Hair analysis for Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid A (THCA-A) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) after handling cannabis plant material

A previous study has shown that Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinolic acid A (THCA‐A), the non‐psychoactive precursor of Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the cannabis plant does not get incorporated in relevant amounts into the hair through the bloodstream after repeated oral intake. However, THCA‐A can be meas...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Drug testing and analysis 2016-01, Vol.8 (1), p.128-132
Main Authors: Moosmann, Bjoern, Roth, Nadine, Auwärter, Volker
Format: Article
Language:eng ; jpn
Subjects:
child protection
external contamination
hair analysis
tetrahydrocannabinol
tetrahydrocannabinolic acid A
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:A previous study has shown that Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinolic acid A (THCA‐A), the non‐psychoactive precursor of Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the cannabis plant does not get incorporated in relevant amounts into the hair through the bloodstream after repeated oral intake. However, THCA‐A can be measured in forensic hair samples in concentrations often exceeding the detected THC concentrations. To investigate whether the handling of cannabis plant material prior to consumption is a contributing factor for THC‐positive hair results and also the source for THCA‐A findings in hair, a study comprising ten participants was conducted. In this study, the participants rolled a marijuana joint on five consecutive days and hair samples of each participant were obtained. Urine samples were taken to exclude cannabis consumption prior to and during the study. THCA‐A and THC could be detected in the hair samples from all participants taken at the end of the exposure period (concentration range: 15–1800 pg/mg for THCA‐A and
ISSN:1942-7603
1942-7611
DOI:10.1002/dta.1830