Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

Brian C. Smith, PhD, is Founder, CEO, and Chief Technical Officer of Big Sur Scientific. He is the inventor of the BSS series of patented mid-infrared based cannabis analyzers. Dr. Smith has done pioneering research and published numerous peer-reviewed papers on the application of mid-infrared spectroscopy to cannabis analysis, and sits on the editorial board of Cannabis Science and Technology. He has worked as a laboratory director for a cannabis extractor, as an analytical chemist for Waters Associates and PerkinElmer, and as an analytical instrument salesperson. He has more than 30 years of experience in chemical analysis and has written three books on the subject. Dr. Smith earned his PhD on physical chemistry from Dartmouth College. Direct correspondence to: 

Articles

This column discusses where the USDA went wrong in their final rule regarding hemp and how the author thinks it can be fixed.

Hemp Testing Insanity III: This Time It’s the USDA!

This work describes an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry method for the analysis of various heavy metals in cannabis sativa plant material.

The Big Four Heavy Metals in Cannabis: Sample Preparation and Analysis via ICP-MS

This article focuses on the technology being used in new rapid field tests that combine one-time-use color testing with a colorimetric panel that provides an identification and semiquantitation of THC and THCA.

Qualitative Versus Quantitative Hemp Testing: The Limitations of Current Law Enforcement Field Tests

Ric Cuchetto discusses the technology behind THC remediation and some of the challenges it presents.

THC Remediation: A Basic Understanding

 A novel mid-infrared spectrometer that measures total THC in dried, ground cannabis plant material in 2 min is discussed as well as the applications of this analyzer for law enforcement, forensic laboratories, and regulatory agencies.

Distinguishing Hemp from Marijuana by Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy

A closer look at some of the current in vitro evidence suggesting that cannabinoids possess potent activity against a range of gram-positive bacteria.

The Role of Cannabinoids in the Global Fight Against Antibiotic Resistance 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently released a draft guidance on developing cannabis-based drugs. These guidelines come weeks after the White House announced it had completed reviewing the draft guidance.

FDA Releases Cannabis Research Guidelines

A large data set from Washington (140,000 flower samples) is scrutinized here for evidence of consistently propagated strains with higher than a 2-to-1 ratio.

Are There Limits to the Range of Possible Cannabinoid Ratios in Plants?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently issued a temporary delay regarding enforcement on two provisions of its hemp regulations (1).

Hemp Regulations Receive Temporary Changes from USDA

is a Full Professor and Shimadzu Distinguished Professor of Analytical Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at The University of Texas (UT) at Arlington.

Commentary on how medicinal cannabis can evolve in a similar manner as the pharmaceutical industry did.