Cannabis Analysis & Psychosis Flashcards by Alex Rugg

What are the primary cannabinoids of interest?

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabinol (CBN)

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Primary objective in the analysis of cannabis?

Positive identification and quantification of the THC/CBD ratio

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How is identification and quantification of THC and CBD accomplished?

Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

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How is medical marijuana often categorized?

Higher levels of CBD and lower levels of THC

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Who is the THC/CBD ratio information most important to?

The medical personnel prescribing cannabis for medical purposes

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What are some of the medicinal effects of cannabis?

Reduced symptoms such as nausea, seizures, eye pressure, and pain

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Often multiple analyses are required, what are they?

Macroscopic and microscopic analysis, potency testing: THC/CBD ratio, safety: mold/mildew/microbes/bacteria, pesticide residue, residual solvent analysis of extracted concentrates and heavy metals

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Why are THCA and CBDA not detected by GC?

They are thermally labile and converts to THC/CBD by decarboxylation during heating of the sample in smoking, cooking, or in the hot GC injector port. They are detected by HPLC.

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What about edibles/extracted liquids/soilds?

Typically they do not have to be tested for pesticides, mold, and mildew if the plant material used for extraction has been tested. They still must be tested for potency of THC/CBD

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What are the two analytical techniques that have been successfully used for potency testing of cannabis?

Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

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What is of primary interest in cannabis potency testing?

Total THC, along with THC/CBD ratio for therapeutic value

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Total THC = ?

THC + THCA

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Total CBD = ?

CBD + CBDA

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Why can HPLC detect THCA/CBDA?

HPLC can identify the acid components of THCA and CBDA before conversion to their corresponding free forms

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T/F? The conversion of THCA to THC will be complete after GC

False! The conversion may be incomplete depending on temperature and injector considerations

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T/F? Heating the sample before analysis can produce a more reliable conversion and may be worth the extra time for more accurate reporting

True!

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Why is GC/MS perferred?

GC/MS is generally considered faster and simpler than HPLC

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What is cannabis potency based on when using GC/MS?

The concentration of decarboxylated THC and CBD

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What is cannabis potency based on when using HPLC?

The sum of THC and THCA

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How is leafy cannabis extracted for THC/CBD analysis?

It is extracted with organic solvent to dissolve oily resin on the surface of the plant material

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What are some solvents that have been used successfully?

Methanol, isopropanol, ethyl acetate, and others

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What gets injected into the GC/MS?

The solvent extract

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Walk me through a typical sample handling

random sampling of plant section to include leaf, bud, and flower if available
dry plant material two hours at 35°C with forced air ventilation
weigh plant material and grind the sample to a powder
add organic solvent, sonicate 30 minutes, and filter
(optional step to convert THCA to THC) evaporate to dryness at 200°C for 20 minutes, reconstitute in organic solvent, then analysis by GC/MS

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What type of GC column is preferred for cannabis analysis?

An intermediate polarity column, such as 35% diphenyl with 65% dimethyl silicone is sufficient for the resolution of these components. Additionally, a larger diameter bore and longer column is preferred.

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What concentration are commercial standards available?

1000 ug/ml

T/F? There is no commercially available standard to conform to the expected ratios of THC/CBD

True!

Macroscopic & Microscopic Examination

Examine for color consistency, debris, stems, seeds, contaminants, and adulterants.

Added _______ to plant materials have been documented in many locations to improve the appearance and weight

adulterants

Characterized by leaflets that are more narrow, branches that are farther apart, and coloration that tends more toward spring green. Plants tend to be taller produce fewer flowers.

Sativa

Characterized by broad leaflets that often overlap, branches that are closer together, and coloration thats tends more toward deep olive green. Plants tend to be shorter and bushier, producing fuller, denser flower buds.

Indica

Characterized by varied leaflets in the mature leaves, a shorter stature and generally smaller size. This subspecies is used to create S. Sativa or S. Indica hybrids with select desired traits.

Ruderalis

What are the reports in THC% relative to?

the original plant material (w/w: mass percentage of solute in solution)

Without specific methods of regulation from the individual states, procedures could follow the _____ guidelines.

DEA

Without specific methods of regulation from the individual states, procedures follow the _______ guidelines for pesticide residue analysis.

EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)

Pesticide classes of interest typically include:

Chlorinated hydrocarbons, organophosphates, or pyrethroids by GC/MS. Carbamate pesticides by HPLC or HPLC/MS (carbamates are thermally labile)

What is responsible for the aroma of cannabis?

Terpenoids

What are some terpenoids that are present in cannabis plant material?

α-pinene, β-pinene, β-myrcene, β-carophylene, and others

What do microscopic examination and petri dish culture for?

