Determination of cannabinoids in hair: Indicators for illegal vs CBD-rich cannabis use

Casati, Sara; Angeli, I; Bergamaschi, Roberta F; Ravelli, Alessandro; Colombo, Gaia; Binelli, Giorgio; Minoli, Mauro; Orioli, Marica

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2022.111237

Cited by 7 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Cannabinoids analysis was assessed by previously published methods. 12 Briefly, an aliquot of 50 mg of industrial hemp resin, brought at the Forensic Toxicology Lab of University of Milan by a retailer, were extracted with 5 mL hexane and sonicated (ca. 20 min at room temperature).…”

Section: Cannabinoids Analysis Of Two Industrial Hemp Resin By Gc-msmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…13 Our GC-MS routine method for cannabinoids determination was adapted for HHC analysis. 12 HHC analysis was performed on an Agilent 6890 Plus gas chromatograph interfaced with a single quadrupole 5973 N detector (Palo Alto, CA, USA). The GC separation was carried out on an Agilent capillary column CP sil 8 CB (15 m x 0.25 mm i.d., 0.25 µm film thickness) using the following conditions: from 120 °C to 200 °C at 40 °C/min, then to 250 °C at 6 °C/min and finally to 300 °C at 60 °C/min; injector temperature: 280 °C; ion source temperature: 230 °C; carrier gas (helium) flow 1.1 mL/min; injection mode: splitless; injection volume: 0.2 μL; run time: 13 min; mass spectrometer mode: electron ionization by Single Reaction Monitoring (SIM) mode, using the target and qualifier ions shown in Table 1.…”

Section: Hhcs Confirmation Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In our laboratory, we analyzed two samples of hemp-derived resin brought by a retailer for the determination and quantification of the main cannabinoids by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. 12 We noticed interfering compounds at  9 -THC retention time so we decided to investigate their nature and structures. The aim of this work was the identification, the obtaining of reference standards by a semisynthetic and isolation approach and the quantification of (9R)-or (9S)-HHC by a developed and validated GC-MS method.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hexahydrocannabinol on the Light Cannabis Market: The Latest “New” Entry

Casati

Rota

Bergamaschi

et al. 2024

Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research

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Hexahydrocannabinols (HHCs), referred to (9R)-HHC and (9S)-HHC diastereoisomers, are low-studied cannabinoids naturally found in small concentrations in the pollen and the seeds of the hemp plants. Despite the lack of in-depth studies about HHCs activity, potency, toxicity, and safety, these cannabinoids are emerging on the light-cannabis (hemp) market probably because legislations still do not clearly regulate them. Here, we describe for the first time the finding of HHCs (42% of (9R)-HHC and 24% of (9S)-HHC) in two samples of hemp-derived resin. The achievement of reference standards by semi-synthetic or isolation approach allows us to develop and validate a gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method for the identification and quantification of HHCs in hemp-derived products. A thorough investigation could be carried out to reveal the possible addition of "new" compounds that might be a matter of safety.

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Section: Cannabinoids Analysis Of Two Industrial Hemp Resin By Gc-msmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Hhcs Confirmation Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hexahydrocannabinol on the Light Cannabis Market: The Latest “New” Entry

Casati

Rota

Bergamaschi

et al. 2024

Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research

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“…Since the discovery of major cannabinoids from C. sativa L., various forensic analytical tools and protocols have been introduced for the detection, classification, and quantification of naturally occurring cannabinoids ( Grijó et al, 2018 ; Ramirez et al, 2019 ; Baranauskaite et al, 2020 ; Moreno et al, 2020 ; Nuapia et al, 2020 ; Gerace et al, 2021 ; Casati et al, 2022 ). Furthermore, numerous tools and protocols for the extraction cannabinoids from human specimens such as hair, urine, blood, and saliva have also been implemented.…”

Section: Cannabis In Human Specimensmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, new studies have been conducted to create new lines of inquiry for the use of hair to detect THC. A recent forensic study evaluated statistical differences in the CBD/THC ratio in scalp hair samples from 127 individual who reported chronic drug abuse versus samples from industrial hemp growers and seized materials ( Casati et al, 2022 ). Gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and GC–MS were used to determine metabolic ratios capable of discriminating THC- and CBD-rich cannabis in marijuana consumers’ hair samples.…”

Section: Cannabis In Human Specimensmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bridging Disciplines: Applications of Forensic Science and Industrial Hemp

2022

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Forensic laboratories are required to have analytical tools to confidently differentiate illegal substances such as marijuana from legal products (i.e., industrial hemp). The Achilles heel of industrial hemp is its association with marijuana. Industrial hemp from the Cannabis sativa L. plant is reported to be one of the strongest natural multipurpose fibers on earth. The Cannabis plant is a vigorous annual crop broadly separated into two classes: industrial hemp and marijuana. Up until the eighteenth century, hemp was one of the major fibers in the United States. The decline of its cultivation and applications is largely due to burgeoning manufacture of synthetic fibers. Traditional composite materials such as concrete, fiberglass insulation, and lumber are environmentally unfavorable. Industrial hemp exhibits environmental sustainability, low maintenance, and high local and national economic impacts. The 2018 Farm Bill made way for the legalization of hemp by categorizing it as an ordinary agricultural commodity. Unlike marijuana, hemp contains less than 0.3% of the cannabinoid, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive compound which gives users psychotropic effects and confers illegality in some locations. On the other hand, industrial hemp contains cannabidiol found in the resinous flower of Cannabis and is purported to have multiple advantageous uses. There is a paucity of investigations of the identity, microbial diversity, and biochemical characterizations of industrial hemp. This review provides background on important topics regarding hemp and the quantification of total tetrahydrocannabinol in hemp products. It will also serve as an overview of emergent microbiological studies regarding hemp inflorescences. Further, we examine challenges in using forensic analytical methodologies tasked to distinguish legal fiber-type material from illegal drug-types.

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External hair contamination from cannabis and “light cannabis” delivered by smoking and vaping: An in vitro study

Giorgetti,

Fais,

Pascali

et al. 2023

Drug Testing and Analysis

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External contamination of hair by cannabis smoking requires a careful evaluation in forensic toxicology. Medical and recreational cannabis are increasingly consumed by e‐cigarettes, which give rise to side‐stream vapor. Moreover, products containing low Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9‐THC) and rich in cannabidiol (CBD) started spreading legally. The goal of the present study was to assess whether hair analysis could allow to distinguish the type of delivered product, with low or high Δ9‐THC, and the delivering mode, by smoking or vaping. Contamination of blank hair was mimicked by in vitro exposure to low‐ (0.4%) and high‐Δ9‐THC (9.7%) products delivered by smoking and vaping within a small confined system. Cannabis vaping extracts were prepared to deliver identical target Δ9‐THC doses. Eighty samples were analyzed by ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry and quantified for Δ9‐THC and CBD. After contamination by cannabis smoking, THC levels were in line with past in vitro and in vivo studies. Samples exposed to cannabis (169.30 ng/mg) showed significantly higher Δ9‐THC than hair exposed to “light cannabis” (35.54 ng/mg), and the opposite was seen for the CBD/Δ9‐THC ratio. Hair contaminated by vaping or smoking did not show a statistically different Δ9‐THC content.Under our in vitro conditions, hair analysis might allow to discriminate whether external contamination is determined by products containing low or high Δ9‐THC, but not the delivering mode. More research is needed in real‐life conditions, to see whether the same also applies to the interpretation of forensic casework.

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Determination of cannabinoids in hair: Indicators for illegal vs CBD-rich cannabis use

Cited by 7 publications

References 15 publications

Hexahydrocannabinol on the Light Cannabis Market: The Latest “New” Entry

Hexahydrocannabinol on the Light Cannabis Market: The Latest “New” Entry

Bridging Disciplines: Applications of Forensic Science and Industrial Hemp

External hair contamination from cannabis and “light cannabis” delivered by smoking and vaping: An in vitro study

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