This contains misinformation. CBG-acid (cannabigerolic acid) is the biosynthetic precursor to THC-acid CBC acid and CBD acid. CBN is a break down product of THC. THey are not terpeneds but terpenophenolics. THC-acid and other cannabinoid acids convert when heated to neutral form which is what gets you high.

>OK, now that I have my copy of "Dr. Atomic's Marijuana Multiplier" in
>front of me, I see that he used Sulfuric acid, not HCl. Isomerization
>coverts cannabidiol and weak THCs to yer favorite #9. Anywhere from
>double to 5 times original potency.

per Cannabis Alchemy,

Cannabidiol
|
| Heat and
| H+ (from the acid)
|
\ /

Delta-9 THC (using formal numbering)
Delta-1 THC (using monoterpenoid numbering)
|
| Heat and
| H+ (from a stronger acid acting longer)
|
\ /

Delta-6 THC (aka Delta-8 THC -- depends on the numbering system used)


This Delta-6 THC is a higher-rotating form of tetrahydrocannabinol.
D. Gold (author of Cannabis Alchemy) suggests that the higher-rotating
forms "are more potent than the low-rotating and produce a higher,
more psychedelic and spritual effect." He notes a study done by
Mechoulan (1970) which showed little difference between the
pharmacological effects of Delta-9 and Delta-6. I'll leave it to
the reader to experiment for him/herself.

The "rotating" spoken of here refers to the relative positions of
the double bonding in the THC molecule. [chemists out there feel
free to chime in...]

The first reaction, Cannabidiol --> Delta-9 THC, is, I think, what
is generally referred to as isomerization. This can occur in an
absolute ethanol solution with .05% HCL boiled for 2 hours (the
"hash" oil is in solution in the ethanol, obviously). The
increase in potency you'll get depends on the relative amounts of
Cannabidiol and THC in the original oil. If there were 1 part
THC and 1 part Cannabidiol, then you might expect a doubling of
potency after isomerization.

The second reaction, Delta-1/9 --> Delta-6/8, is an additional step to
get the allegedly more potent higher-rotating form of THC. It requires
more vigorous conditions. D. Gold notes that in a toluene solution
with p-toluenesulfonic acid for 10 hours at 100 degrees C there is a
90% conversion rate of Delta-1 to Delta-6 (the THC/hash oil is in
solution in the toluene).

Gold also gives a discussion about producing THC acetate, which he
says has *twice* the potency of regular THC. It's very involved,
and potentially hazardous...

"Dissolve the hash oil in absolute ethanol or pure methanol in the ratio
of one gram extract to ten grams solvent.
There must be no water in this solution, as the next step is the addition of one drop of 100%
sulfuric acid per gram of extract. Add the acid slowly, drop by drop,
stirring slowly and completely, with a long glass stirring rod.
Place a Pyrex pot containing the extract-alcohol-acid solution into the refluxing apparatus
and reflux for two hours. The acid will not evaporate and will remain in the Pyrex pot.
Allow to cool. Take the cooled solution, pour with an equal volume of water and 1/2 volume of
petroleum ether into the ether-extraction apparatus (separation funnel).
Allow to settle, and drain the ether extract layer. This leaves an ether-extract-acid mix
from which the acid must be purged.

To accomplish this, pour the ether-extract-solution into four volumes of 5%
sodium bicarbonate solution (1 gram bicarb. in 20 grams of water).
This will neutralize the acid, releasing CO2 and leaving a solution of sodium
sulphate. Allow this to settle into layers, then drain the ether-extract layer.
Mix the ether-extract solution with an equal volume of pure water and let it separate.
Drain off the ether-extract layer.
Evaporate the ether and what remains is hash oil in which all of the cannabinoids
have been converted into THC."

Dissolve the extract in 10 times its own weight in ether. SLOWLY, add one drop
of sulfuric acid for each gram of extract, stirring with a glass rod. Heat as
in the initial extraction, with the jar covered by a watchglass. Cook two
hours, stirring occasionally, and allow to cool.

Mix the solution with an equal volume of cold water and one-half its volume of
cold ether, and repeat the shaking and separation steps. Take extract and
slowly add the calcined ash from the first extraction. Stir it all in, and run
the solution through filter paper to strain the ash sediment out. Check for
any remaining acid by adding a small pinch of sodium bicarbonate (baking
soda). If the solution fizzes, keep adding bicarb very slowly until fizzing
stops.

Add fresh water and ether, shake and separate. Cook at 104F until the ether is
evaporated. Voila! You now have essence of cannabis, which can contain
anywhere from 85 to 99 percent THC.

Naptha would work fine however It has to be an acid that is soluble in naptha. These are hard to get unless you have access to a chem lab. The two acids I stated above are the two most common (p-toluenesulfonic acid or triflueoracetic acid) because of the difficulty in obtaining these SWIM may have to work with the alcohol and HCL or H2SO4.

It has been SWIMs dream to move to cali or the netherlands and extract and isolate each of the 60 plus cannabinoids in sufficient quantities and ingest each and everyone to determine psycho-activity. Different cannabis strains certainly has unique types of highs which are determined by the ratios and levels of various cannabinoids not just THC.

"Anhydrous Ethanol

Traces of water removed from E85 (ethanol denatured with gasoline) by standing over activated 3A sieves overnight followed by fractional distillation through ~6' vigreux column. No low boilers- Tight boiling range (76 to 78 C).

Purity 90 to 95%. Suitable for most laboratory applications requiring anhydrous ethanol."

I think this is just in reference to denatured alcohol. This is the stuff they sell at hardware stores it is 95 plus % pure EtOH however they add some hydrocarbon solvents to prevent people from abusing it (there are likely other reasons but this is what SWIM has heard about). You would not have to add gasoline to your ethanol to perform the drying process. But you could use denatured alcohol from hardware store.