Defense Date
2023
Document Type
Directed Research Project
First Advisor
Michelle Peace
Abstract
Background/Introduction: E-cigarette liquids are a preferred modality for the consumption of synthesized THC isomers and derivatives. These cannabimimetic are labeled as “hemp-derived” to provide the market illusion that they are extracted from plant material as opposed to synthesized. These isomers include delta 8-tetrahydrocannabinol (∆8-THC), delta 6a,10a-tetrahydrocannabinol (∆6a,10a-THC), delta 10-tetrahydrocannabinol (∆10-THC),hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), HHC acetate (HHC-O), tetrahydrocannabihexol (THC-H), tetrahydrocannabibutol (THC-B), tetrahydrocannabiphorol (THC-P), cannabicitran (CBT), cannabichromene (CBC) and THC-O (THC acetate). Potency, efficacy, and adverse effects are largely unknown and pose a public health risk.
Methods: Forty-two “hemp-derived” e-liquids were purchased from online retailers. The e-liquids were diluted in methanol and analyzed on a Jeol JMS T100LC Accu-TOF DART-MS and a Shimadzu QP2020 GC-MS. Mass spectra from the DART TOF-MS and GC-MS retention times and mass spectra of constituents in the e-liquids were compared to available analytical reference material. NIST, SWGDRUG, and Cayman Spectral libraries were used to identify THC isomers and derivatives when reference material was unavailable. A Thermo Fisher Scientific ISQ 7000 GC-MS with a TriPlus 500 headspace autosampler (HS-GC-MS) was used to identify and quantitate residual solvents in the e-liquids.
Results: Through the use of DART and GC-MS, the products were determined to contain mixtures of cannabinoids. Of the 42 products, 40 contained additional THC isomers or derivatives that were not labeled on the package. The HS-GC-MS method was efficient in the separation and quantitation of the residual solvents that were used in the manufacturing of these products. Methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, acetone, ethyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, and toluene were detected in various concentrations within the samples.
Conclusion/Discussion: HHC, ∆8, ∆9, ∆6a,10a-THC, THCP, and THC-O in addition to cannabidiol-di-acetate (CBD-di-O) and other cannabinoid acetate derivatives were identified in the commercially available products using DART TOF-MS, GC-MS, and HS-GC-MS. The THC isomers and derivatives are synthesized from CBD are the new wave of emerging cannabinoids and cannabimimetic sold legally as hemp-derived products in the market. Currently, limited information regarding these compounds' potency, efficacy, and potential toxidrome is known, putting public health and safety at risk.
Rights
© The Author(s)
Is Part Of
VCU Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects
Date of Submission
5-11-2023