This article is part of the Mendo Education Series and is intended to help members better understand cannabis products, production methods and member considerations.

Minor cannabinoids such as CBN and CBG are appearing in a growing range of Canadian cannabis formulations, but understanding what they are, how they are formulated and how they differ from THC and CBD can still be challenging.

Mendo Medical recently spoke with Desirée Di Savino of Purileaf about the company’s history in cannabis extraction, its approach to minor cannabinoids, product development and why Desirée believes the medical cannabis channel remains important.

The conversation also explored an issue that comes up frequently for medical cannabis members: consistency. For Purileaf, that includes consistency in manufacturing, formulation and the availability of established product formats.

Watch the Full Interview

Watch the complete conversation with Desirée Di Savino of Purileaf on the Mendo Medical YouTube channel to hear the discussion about minor cannabinoids, extraction, product development, consistency and the role of Canada’s medical cannabis channel in full.

From Cannabis Retail to Cannabinoid Education

Desirée’s cannabis industry experience began in January 2020 at Tokyo Smoke, where she worked at one of Ontario’s early legal cannabis retail stores.

At the time, THC-dominant products received much of the attention from consumers. Desirée became increasingly interested in CBD and began learning about the different products available in the category.

That interest eventually followed her into the brand and manufacturing side of the industry, including roles with MediPharm Labs and Aspire before joining Purileaf.

Working with minor cannabinoids, she explains, requires a different type of product education.

“I think working in the minor cannabinoid space, you kind of have to have a greater depth of understanding.”

Her work today involves helping communicate what cannabinoids such as CBD, CBN and CBG are, how Purileaf formulates products containing them and where they fit within the company’s different brands.

Purileaf’s Background in Cannabis Extraction

Purileaf operates as both a cannabis manufacturer and extraction company.

According to Desirée, Purileaf was among the first five extraction-only licence holders in Canada. In addition to manufacturing products for its own portfolio, the company provides cannabinoid extraction services to other licensed producers.

That work has given the company experience developing extracts to meet different specifications.

Desirée says Purileaf also dedicates resources to continually reviewing its manufacturing processes, including opportunities to reduce waste and remove unnecessary production steps.

For members interested in understanding where a cannabis product comes from, this part of the supply chain can be important. Extraction, formulation and manufacturing decisions all occur before a finished product reaches a medical cannabis platform.

Why Purileaf Focuses on Consistency

Cannabis companies frequently introduce new cultivars, formulations, flavours and formats.

Purileaf has taken a somewhat different approach with parts of its portfolio.

Desirée points to NightNight as an example. At the time of the interview, she said the brand had gone approximately four years without adding a new product to its core lineup.

Rather than continually changing established formulations, Purileaf has placed an emphasis on maintaining products that members and consumers already recognize.

“Consistency across our portfolio, consistency within each product is so important to us.”

For medical cannabis members, consistency can have particular significance. A familiar product changing its formulation, cannabinoid ratio or format can make it more difficult to understand what has changed from one product to another.

Members should still review the label each time they receive a cannabis product, as cannabinoid content and formulations can vary between products and brands.

Understanding the Purileaf Brand Portfolio

One of the more interesting aspects of Purileaf’s portfolio is how its brands are organized.

Rather than primarily segmenting products according to price, Desirée explains that Purileaf has organized several of its brands around particular cannabinoids.

NightNight and CBN

NightNight focuses primarily on formulations containing CBN, or cannabinol.

Purileaf also uses the KO by NightNight name for certain formulations containing THC alongside other cannabinoids.

DayDay and CBG

DayDay focuses primarily on CBG, or cannabigerol.

Some DayDay formulations are designed without THC, while products under the related Elevate by DayDay name incorporate THC into multi-cannabinoid formulations.

Frank and CBD

Frank is Purileaf’s CBD-focused brand.

Desirée describes its formulations as intentionally straightforward, including products made using CBD isolate and MCT oil.

Across the portfolio, Purileaf works with several formats, including oils, capsules and inhaled formats. Availability and specific formulations may vary.

“You choose by need state rather than by price.”

This structure is intended to make the primary cannabinoid focus easier to identify while providing different formats and formulations within each brand.

Why Reading the Cannabis Label Matters

One of the most practical points raised during the conversation was also one of the simplest: read the label.

A product associated with CBN, CBG or CBD does not necessarily contain only that cannabinoid.

