High-Throughput LC-PDA Method for Determination of Δ9-THC and Related Cannabinoids in Cannabis sativa

Published

October 9, 2024

Author(s)

Walter Brent Wilson, Aaron Urbas, Haley Jensen, Lane C. Sander

Abstract

Before the passage of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 more commonly referred to as the 2018 Farm Bill, forensic laboratories were only required to perform qualitative measurements to confirm the identity of seized plant samples as Cannabis sativa (hemp or marijuana). The new law defines hemp at a federal level as Cannabis sativa containing 0.3 % or less Δ9-THC. Because forensic laboratories were not adequately equipped with the proper methods or training to meet these requirements, significant backlogs in casework resulted. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) responded by providing analytical tools to the forensic community. An accurate and precise method was previously developed to determine Δ9-THC, Δ9-THCA, and total Δ9-THC in botanical samples based on liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection (LC-PDA). Cannabis plant samples were ground and extracted with methanol using routine laboratory equipment. The original sample preparation procedure was time-consuming, taking over 70 minutes. The method described here has been optimized and the time required for sample preparation and LC-PDA analysis has been reduced to less than 30 min.

Citation

Forensic Chemistry

Volume

41

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

Hemp, Cannabis, Cannabinoids, Δ-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, Liquid Chromatography, Photodiode Array Detection

Citation

Wilson, W. , Urbas, A. , Jensen, H. and Sander, L. (2024), High-Throughput LC-PDA Method for Determination of Δ9-THC and Related Cannabinoids in Cannabis sativa, Forensic Chemistry, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=958418 (Accessed October 14, 2025)