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Area of Science:

  • Forensic Toxicology
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Distinguishing between illicit cannabis consumption and legal medical Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) use is crucial, particularly in legal contexts.
  • Medical THC formulations like Marinol contain synthetic Δ9-THC and lack plant-specific precursors.
  • Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid A (Δ9-THCA-A) is well-studied, but analytical data on Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarinic acid A (Δ9-THCVA-A) is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify reliable biomarkers for differentiating the consumption of illegal cannabis products from legal synthetic Δ9-THC medications.
  • To analyze the presence and fragmentation patterns of Δ9-THCA-A and Δ9-THCVA-A in serum samples.
  • To investigate the utility of these compounds in a real-world case involving a positive Δ9-THC test.

Main Methods:

  • Serum samples were prepared using protein precipitation with acetonitrile.
  • Analysis was performed using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) with electron spray ionization in negative mode.
  • MS(2) and MS(3) full scan spectra were recorded for Δ9-THCA-A and Δ9-THCVA-A, with reference spectra obtained from standard solutions and cannabis extracts.

Main Results:

  • Specific fragmentation patterns (transitions) were established for Δ9-THCA-A (MS(2): m/z 357→313; MS(3): m/z 313→245) and Δ9-THCVA-A (MS(2): m/z 329→285; MS(3): m/z 285→217).
  • The fragmentation patterns of Δ9-THCVA-A were similar to Δ9-THCA-A but differed by 28 amu due to its shorter alkyl side chain.
  • Both Δ9-THCA-A and Δ9-THCVA-A were successfully detected in the serum sample of an individual claiming to have used medical THC medication.

Conclusions:

  • The detection of Δ9-THCA-A and Δ9-THCVA-A in serum provides definitive evidence of consuming illegal cannabis products derived from Cannabis sativa plant material.
  • These plant-specific cannabinoids serve as valuable biomarkers for forensic toxicology, enabling differentiation from synthetic THC medications.
  • The study highlights the importance of analyzing precursor molecules in distinguishing between different sources of THC exposure.