Quantitative .Analysis of D9-tetrabydrocannabinol and Cannabidiol in Consumer Hemp Products

Today, Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Colorado, Michigan, Illinois, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, Alaska, Montana, Arizona, New Jersey, and Washington D.C have all legalized recreational use of marijuana (cannabis). With more states legalizing cannabis concerns arise. Some of these concerns are regarding the regulation of cannabis, cannabis-derived products, hemp, and hemp-derived products. This study intends to look further into the legal documentation of cannabis regulation federally and within different states. Additionally, this study will examine potential issues that other states have had to inform states that have currently legalized or are going through the process of legalizing cannabis. Finally, the qualitative and quantitative analysis of cannabinoids in cannabidiol hemp products from various retail stores in Chicago, Illinois is performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). These products vary from oil, plant, and solid samples such as powders and edible gummies. The study compares the concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) that is analyzed to the concentration on the label of these products and statistically shows if a significant difference is present. Investigating these products and determining if they are mislabeled is important in understanding the how mislabeled cannabis and hemp products can affect consumers and these businesses negatively. This study investigated 34 samples purchased from two different retail shops. These samples ran in triplicate and by running a standard curve for both THC and CBD, the limit of detection and limit of quantitation was determined. Additionally, standard curves were used to determine the concentration of THC and CBD in the purchased samples. Positive controls of THC and CBD and negative controls of all solvents used for extraction were run on the GC-MS to ensure that the method of analysis was working properly and that all solvents were not contaminated. Before quantification on all samples could be performed, deciding to derivatize samples and deciding what solvent will be best to use for extraction (methanol, petroleum ether, or acetonitrile) was necessary.