Depending on the formulation, it may also contain THC or additional cannabinoids.

This distinction can be especially important for members who are trying to limit or avoid THC because of its intoxicating effects.

Understanding the cannabinoid amounts and ratios in a product is therefore an important part of understanding what you are taking.

For medical cannabis members who are unsure how to interpret a label or cannabinoid ratio, discussing the product with a qualified healthcare professional can provide additional context.

How Purileaf Approaches Product Development

According to Desirée, Purileaf’s product development process often begins with feedback from consumers and cannabis professionals rather than simply developing a formulation and finding an audience afterward.

“The consumer is generally, in my experience so far, where that conversation starts.”

She gives the example of a standalone CBN oil developed after the company heard requests for a formulation that could provide CBN without requiring a predetermined combination with another cannabinoid.

From there, the company considers formulation, packaging, cannabinoid ratios, terpene profiles and other manufacturing decisions.

Desirée also described Purileaf using consumer modelling during product development to better understand how different cannabinoid and terpene formulations may align with consumer needs.

This type of modelling does not establish clinical effectiveness, but it provides an example of the tools that can be incorporated into formulation research and development before a commercial product is finalized.

Understanding CBD Dosing

The interview included a broader conversation about CBD dosage and the significant differences between CBD and THC.

Desirée advocates for considering the lowest effective dose rather than assuming that more of a cannabinoid is automatically preferable.

The conversation also referenced substantially higher CBD quantities than many consumers may associate with cannabis products.

It is important to distinguish this discussion from individualized medical advice. There is no single appropriate CBD dose for every person or medical situation. Factors such as medications, medical history, formulation and individual response can matter.

Members considering cannabis for a medical purpose should discuss dosing and possible drug interactions with a qualified healthcare professional rather than relying on a generalized dosage mentioned in an interview.

Why the Medical Cannabis Channel Still Matters

One of the strongest parts of the conversation centred on the distinction between cannabis retail and medical cannabis care.

People may enter recreational cannabis stores with questions involving sleep, pain, medications, mental health or other medical concerns.

Desirée argues that these questions can quickly move beyond the appropriate scope of recreational cannabis retail staff.

“You are not doctors.”

Her point is not a criticism of budtenders. It is recognition that evaluating medical history, medications, potential interactions and individualized dosing requires appropriate clinical expertise.

Desirée believes access to qualified medical professionals remains an important component of Canada’s cannabis framework.

“We need that filter desperately.”

For Mendo Medical, this distinction is equally important. Product education can help members understand cannabinoids, formats and manufacturing processes, but it does not replace individualized medical advice.

Members with questions about how cannabis may interact with existing medications, medical conditions or treatment plans should discuss those questions with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

What’s Next for Purileaf?

Desirée also discussed several formulations being developed or introduced across the Purileaf portfolio at the time of recording.

These included new capsule formats, higher-concentration formulations and products combining CBD, CBN and CBG in different ratios.

Among the products discussed were Elevate by DayDay capsules containing CBD, THC and CBG, Frank CBD capsules, a NightNight CBN and CBD capsule formulation, and DayDay Ultra, a higher-concentration CBG and CBD formulation.

Desirée also mentioned ongoing development work at Frank but deliberately avoided providing details until Purileaf completes its testing.

That restraint reflects another recurring theme in the interview: claims should follow evidence rather than precede it.

“We are not going to make a promise that it’s going to work the way that we think it will.”

For members following developments in minor cannabinoids, that may be the more important takeaway. New cannabinoids, ratios and formats create additional areas for research and education, but product innovation should not be confused with evidence of a particular medical outcome.

Key Takeaways

• Purileaf has a long history in Canadian cannabis extraction and, according to Desirée, was among Canada’s first five extraction-only licence holders.
• The company manufactures cannabinoid extracts for its own portfolio and provides extraction services to other licensed producers.
• Purileaf organizes several brands around cannabinoid focus, including NightNight for CBN, DayDay for CBG and Frank for CBD.
• Cannabis products associated with a particular minor cannabinoid can still contain THC or other cannabinoids, making label reading important.
• Purileaf emphasizes consistency in formulation and manufacturing rather than continually changing established products.
• Product development can incorporate consumer feedback, formulation research and computer modelling.
• There is no universal CBD dose appropriate for every member. Individual medical guidance is important.
• Desirée sees the medical cannabis channel as an important place for conversations involving medications, medical history, dosing and potential interactions.

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