Evaluation of Two Commercially Available Cannabidiol Formulations for Use in Electronic Cigarettes

Abstract

Since 24 states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana in some form, suppliers of legal marijuana have developed Cannabis sativa products for use in electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). Personal battery powered vaporizers, or e-cigarettes, were developed to deliver a nicotine vapor such that smokers could simulate smoking tobacco without the inherent pathology of inhaled tobacco smoke. The liquid formulations used in these devices are comprised of an active ingredient such as nicotine mixed with vegetable glycerin (VG) and/or propylene glycol (PG) and flavorings. A significant active ingredient of C. sativa, cannabidiol (CBD), has been purported to have anti-convulsant, anti-nociceptive, and anti-psychotic properties. These properties have potential medical therapies such as intervention of addictive behaviors, treatments for epilepsy, management of pain for cancer patients, and treatments for schizophrenia. However, CBD extracted from C. sativa remains a DEA Schedule I drug since it has not been approved by the FDA for medical purposes. Two commercially available e-cigarette liquid formulations reported to contain 3.3 mg/mL of CBD as the active ingredient were evaluated. These products are not regulated by the FDA in manufacturing or in labeling of the products and were found to contain 6.5 and 7.6 mg/mL of CBD in VG and PG with a variety of flavoring agents. Presently, while labeled as to content, the quality control of manufacturers and the relative safety of these products is uncertain.

Quantification of the content of cannabidiol in commercially available e-liquids and studies on their thermal and photo-stability

“…Furthermore, two separated studies have highlighted the discrepancy between the declared labelled concentrations of cannabinoids and the real contents. Indeed, Pearce et al analysed two commercial marijuana e-liquids claiming to contain 3.3 mg/mL CBD and found that the real contents were around twice as much 22 . In 2017, FDA carried out tests on the chemical content of CBD in commercially available products confirming this label inaccuracy 23 .…”

Identification of MDMB-FUBINACA in commercially available e-liquid formulations sold for use in electronic cigarettes

“…Although e-liquids used in electronic cigarettes are commonly sold and labeled as containing nicotine many are also available that are labeled to contain other active ingredients such as cannabinoids [7, 18]. The evaluation of the three e-liquids, only labeled “Blueberry B Juice”, “Regular B Juice” and “Vampire B Juice” demonstrates that designer drugs such as MDMB-FUBINACA can be found in commercially available electronic cigarette products.…”

“…Commercially available e-liquids containing marijuana extracts and cannabidiol have been reported [7, 18]. In October 2015, Shanks KG presented an abstract at the annual Society of Forensic Toxicology meeting [19] that identified the presence of cannabimimetic drugs as the active ingredients in two e-liquids.…”

“…Chemical composition of the e-liquids was screened for using DART-MS, which has been shown to be an effect technique for the identification active ingredients, flavoring agents and other possible constituents [13, 18]. The component of the e-liquids including the concentration of propylene glycol and glycerin were confirmed by using GC-MS methods.…”

Pediatric Sarcoidosis: A Review with Emphasis on Early Onset and High-Risk Sarcoidosis and Diagnostic Challenges

“…The popularity of electronic cigarettes (E-cig) has recently been increasing among adolescents and young adults [54][55][56]. E-cig usage or "vaping" contains E-liquid carrier components, flavorings, and marijuana product with cannabidiol (CBD) formulations [57][58][59][60]. In anecdotal stories, the use of medical marijuana, in particular vaping with CBD oil may be linked to improvement of refractory pulmonary sarcoidosis [61].…”