Overview
Use and abuse of various cannabinoids has seen significant growth over the past several years due to the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, also known as the Farm Bill. Proliferation of new cannabinoid products derived from cannabidiol has resulted in public health concerns and a need for new technology and methodology to understand the implications of inaccurate product labeling and interference with laboratory tests. In this webinar series we address this new era of cannabinoid use and technological solutions to the problem.
Webinars
Labeling with Love or Lethal Consequences for CBD Containing Products
This webinar occurred on May 18, 2023
Presenter: Dr. Lawrance Mullen
The reauthorization of hemp due to the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Farm Bill) has caused a proliferation of products that contain cannabidiol (CBD). While CBD is considered ‘legal’ under the Farm Bill, there are concerns that the labeling of CBD products is inaccurate, and that the products may contain other cannabinoids, including Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive compound in marijuana. Other concerns include the potential for conversion of CBD to other cannabinoids during analysis of biological matrices and in acidic foods and beverages. Incorrect labeling and/or conversion can lead to false positives during analysis and unintentional ingestion of THC, which may result in impairment and/or positive drug tests. In this presentation Dr. Lawrance Mullen will provide a landscape of the public health impact of CBD, the importance of proper analytical technique to prevent false positive drug tests, and the results of a study conducted on acidic foods and beverages.
All Is Not Pot That's Green: An Overview of THC Isomers
This webinar occurred on June 15, 2023
Presenter: Dr. Svante Vikingsson
THC isomers, also known as THC analogs or semi-synthetic cannabinoids, are structurally related to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and have similar toxicity and impairing effects. A recent study indicated that Δ8-THC use was around 27% of marijuana use, based on detection and ratios of cannabinoid metabolites in workplace drug testing. Other analogs of interest include hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) and THC-O. THC isomers are generally perceived as legal and are also seen in states with legal marijuana. Analytical challenges include differentiating THC isomers from each other and Δ9-THC and avoiding conversion during sample preparation.
Development of Analytical Methods for Measuring Δ9-THC in Cannabis Products
This webinar occurred on June 27, 2023
Presenter: Dr. Walter Brent Wilson
With the passage of the 2018 Agricultural Improvement Act (Farm Bill), forensic laboratories have been tasked with differentiating seized cannabis samples as either hemp or marijuana. The new legislation declassified hemp as a Scheduled 1 drug substances and defined it as cannabis containing 0.3 % or less of decarboxylated-Δ9-THC (total Δ9-THC). The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been working to help forensic laboratories with these challenging measurements through the development of extraction protocols and analytical methods. This webinar will provide a summary of the method development studies and screening of cannabis plant and cannabis-derived finished products commercially available.
Vaping in the Weeds: The Merging of the E-cigarette and Cannabis Industries
This webinar occurred on June 29, 2023
Presenter: Dr. Michelle R. Peace
This presentation will describe the nature of the merge of the e-cigarette and cannabis industries. Quality assurance issues as a result of the absence of regulation and oversight will be described. Cases of self-reported adverse events and the challenges of cannabis product analysis will also be discussed.
Cannabinoid Pharmacology: Three Decades of Controlled Human Cannabinoid Administration Studies
This webinar occurred on August 1, 2023
Presenter: Dr. Marilyn Huestis
Controlled drug administration studies are valuable tools for acquiring a detailed understanding of the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profiles of cannabinoids. ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the primary psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis with the potential to negatively impact cognitive and psychomotor performance and workplace safety. These studies establish behavioral and subjective effect profiles while simultaneously collecting pharmacokinetics data. This information is important for understanding the onset, peak, and duration of effects and their corresponding concentrations in biological fluids. Results from these studies can guide regulations related to workplace drug testing, driving under the influence, post-incident workplace testing, and public health initiatives.
Cannabinoid Conundrums Webinar Series Expert Panel
This webinar occurred on August 3, 2023
Panelists: Dr. Edward J. Cone, Dr. Nathalie Desrosiers, Justin L. Poklis, Nelson Santos, & Dr. Ruth E. Winecker
As evident by this webinar series, the rapidly changing world of cannabinoids offers many conundrums. To tackle some of these questions, Dr. Ruth Winecker will lead a panel discussion with Dr. Ed Cone, Dr. Nathalie Desrosiers, Mr. Justin Poklis, and Mr. Nelson Santos. This diverse slate of thought leaders includes experts in analytical chemistry, forensic toxicology, clinical research, and drug chemistry.
Related Resources
Funding for this Forensic Technology Center of Excellence webinar series has been provided by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.
The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this webinar series are those of the presenter(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of Justice.
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