Abstract

Introduction: As the cannabis industry transitions from a black market to a legal market, product development, and
methods of extraction have become a focal point. To date, more than thousands of chemical constituents have been
identified from the cannabis plant, all of which possess different chemical properties that require different conditions
for preservation during drying and extraction. However, scientific publications that explore these areas for the can
nabis plant are currently lacking.
Method: This is a narrative review paper which focuses on critiquing drying and extraction methods of Cannabis
sativa L. plant. Relevant keywords such as medicinal cannabis, extraction, solvent, cannabinoids, and terpenes have
been searched in PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library (Wiley) databases.
Result: To find relevant papers for this narrative review, 93 papers have been reviewed. Among them, 12 irrelevant
papers were discarded. The excluded papers were either about hemp seed oil or hemp fiber and protein. Based on
this review, solvent extraction is the most common method for cannabis plants. Although solventless and hydrody
namic extraction are known for their high yield and feasibility, more investigation is needed in these areas. Regarding
the drying process, hang-drying is the most convenient method; however, it may be substituted by freeze-drying in
the near future.
Discussion: This review analyses various drying and extraction processes to guide the selection of suitable methods
for various types of cannabis products and applications. This is done by outlining traditional and modern methods of
drying techniques, exploring the importance of solvents for extraction, visiting solventless extraction procedures, and
f
inally comparing conventional and alternative methods of extraction.
Conclusion: In conclusion, based on the current knowledge, using organic solvents is the most convenient method
for medicinal cannabis extraction. However, more research is needed for some of the drying and extraction methods.
Also, developing a green and sustainable cannabis extraction method should be considered for future studies.