Smoking Substitute Consumable

This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP19/076688, filed Feb. 10, 2019; which claims benefit of GB Application No. 1816120.8, filed Oct. 3, 2018, and also claims benefit of GB Application No. 1817560.4, filed Oct. 29, 2018, and also claims the benefit of EP Application Serial No. 19020084.0, filed on Feb. 22, 2019. The entire content of International Application No. PCT/EP19/076688 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

The present disclosure relates to an article/consumable for use in a smoking substitute system and particularly, although not exclusively, to a heat-not-burn (HNB) consumable, wherein the article/consumable comprises shreds of plant material. The present disclosure also relates to a web of plant material, a method of forming the web of plant material and a method for forming the article/consumable.

Ingestion of the plant material,(also known as marijuana or hashish) is widely known for both medicinal and recreational purposes. In some countries, recreational use ofhas been legalized, or is officially tolerated.

comprises numerous (phyto-)cannabinoids some of which can act on human cannabinoid receptors (CBand CB) to affect physiological processes such as appetite, mood, stress response and muscular/joint pain relief.

Ingestion ofis typically through smoking (either alone or mixed with tobacco) and is considered to expose a smoker to potentially harmful substances. It is generally thought that a significant amount of the potentially harmful substances are generated through the heat caused by the burning and/or combustion of the(and tobacco) and the constituents of the burnt(and tobacco) in the smoke itself.

Conventionalsmoking articles often referred to as “joints” are typically rolled by hand by the user and comprise a roughly cylindrical wad of driedleaves/buds/flowers which is surrounded by a paper wrapper. A filter may or may not be included, axially aligned in an abutting relationship with the wrappedwad. A conventionalsmoking article of this type is used by lighting the end opposite to the filter, and burning thewad. The smoker receives mainstream smoke into their mouth by drawing on the filter end of the article.

Combustion of organic material suchis known to produce potentially harmful by-products. Furthermore, some medicinal effects ofare decreased by combustion which can deactivate certain cannabinoids. There have been proposed various smoking substitute systems (or “substitute smoking systems”) in order to avoid the smoking of

Smoking substitute systems forinclude heat-not-burn (HNB) systems in which a heater heats ground, chopped or loose leafplant material contained within a sealed container pod or capsule to produce an aerosol (also referred to as a “vapour”) that is drawn into the lungs through the mouth (inhaled) and then exhaled. The inhaled aerosol typically bears cannabinoids without, or with fewer of, the odour and health risks associated with traditionalsmoking.

However, these knownsmoking substitute systems do not provide a substitute for the rituals of smoking which is important especially for recreational users.

There is a need for improved design ofHNB smoking substitute systems to enhance the user experience.

The present disclosure has been devised in light of the above considerations.

At its most general, the present disclosure relates to an aerosol-forming article e.g. a consumable for use in a smoking substitute system and particularly, although not exclusively, to a heat-not-burn (HNB) consumable, wherein the article/consumable comprises a substrate having shreds of plant material comprising at least one cannabinoid. The present disclosure also relates to a web of plant material comprising at least one cannabinoid, a method for forming the web of plant material comprising at least one cannabinoid, and a method for forming the article.

Accordingly, in a first aspect, there is provided an aerosol-forming article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate formed of a plurality of longitudinally-aligned, elongate shreds of plant material, wherein the plant material comprises at least one cannabinoid.

By providing an article having a substrate formed of a plurality of longitudinally-aligned, elongate shreds of cannabinoid-containing plant material (e.g.), an elongate article resembling a conventional smoking article can be provided. Unlike the known pods containing ground, the elongated articles provide the user with an experience akin to a conventional smoking experience.

Optional features will now be set out. These are applicable singly or in any combination with any aspect.

The aerosol-forming substrate is capable of being heated to release at least one cannabinoid compound (e.g. a mixture of two or more cannabinoid compounds) that can form an aerosol.

Cannabinoid compounds include phyto-cannabinoids which include:

In some embodiments, the cannabinoid compound is selected from at least one of cannabidiol (CBD) and its derivatives/homologues e.g. cannabiodiol-Csubscript (CBD-C), cannabidiol-C(CBD-C), cannabidiol mono(m)ethyl ether (CBDM-C), cannabidivarin (CBDV-C), cannabidiorcol (CBD-C), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA-C), cannabidivarinic acid (CBDVA-C).

