48 May / June 2017
The Analysis of Medicinal Cannabis for Pesticides and Residual Solvents using a Portable GC
Donna-Marie Skingle, Applications Chemist Ellutia Ltd, Colston House, 200 Lancaster Way Business Park, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB6 3NX
Medicinal Cannabis is prescribed by doctors for their patients for a number of health benefits including, to help reduce nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy, improve appetite in people with HIV/AIDS, and reduce chronic pain and muscle spasms. The use of cannabis as a medicine has not been rigorously tested due to production restrictions and other governmental regulations both in the US and across the EU meaning there are no standardised regulations from between states or countries for quality control. This includes for content, composition, adulterants, potency or toxic residues. Therefore, there is an increased need for the best analysis techniques for quality assurance of the product.
Introduction
The Medicinal Cannabis market is an emerging industry and there is scope for big business. However, it can be perceived as legally and morally controversial, and filled with ambiguity as there are no standardised regulations for quality control. Cannabis consists of the dried flowers of the female Cannabis L-sativa plant, also known as hemp or marijuana and contains a number of active substances, including Delta-THC and Cannabidiol (CBD). There are many different strains of Cannabis plant, all having different levels of each active compound. Strains are cultivated through cloning and cross- breeding of different plants to achieve a new strain with a desired flavour or percentage of Cannabinoid.
The physical effects of cannabis are largely the result of THC, but other Cannabinoids including CBD, may also influence the effectiveness of the drug. THCA is the carboxylic acid version of THC found in raw cannabis. In applications for potency testing total THC needs to be determined so the amount of THC and the amount of THCA that could be converted to THC needs to be considered. When analysing by GC the TCHA level is not a concern as it is accepted the TCHA present will be converted to THC in the GC injector so the TCA value will be the Total THC value. If the user is analysing by HPLC the lower operating temperatures would mean the THCA would not be
converted to THC so the analyst would need to determine values for both THCA and THC, they would then use these values to calculate the Total THC content. Therefore, total THC% = THC% + (THCA% x 0.877)
THC itself has proven medical benefits in particular formulations. The US Food and Drug Administration has approved THC- based medications, dronabinol (Marinol®) and nabilone (Cesamet®), prescribed in pill form for the treatment of nausea in patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy and to stimulate appetite in patients with wasting syndrome due to AIDS [1].
The chemical composition of the Cannabis determines the positive and negative effects of each dose. Cannabis is a plant and not a chemically-derived substance, therefore, it is difficult to limit the exposure of such a wide array of naturally-occurring compounds and control content levels present within any given dose. This article will review the key issues involved with Cannabis and Cannabis analysis in the areas of pesticides and residual solvents and why there is a need for nationally-recognised regulations and quality control.
US Exposure Limitation
Medicinal Cannabis is currently legalised in 26 US states and the District of Columbia. Cannabis has a national drug classification of Schedule 1 and these substances are
defined as ‘drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse’ and, therefore, remains an illegal drug as classified by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).
At state level, trafficking of cannabis can carry a heavy penalty that ranges from a $250,000 fine and up to 5 years in prison for less than 50 kg and up to $10 million fine and 10 years to life in prison for over 1000 kg, for a first offence. Penalties increase in severity for reoccurring offenders with a third offence potentially resulting in a $75 million fine and life imprisonment. To avoid potential criminal restrictions, many providers of medicinal Cannabis are also responsible for the cultivation or manufacture of the finished edible product.
In addition to the 26 states that have legalised the use of Medicinal Cannabis, three other states will soon join their lead after recently passing measures permitting use of medical marijuana. Seven states and the District of Columbia have adopted the most expansive laws legalising marijuana for recreational use [2].
A Medicinal Cannabis card holder and their primary caregiver are exempt from criminal prosecution providing the amounts carried are for the patient’s personal use and is of a relevant amount related to the medical needs of the patient. Medicinal Cannabis can only be acquired through non-profit dispensaries, collectives and cooperatives
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