Aspergillus spp., Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Salmonella

What type of solvents are used for extraction?

carbon dioxide, butane, propane, ethanol, isopropanol, acetone, and others

What is residual solvent measured by?

Headspace with GC and flame ionization detection (HS-GC-FID)

Without specific methods of regulation from the individual states, procedures follow the ______ guidelines for residual solvents in botanical preparations

ICH (International Council of Harmonization)

Without specific methods of regulation from the individual states, procedures follow the _______ guidelines for heavy metals in food products.

FDA (Food and Drug Administration)

What is used for trace level contaminants such as lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and chromium?

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)

What is the greatest health concern about the use of cannabis?

The link to later development of psychotic disorders

Several studies have shown that regular cannabis use in adolescence is associated with

a twofold increase in the risk of psychosis and an earlier age of onset psychosis

T/F? The overwhelming majority of people who have used cannabis develop a psychotic disorder

False! Most people do NOT develop a psychotic disorder, most people who develop a psychotic disorder may have never used cannabis

________ is a poorly understood condition with no clearly known risk factors

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia has a worldwide incidence of approximately?

1%, and its onset occurs most commonly in late adolescence or early adulthood

T/F? It is clear that THC can produce transient, acute, but usually mild psychotic experiences in an intoxicated user and can worsen the symptoms in people with schizophrenia.

True!

T/F? A study showed that people diagnosed with schizophrenia who use cannabis function better cognitively than individuals with schizophrenia who do not use cannabis?

True!

What is the big question when thinking about cannabis and psychotic disorders and why?

Whether cannabis use (especially in adolescence) increases the risk of later development of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. If it does, then cannabis use may be one of the few modifiable risk factors for schizophrenia

What did Jacques-Joseph Moreau report in 1845?

That hashish could induce "acute psychotic reactions, generally lasting but a few hours, but occasionally as long as a week

According to Radhakrishnan, Wilkinson, and D'Souza 2014...

"The reaction seemed dose-related and its main features included paranoid ideation, illusions, hallucinations, delusions, depersonalization, confusion, restlessness and excitement".

What is the likelihood of experiencing the psychotic effects of acutely administered THC modulated by?

Personality and genetic factors

What enzyme metabolizes dopamine in the prefrontal cortex?

Catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT)

Individuals with the Val/Val genotype for COMT have a ______ metabolic activity of that enzyme (and thus a lower level of prefrontal cortical dopamine) than individuals with the Met/Met polymorphism

higher

The patients who have the overactive enzyme are homozygous for valine form (Val/Val), which renders COMT hyper-efficient and may result in a dopamine deficiency. In contrast...

genotype Met/Met results in a hypo-active enzyme and causes excessive dopamine in the synaptic cleft.

Summarize THC intoxication

It can occasionally produce several symptoms of schizophrenia. These effects are dose-related and are specific to THC but not to other cannabinoids constituents. CBD may actually counteract these effects. These effects do not last beyond the period of intoxication.

T/F? Early cannabis use (before age 15) confers greater risk for schizophrenia outcomes than later cannabis use (by age 18), which may also be a result of more prolonged exposure to cannabis during adolescent years.

True!

What potential genetic marker was recently identified?

Polymorphic variation in the gene for the intracellular enzyme AKTI, which encodes for a phosphorylating enzyme that has been shown to be activated by CB1

Daily cannabis users who had the cytosine-cytosine (C/C) genotype were _____ as likely as those with the thymine-thymine (T/T) genotype to develop a psychotic disorder

twice

T/F? Individuals with the C/C genotype who used cannabis had a higher risk of psychotic disorder than individuals who did not use cannabis

True!

One study reported that the association between cannabis and psychotic disorders was significant only when cannabis use began before age ____

Another study indicated that daily cannabis use was associated with more psychotic experiences only among individuals who began using cannabis before the age of _____

What do some animal studies suggest about CB1 agonists?

CB1 agonists produce greater effects on cognition and social interaction if the drug is administered during adolescence than when it is administered during adulthood

What is the popular strain of cannabis used recreationally?

"Skunk", which is specifically bred to have very high THC content and little or no CBD. The use of "skunk" may present a higher risk for psychosis than cannabis products that were available before there was intensive selecting breeding for high THC content.

The prevalence of cannabis-linked psychosis is lower when street cannabis contains a higher proportion of?

CBD

In healthy humans, _____ reverses _____ -induced psychotic symptoms and ketamine induced depersonalization (a human glutamate model of psychosis)

CBD; THC

T/F? There is a link between the level of anandamide (AEA) in the cerebral spinal fluid and symptoms of schizophrenia in human patients.

True!

AEA levels in schizophrenic patients?

increase in AEA occurs very early in the course of the disease

Cannabis Analysis & Psychosis Flashcards

(71 cards)