Cannabinoid contents in cannabis products seized in São Paulo, Brazil, 2006–2007

Abstract

in the tropical regions of South America such as Peru and Brazil. It is one of the oldest cultivated nonfood plants. More than 400 compounds have been isolated from different parts of cannabis plants and approximately 60 of them are cannabinoids or terpenic substances similar to Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ 9 -THC) [1]. The only cannabinoids recognized by their psychoactive properties are Δ 9 -THC, Δ 8 -THC, and Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabivarin (Δ 9 -THCV). Nevertheless, except for Δ 9 -THC, other active constituents are not present in signifi cant concentrations in the plants and probably do not contribute to the effects of Cannabis [2]. Nonactive cannabinoids tend to be present in signifi cant amounts, including cannabinol (CBN) and cannabidiol (CBD); the concentrations of every cannabinoid can vary depending on genetic factors, environmental conditions of the cultivation, the time of harvest, and other factors such as drying and storage conditions [3,4].On the basis of cannabinoid contents, cannabis plants are divided into "fi ber type" and "drug type." Applying a general formula for the percentage of the three main cannabinoids, it is possible to obtain the "phenotypic ratio," which can be used for the classifi cation of the plant [5]:Phenotypic ratio -THC %CBN %CBD = + %Δ 9 A phenotypic ratio greater than 1 indicates drug type. For forensic applications, there is a general consensus that a cannabis plant is defi ned as drug type when its leaves and infl orescences present a Δ 9 -THC content not lower than 0.5% [5].Gas chromatography (GC) and liquid chromatography (LC) coupled or not coupled with mass spectrometry Abstract A rapid and simple method was optimized for determination of Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ 9 -THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabinol (CBN) contents in cannabis products by gas chromatography with fl ameionization detection (GC-FID), using diazepam as internal standard. All parameters of validation of the method such as linearity, intraassay precision, and limits of detection and quantifi cation of the analytes were satisfactory. Using the described method, cannabinoid contents of 55 cannabis product samples seized in São Paulo City, Brazil, in 2006 and 2007 were measured. Δ 9 -THC content in marijuana and hashish samples varied between 0.08% and 5.5%, with an average of 2.5%. The phenotypic ratio showed that the products were able to be designated as "drug type."

Color determination method and evaluation of methods for the detection of cannabinoids by thin‐layer chromatography (TLC)

“…Diazepam is widely used in GC and LC as an internal standard [31][32][33][34]. Diazepam, a non-cannabinoid substance bearing electron-rich benzene rings, could react with the Fast Blue reagents to give intensely colored products.…”

The contribution of cannabis use to variation in the incidence of psychotic disorder across Europe (EU-GEI): a multicentre case-control study

“…We included six measures of cannabis use in the initial analyses, including lifetime cannabis use (ie, whether or not the individual had ever used cannabis), currently using cannabis, age at first use of cannabis, 16 lifetime frequency of use (ie, the frequency that characterised the individual's most consistent pattern of use), and money spent weekly on cannabis during their most consistent pattern of use. Using data published in the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction 2016 report 17 that reported the concentration of Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the types of cannabis available across Europe, supplemented by national data for each included country, 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 we created the final measure of cannabis potency ( appendix ).…”

Potency Trends of Δ9‐THC and Other Cannabinoids in Confiscated Cannabis Preparations from 1993 to 2008*

“…The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Potency Monitoring (PM) program at the National Center for Natural Products Research, University of Mississippi, provides analytical potency data on cannabis preparations seized in the United States, including both domestic and nondomestic material (25–28). A survey of the literature reporting similar programs in other countries revealed a number of comprehensive studies, e.g., England (2004–2005) (29), Brazil (2006–2007) (30), Netherlands (1999–2007) (31–34), Italy (1997–2004) (35), New Zealand (1976–1996) (36), and Australia (37), as well as a number of general reviews pertaining to cannabis potency trends (1,2,21,22,32,38,39).…”