CannabIP: U.S. Patent No. 9,981,886 B2

Cannabis IP patent

U.S. Patent No. 9,981,886 B2 issued on May 29, 2018, for “Fertilizer.”  It was issued to applicant Acupac Packaging, Inc., of Mahwah, New Jersey, and inventors Banak Ghalili of New York, New York, and Michael Borja of Mahwah, New Jersey.  The specification discloses a composition of fertilizer material that comprises an SAP, or superabsorbent polymer, in addition to, either alone or together, CBD oil, THC oil, and/or hemp oil derivatives.  The novelty aspect of this invention that includes various aspects of the cannabis plant, combined with fertilizer, is to encourage moisture in the plant during dry periods, as well as provide adsorption of antimicrobial and nutrient abilities to the plant.  The independent claim 1 is directed to a composition comprising an 80 – 98.0% base fertilizer, with 1.0 – 5.0% NaCMC (Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, a rheology modifier), 0.01 – 0.20% CBD oil, and a CBD slow release layer.  Independent claim 8 is directed to a method of using this fertilizer composition.  There are numerous embodiments also disclosed in the specification.

No drawings were submitted to illustrate the invention.

The International Patent Classification is C05G, for mixtures or fertilizers covered individually by different subclasses (i.e., mixtures of fertilizers with materials not having specific fertilizing activity, e.g., pesticides, soil-conditioners, or wetting agents, etc.).

Acupac is general purpose packaging company with for medical and personal care use.  For now, the patent landscape for drug manufacturers still favors the boutique cannapharma company.  The types of patents that are available in the cannabis industry is diverse.  The ‘886 patent demonstrates this capacity.  More cannabis technology is expected to begin the patenting process as various federal agencies become friendlier to adult-use cannabis, both in research and recreational use.

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