Cannabis Analysis

Sciex has announced a collaboration with CW Analytical to develop fully validated standardized methods to measure pesticides and cannabinoids in cannabis and cannabis-related products.

An investigation of C18 and phenyl-hexyl column chemistries for definitive identification of 13 synthetic cannabinoid metabolites in patient samples.

In recent years, synthetic cannabinoids (or “spice”) have experienced a boom in popularity. The negative health effects of these drugs coupled with their increasing popularity led to placement onto Schedule I by the DEA. In response, the chemists behind these illicit compounds frequently invent new compounds to circumvent the law. Thus, new classes and new examples within classes of “spice” continue to become available for illicit use. In this paper, we examine the use of two different column chemistries (C18 and phenyl-hexyl) in an effort to definitively identify synthetic cannabinoid compounds in patient samples.

Gas chromatography (GC) is an established and well-understood technique. As the cannabis industry grows, demand for analytical robustness is increasing for analytes such as pesticides, residual solvents, and terpenes. GC and GC coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS) are effective tools to address the demands of laboratories, growers, manufacturers, and consumers. This article provides an overview of the types of compounds that can be analyzed by GC, reviews the strengths and weaknesses of the analytical methods, and discusses areas of opportunity for chromatography.

Sufficient resolution and peak shape for the targets can be achieved within an overall run time of 12.5 minutes. Additional validation studies confirmed that this method meets all criteria required for routine analysis of cannabinoids in whole blood.

A method was developed for the quantitation of Cannabinoids using an Agilent 6430 Triple Quadrupole LC/MS system. Validation showed that the LC/MS/MS method provides reliable results for the quantitation of THC, OH-THC, and carboxy-THC.

Marijuana, the common or slang term for cannabis in its herbal form, is one of the most widely used illicit drugs in the world.

The variance in the toxic effects of designer cannabis drugs marketed throughout Europe and the USA as "K2" or "Spice" could be the result of stereoselective metabolism of enantiomers by lung and liver enzymes, according to a study published in Analytical Chemistry.

The variance in the toxic effects of designer cannabis drugs marketed throughout Europe and the USA as "K2" or "Spice" could be the result of stereoselective metabolism of enantiomers by lung and liver enzymes, according to a study published in Analytical Chemistry.