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01-05-2019 | Cannabinoid | Original Article

Cannabinoid concentrations in confiscated cannabis samples and in whole blood and urine after smoking CBD-rich cannabis as a “tobacco substitute”

Authors: Marianne Hädener, Tim J. Gelmi, Marie Martin-Fabritius, Wolfgang Weinmann, Matthias Pfäffli

Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine | Issue 3/2019

Abstract

In Switzerland, only cannabis with a total Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content higher than 1% is controlled by the narcotics legislation. Cannabis products rich in cannabidiol (CBD) and low in THC can be legally sold as tobacco substitutes. In this paper, we address analytical and forensic toxicological issues related to the increasing availability and consumption of these products. Based on the analysis of 531 confiscated cannabis samples, we could establish classification thresholds: plant material with a ratio of total THC/total CBD ≥ 3 is graded as THC-rich/CBD-poor, whereas samples with a ratio ≤ 0.33 are categorized as CBD-rich/THC-poor cannabis. We also evaluated an on-site test kit as a rapid alternative to the laborious liquid or gas chromatography (LC or GC)-based techniques normally used for the differentiation between THC- and CBD-cannabis. Furthermore, we determined whole blood and urine cannabinoid levels after smoking different doses of legal CBD-cannabis. A male volunteer smoked one cigarette within 15 min and four cigarettes within 1 h and within 30 min, respectively. Cigarettes contained on average 42.7 mg CBD and 2.2 mg THC. Blood samples were collected up to 1.1 h and urine samples up to 27.3 h after the beginning of smoking. All urine samples tested negative by three immunochemical assays for detection of cannabis use. This is an important finding for abstinence monitoring. However, we found that the trace amounts of THC present in CBD-cannabis can produce THC blood levels above the Swiss legal limit for driving, and thus render the consumer unable to drive from a legal point of view.

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Title: Cannabinoid concentrations in confiscated cannabis samples and in whole blood and urine after smoking CBD-rich cannabis as a “tobacco substitute”
Authors: Marianne Hädener
Tim J. Gelmi
Marie Martin-Fabritius
Wolfgang Weinmann
Matthias Pfäffli
Publication date: 01-05-2019
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keyword: Cannabinoid
Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine / Issue 3/2019
Print ISSN: 0937-9827
Electronic ISSN: 1437-1596
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-018-01994-y

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Cannabinoid concentrations in confiscated cannabis samples and in whole blood and urine after smoking CBD-rich cannabis as a “tobacco substitute”

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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