Method Development and Validation of an Optimized Sample Preparation Procedure for Measuring CBD, Δ9-THC, and other Cannabinoids in Cannabis-Derived Gummies by LC-PDA

The passage of the 2018 Agricultural Improvement Act resulted in a boom in the Cannabis edibles market with the emergence of a variety of sample matrices; however, Cannabis gummies still remain as one of the more popular forms of usage. Forensic laboratories have seen an influx of these materials in drug seizures since 2018, even though they have little to no experience working with these types of samples. For this reason, the Chemical Sciences Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has focused on developing reliable extraction protocols and analytical methods to help. NIST places significant importance on these methods being simple, robust, and cost-effective through the use of common laboratory equipment. This presentation will summarize the method development and a single laboratory validation of an optimized sample preparation procedure for the determination of Δ9-THC, Δ8-THC, and other related cannabinoids by liquid chromatography with a photodiode array detector (LC-PDA). Method development included the evaluation of these components: (1) sampling and homogenization, (2) incubation conditions, (3) extraction conditions, and (4) sample cleanup. Method validation included the analysis of both homemade and commercial gummies prepared with either gelatin or pectin as gelling agents. This study provides forensic laboratories with a ready-to-use sample preparation procedure, while also including practical guidance on handling analytical complexities from analyzing Cannabis gummies.