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Concentration of tetrahidrocannabinol in joints

Eduardo Tejedor Tejada (Complejo Hospitalario Torrecardenas, Almeria, Spain)
Domiciana De la Fuente Marcos (Health and Social Policy Area, Government Delegation in Castle and Lyon, Valladolid, Spain)
Maria Jesus Cuesta Lozano (Health and Social Policy Area, Government Delegation in Castle and Lyon, Valladolid, Spain)
Juana Benedí González (Department of Pharmacology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain)
Jesús Moro Aguado (Health and Social Policy Area, Government Delegation in Castle and Lyon, Valladolid, Spain)
Jesús Miguel Tejedor Muñoz (Health and Social Policy Area, Government Delegation in Castle and Lyon, Valladolid, Spain)

Drugs and Alcohol Today

ISSN: 1745-9265

Article publication date: 11 February 2021

Issue publication date: 19 May 2021

113

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to assess the potency and dose of Δ-9-Tetrahidrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD) in cannabis joints. This will enable better estimates of the degree of exposure in a user and contribute towards a better understanding of potential harmful effects.

Design/methodology/approach

Analysis of intact joints confiscated by law enforcement on the street in the autonomous region of Castilla y León (Spain) during the years 2017–2019.

Findings

This study analysed THC, CBN and CBD in marijuana joints (N = 744). Joints contain cannabis and tobacco (N = 729), had a median net weight 0.69 g (IQR = 0.28); concentration THC median was 6.30%(IQR = 4.51) and THC median dose 42 mg (IQR = 32.75). A total of 35.5% mixed joints contained CBN – median percentage 0.61% (IQR = 0.51). CBD was detected 10.3% of mixed joints – median percentage 0.13% (IQR = 0.12) and median dose 1 mg (IQR = 0.92). CBD/THC ratio presented median value of 0.02 (IQR = 0.02). The samples analysed comprised pure cannabis joints (N = 15), with THC median 11.86% (IWR = 6.30) or median dose of 118 mg.

Originality/value

The study found high values for concentration and dose of THC and CBD in cannabis joints, warning of high exposures for the user and associated potential consequences. The results obtained contribute new perspectives on the definition of a standard cannabis unit.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to show their gratitude towards Profesor Luis Deban and Profesor Rafael Pardo (Analytical Chemistry Department of the University of Valladolid) for critically reviewing the manuscript.The authors would like thank Health and Social Policy Area, