Potency Trends of Delta9-THC and Other Cannabinoids in Confiscated Cannabis Preparations From 1993 to 2008

• NCJ Number: 232567
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 55 Issue: 5 Dated: September 2010 Pages: 1209-1217
• Author(s): Zlatko Mehmedic, M.Sc.Pharm; Suman Chandra, Ph.D.; Desmond Slade, Ph.D.; Heather Denham, B.A.; Susan Foster, B.A.; Amit S. Patel, Ph.D.; Samir A. Ross, Ph.D.; Ikhlas A. Khan, Ph.D.; Mahmoud A. ElSohly, Ph.D.
• Date Published: September 2010
• Length: 9 pages
• Contract Number(s): N01DA-5-7746
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This report provides data on 46,211 samples seized and analyzed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID).

Abstract

The University of Mississippi has a contract with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to carry out a variety of research activities dealing with cannabis, including the Potency Monitoring (PM) program, which provides analytical potency data on cannabis preparations confiscated in the United States. This report provides data on 46,211 samples seized and analyzed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) during 1993-2008. The data showed an upward trend in the mean delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta9-THC) content of all confiscated cannabis preparations, which increased from 3.4 percent in 993 to 8.8 percent in 2008. Hashish potencies did not increase consistently during this period; however, the mean yearly potency varied from 2.5-9.2 percent (1993-2003) to 12.0-29.3 percent (2004-2008). Hash oil potencies also varied considerably during this period (16.8 +/- 16.3 percent). The increase in cannabis preparation potency is mainly due to the increase in the potency of nondomestic versus domestic samples. (Published Abstract)