The legalization of cannabis for medical and recreational
use has
created global legal markets, resulting in economic growth and job
opportunities. Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and
the nonpsychoactive cannabidiol (CBD) are the primary bioactive compounds
from the plant Cannabis sativa and sensors for their
detection are vital for monitoring the effects on patients, understanding
strain effects, and ensuring accurate potency information. Current
detection methods require specialized facilities, making low-cost
hand-held sensors desirable for public safety, regulatory compliance,
and industry efficiency. Electrical sensors, such as organic thin-film
transistors (OTFTs), offer advantages over optical sensors, and metal
phthalocyanines (MPcs) show promise as an active semiconducting sensing
material. Through both molecular interactions and thin film reorganization,
MPc-based OTFTs have been demonstrated to enable the detection and
differentiation of THC and CBD both in the vapor and solution. This
spotlight article discusses recent advances in the discovery and optimization
of MPc based THC and CBD OTFT sensors and highlights their promising
future.