PROCESS FOR ISOLATION AND PURIFICATION OF THCA FROM CANNABIS

Processes are described for obtaining highly purified tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCa) from Cannabis. Solvent extraction is performed on plant material or extract, followed by removal of impurities using sequential liquid-liquid extractions to purify cannabinoid carboxylic acids therefrom based on chemical properties of carboxylate salts. The product liquor, comprising THCa in solvent, is largely free of impurities, and high in THCa. Further steps can be conducted to obtain a highly enriched solution using chromatography and subsequent crystallization of THCa in 99% purity. THCa can be used as starting material for other products that include THC by decarboxylation. Optionally, triglyceride extraction of a washed aqueous phase can be used to prepare a THCa composition without chromatographic purification. A pre-processing aqueous extraction with pH manipulations may be used to remove biomass prior to solvent extraction, while maintaining THCa and optionally other cannabinoid acids.