Overview
In the wake of success with the 2023 Cannabinoid Conundrum Webinar Series, the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) proudly announces a collaborative partnership with cannabinoid and seized drug researchers whose projects receive support from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) research grant program. Presenters will highlight advancements in the forensic community by sharing their progress in this new era of cannabinoid use and novel technological solutions to address unique challenges related to quantitative measurement and identification.
Webinars
LC-DAD with Optional ESI/MS: An Emerging Gold Standard for Hemp Compliance Testing
This webinar occurred on June 13, 2024
Presenter: Dr. Liguo Song
This webinar discusses the essential aspects of best practice using liquid chromatography diode array detector (LC-DAD) with optional electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI/MS) for compliance testing of hemp and hemp-derived products. The key topics of this webinar will include: 1) an overview of the most effective LC separation published so far; 2) a description of a simple methanol extraction procedure, consisting of homogenization, ultrasonication/pulverization, centrifugation, filtration, and dilution, to recover cannabinoids from a wide range of samples; 3) how to utilize ultraviolet (UV) detection at multiple wavelengths for optimal sensitivity and improved selectivity; and 4) how to confirm identity of cannabinoids by optional ESI/MS using either high or low-resolution mass spectrometry.
Quantitative Analysis Method for Tetrahydrocannabinol Isomers in Biological Matrices
This webinar occurred on June 25, 2024
Presenter: Dr. Rebecca Wagner
Of recent, forensic toxicology laboratories have been grappling with the emergence of tetrahydrocannabinol isomers within biological specimens. Traditional methodologies are often inadequate in the separation of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol, which are the most common isomers identified in forensic testing. This webinar will focus on the validation of a quantitative liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the analysis of tetrahydrocannabinol isomers in biological matrices and the analytical challenges associated with these compounds.
Evaluating a Statistical Method for Comparison of Mass Spectra of Novel Psychoactive Substances
This webinar occurred on July 25, 2024
Presenters: Dr. Ruth Smith & Dr. Victoria L. McGuffin
Identification of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) based on comparisons of electron-ionization (EI) mass spectra continues to pose challenges in seized drug analysis. In this webinar, a method to statistically compare EI mass spectra will be described, and an application of the method to distinguish several structural and positional isomers of NPS analogs will be demonstrated.
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.
All Forensic Technology Center of Excellence live webinars are hosted using Zoom Webinar. Live webinars are archived and posted on our website within two weeks of their airing. Archived webinars do not require access to the Zoom platform.
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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