In some embodiments, the cannabinoid compound is selected from at least one of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and its derivatives/homologues, e.g. Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-THC-C/cis-Δ-THC-C), Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-THC-C), Δ-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid A (Δ-THCA-CA), Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol-C(Δ-THC-C), Δ-tetrahydrocannabivarin (Δ-THCV-C), Δ-tetrahydrocannabiorcol (Δ-THCO-C), Δ-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid A (Δ-THCA-CA), Δ-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid B (Δ-THCA-CB), Δ-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid-CA and/or B (Δ-THCA-CA and/or B), Δ-tetrahydrocannabivarinic acid A (Δ-THCVA-CA), Δ-tetrahydrocannabiorcolic acid A and/or B (Δ-THCOA-C1 A and/or B), isotetrahydrocannabinol and isotetrahydrocannabivarin.

The total amount of cannabinoid compounds in the substrate may be at least 200 mg; for example, it may be at least 250 mg, at least 300 mg, at least 400 mg, at least 500 mg. In some cases, lower amounts may be preferred. The total amount of cannabinoid compounds in the substrate may therefore be at least 10 mg, at least 20 mg, at least 30 mg, at least 40 mg, at least 50 mg, at least 75 mg, at least 100 mg.

In some cases, it may be desirable to limited the total amount of cannabinoid compounds, which may be not more than 200 mg, not more than 175 mg, not more than 150 mg, not more than 125 mg, not more than 100 mg, not more than 75 mg, not more than 50 mg, not more than 40 mg, not more than 30 mg, not more than 20 mg, not more than 10 mg. In some cases, the total amount of the cannabinoid compounds may be not more than 5 mg.

Where THC is included, either as one cannabinoid compound in a mixture or as the only cannabinoid, the total of amount of THC may be limited. In some cases, the total amount of THC in the substrate is not more than 100 mg, not more than 75 mg, not more than 50 mg, not more than 40 mg, not more than 30 mg, not more than 20 mg, not more than 15 mg, not more than 10 mg, not more than 5 mg, not more than 3 mg. In some cases, the amount of THC may be 0.1 to 30 mg, for example 1 to 30 mg, for example 1 to 20 mg, for example 1 to 10 mg, for example 1 to 5 mg, for example 1 to 3 mg.

The cannabinoid-containing plant material may compriseplant material including for example,

indica and

The cannabinoid-containing plant material may comprise, or. This also includes blends of the above mentioned plant material.

Preferably the cannabinoid-containing plant material is. The cannabinoid-containing plant material may comprise one or more of leaf, homogenisedor reconstituted(e.g. slurry recon or paper recon).

The cannabinoid-containing (e.g.) plant may be a traditional strain, or may be a strain bred or other modified (e.g. genetically) to produce certain levels of some cannabinoids compounds, e.g. low levels of THC or high levels of THC.

Any suitable parts of the cannabinoid-containing plant may be used. Thus the cannabinoid-containing plant material may comprise leaves, stems, roots, bark, seeds, buds and flowers (which may be cured).

The plant material preferably comprisesplant material (such as that described above) as a major component i.e. the plant material preferably comprises at least 40 wt %plant material, e.g. at least 50 wt %plant material or at least 60 wt %plant material such as at least 70 wt % or 80 wt %

plant material, for example at least 90 wt %plant material. In some embodiments, the plant material in the substrate is exclusively (i.e. 100 wt %)plant material.

The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise at least 50 wt % plant material, e.g. at least 60 wt % plant material e.g. around 65 wt % plant material. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise 80 wt % or less plant material e.g. 75 or 70 wt % or less plant material.

The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise gathered shreds of cannabinoid-containing (e.g.) plant material formed from a sheet/web of homogenized (e.g. paper/slurry recon) cannabinoid-containing (e.g.) plant material.

In some embodiments, the sheet/web of cannabinoid-containing (e.g.) plant material used to form the aerosol-forming substrate has a sheet weight (grammage) greater than or equal to 100 g/m, e.g. greater than or equal to 110 g/msuch as greater than or equal to 120 g/m.

The sheet/web of cannabinoid-containing (e.g.) plant material may have a grammage of less than or equal to 300 g/m, e.g. less than or equal to 250 g/mor less than or equal to 200 g/m.

The sheet/web of cannabinoid-containing (e.g.) plant material may have a grammage of between 120 and 190 g/m.

In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate may be formed from a sheet/web of cannabinoid-containing (e.g.) plant material having a plurality of first elongate shreds and a plurality of second elongate shreds, each first shred having longitudinal edges spaced by a first transverse width and each second shred having longitudinal edges spaced by a second transverse width, wherein the first transverse width is different to the second transverse width. Such a web is described below in more detail.

