Identification of Synthetic Cannabinoids and Metabolites in Urine and Hair

Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) remain a prominent and dynamic class of new psychoactive substances (NPS), frequently encountered in forensic toxicology casework. Their extensive metabolism, low concentrations in biological matrices, and continual emergence of new analogues demand analytical strategies that are both sensitive and adaptable. The present work describes streamlined and sensitive workflows for the identification of SCs and their metabolites in urine and hair using LC-MS-based screening and confirmation approaches. Enzymatic hydrolysis, clean-up using supported liquid extraction or solid-phase extraction, and hair pulverization enable efficient recovery, while data-dependent acquisition and defined identification criteria ensure reliable qualitative findings. The sample preparation procedures, analytical parameters, and identification criteria are fully presented.