2871 0.7893 0.5022 18 s
16 5 CBD 1 0.2898 0.7821 0.4923 33 s
17 5 CBD 2 0.2824 0.7778 0.4954 29 s
18 5 CBD 3 0.2924 0.7923 0.4999 28 s
1 2 3

11. Aerosol Sample Collection
• Using a Smoke Cycle Simulator from Cambustion
• Aerosols from three puffs collected on glass microfiber filters
• Three life stages of the joint: beginning, middle, and end

12. Quantitative Sample Analysis
• Filters extracted with MeOH
• Full decarboxylation observed
• Smoke temperature: 44˚C (111˚F) (lit.)
• THC b.p.: 157˚C at 0.05mmHg
• Myrcene b.p.: 167˚C at 1 atm
• Humulene b.p.: b.p.: 106˚C at 5 mmHg
y = 9.6898x - 19.996
R² = 0.9999
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Area
Concentration
THC Calibration Curve
y = 9.1806x - 9.4654
R² = 0.9997
0
100
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300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Area
Concentration
CBD Calibration Curve

14. Results
Now to the good part

15. • THC joints: 0.09 to 0.88mg/puff
• 1&3-mm joints ~50% increase in THC delivery
• 5-mm joint: 500% increase in THC delivery
• Highest delivery at end of a joint’s lifecycle
Effect of Particle Size on Cannabinoid Delivery
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
1.6
1 2 3
Mass
(mg)
Mass of THC delivered (per puff) from THC joints
THC 1-mm THC 3-mm THC 5-mm
• 1-mm joints delivered highest
avg. THC per puff, 0.67mg
• 5-mm joints delivered slightly
lower average at 0.51mg

16. Effect of Particle Size on Cannabinoid Delivery
• CBD joints: delivery ranged from 2.3 to 6.1mg/puff
• Similar quantities of CBD per puff for all particle sizes initially
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1 2 3
Mass
(mg)
Mass of CBD delivered (per puff) from CBD joints
CBD 1-mm CBD 3-mm CBD 5-mm

17. Cannabinoid Delivery Overall
• Smaller particle sizes delivered less cannabinoids overall
• THC: 1-&3-mm joints delivered 16-19mg THC, while 5-mm joint
delivered 28mg THC
• CBD: 1-&3-mm joints delivered around 90 mg, while 5-mm joint
delivered approx. 100mg CBD
0
20
40
60
80
100
Puff count cannabinoid/puff (mg*10) cannabinoid/joint (mg) % recovery
Summary of joint puff counts and cannabinoid delivery
THC 1-mm THC 3-mm THC 5-mm CBD 1-mm CBD 3-mm CBD 5-mm

18. Puff Count
• Smaller particle sizes burned readily, fewer puffs to finish
• THC: 1-mm joint smoked in half as many puffs as 3-&5-mm
joints
• CBD: 1-&3-mm joints took fewer puffs than 5-mm joint
0
20
40
60
80
100
Puff count cannabinoid/puff (mg*10) cannabinoid/joint (mg) % recovery
Summary of joint puff counts and cannabinoid delivery
THC 1-mm THC 3-mm THC 5-mm CBD 1-mm CBD 3-mm CBD 5-mm

19. Limitations & Future
March Madness Bracket of Joints

20. Open Questions
• Reproducibility and consistency is the goal
• Why are in-house made joints problematic?
• What are the main factors?
• Particle size
• Mixed particles
• Packing density
• Humidity
• Cannabinoid/Terpene concentration

21. Outlook
Upcoming experiments
• Infused Joints
• Kief rolled
• Oil infused
• Kief rolled + oil infused
• Terpene popper
• Spliff
• Cannabis mixed with tobacco
• In collaboration with Prof. Strongin (Portland State University)

22. Call to action
We need help to understand:
• Side stream
• Aerosol particle size
• Exhaust temperature
• Particles
• Beyond cannabinoids/terpenes

23. Summary
• Cannabinoid delivery is dependent on particle size of joints
• 1-mm particle size yield more potent puffs
• 5-mm particle size are longer lasting
• Large variability observed
• More CBD than THC is inhaled

24. Summary
• I get paid to smoke joints!
• And so can you!

25. Expertise
CSO: Dr. Markus Roggen
Dr. Roggen has been actively involved in the cannabis industry for over 5 years in executive positions
executive positions overseeing production, R&D and process optimization for multiple producers. Dr.
multiple producers. Dr. Roggen is also a trusted advisor and mentor for multiple startups, startup
startups, startup accelerators and organizations.
DELIC LabsTeam
Our team covers a wide range of expertise,
including analytical chemistry, process chemistry,
engineering physics, data science and statistics.
ScientificAdvisor: Prof.GlennSammis
Prof. Sammis is a Full Professor in the Chemistry Department at the University of British Columbia. He
has built an internationally recognized research group working on the development of novel synthetic
methods for the preparation of natural products and pharmaceuticals.

26. References
• https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/does-size-matter-for-performance-a-study-of-
how-particle-size-influences-joint-smoking
• Global overview of drug demand and drug supply. United Nations Office on Drug Demand
and Supply. 2022
• Canadian Cannabis Survey 2022: Summary. Health Canada
• Fire and Flower. (June 1, 2022). Pre-Roll Joint Sales Trends in Canada: 2022 Q1
Analysis/Comparison from https://fireandflower.com/blog/pre-roll-joint-sales-trends.
• Fritsch. (2021, June 17). The science behind the perfect joint. The Cannabis Scientist.
from https://thecannabisscientist.com/app-notes/the-science-behind-the-perfect-joint
• Roggen, M. 2021 ACS talk " Don’t hold your breath: Smoke and vaping studies on
cannabis products to quantify “quality.”
• Resnik, F.E., Houck, W.G., Geiszler, W.A., Wickham, J.E. Factors Affecting Static Burning
Rate. Tob Sci. 1977;26:103–107
• Justice, A., Roggen, M. (2019, June). White Ash vs. Black Ash. Cannabis Business
Times. from https://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/article/white-ash-vs-black-ash/