In these embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises a plurality of first elongate shreds of plant material and a plurality of second elongate shreds of plant material, each first shred having longitudinal edges spaced by a first transverse width and each second shred having longitudinal edges spaced by a second transverse width, wherein the first transverse width is different to the second transverse width and wherein the first and/or second shreds is/are formed of the cannabinoid-containing (e.g.) plant material.

The first shreds may be interspersed with the second shreds in a way that the first and second shreds are distributed generally evenly throughout the substrate. That is, the number (and/or weight and/or volume) of first shreds may be substantially equal to the number (and/or weight and/or volume) of second shreds throughout the aerosol-forming substrate.

The first and second shreds may be unevenly distributed throughout the substrate. For example, a first region of the substrate may comprise a greater proportion (e.g. by number) of first shreds than of the second shreds. The first region of the substrate may comprise a greater proportion, by weight, volume and/or by number, of first shreds than of the second shreds. The first region may predominantly, or solely, comprise first shreds (i.e. the first region may not comprise any second shreds). The first region may be at, or proximate to, a periphery of the substrate.

The aerosol-forming substrate may further comprise a second region comprising a greater proportion of second shreds than of the first shreds. The second region of the substrate may comprise a greater proportion, by weight, volume and/or number, of second shreds than of the first shreds. The second region may predominantly, or solely, comprise second shreds (i.e. the second region may not comprise any first shreds). The second region may be disposed at a central, axial portion of the substrate, which is spaced from a periphery of the substrate.

The differences in the composition of the first and second regions may result in different (e.g. heat transfer) characteristics at those regions. Thus, the regions may be positioned so as to provide a desired effect in regards to e.g. transfer of heat. For example, it may be desirable to have a consistent temperature across the substrate when heated. In this case, regions that are proximate to a heating element (when positioned in the substrate) may be formed in such a way that they transfer heat more rapidly (e.g. to regions that are distal from the heating element).

Where the substrate is cylindrical, the first region may extend circumferentially and proximate to a 20 circumferential surface of the cylinder (i.e. such that the first region has a generally tubular shape). The second region may extend along a substantially central axis of the cylinder, (i.e. so as to define a core of a generally cylindrical shape). In this respect, the proportion of first shreds relative to the second shreds may vary in a radial direction of the substrate. In some cases, wider shreds may result in wider air paths (i.e. formed between the shreds) in the substrate, which may lead to a cooler portion of the substrate where the wider shreds are located. Where the wider shreds are located at the outer (peripheral) portion of the substrate, the outer portion (and outer surface) of the substrate may be cooler.

Alternatively or additionally, the proportion of first shreds relative to the second shreds may vary in an axial direction with respect to the substrate. In this case, the first region of the substrate (having a greater proportion of first shreds) and the second region of the substrate (having greater proportion of second shreds) will be axially adjacent one another. For example, the first region may be at the axial upstream end of the substrate and the second region may be at the axial downstream end of the substrate.

The variation of the proportion of the first and second shreds (e.g. radially or axially) may vary gradually, or may vary abruptly.

There may be an intermediate region containing an equal proportion, by weight, volume and/or number of first and second shreds. This may be radially interposed between the radially segregated first and second regions or axially interposed between the axially segregated first and second regions.

The first transverse width may be greater than the second transverse width. Alternatively, the second transverse width may be greater than the first transverse width.

The ratio of the greater of the first and second transverse width to the lesser of the first and second transverse width may be between 1.5:1 and 3:1. The ratio may be between 1.5:1 and 2.5:1. Preferably, the ratio is 2:1.

The lesser of the first and second transverse width may be between 0.5 mm and 2 mm, preferably between 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm, e.g. around 1 mm. The greater of the first and second transverse width may be between 1.5 mm and 3 mm, preferably, between 1.8 mm and 2.2 mm, e.g. around 2 mm.

The aerosol-forming substrate may further comprise any number of pluralities of further shreds having a further transverse width different to both the first and second transverse widths. In this respect, the aerosol forming substrate may comprise any number of further regions, each further region have a greater proportion of further shreds.

In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate may be formed from a sheet/web of cannabinoid-containing (e.g.) plant material having a plurality of longitudinally-extending shreds wherein there is a plurality of transverse bridge portions each extending between and joining two or more of the shreds, wherein none of the bridge portions extend across the entire transverse width of the web. Such a web is described below in more detail.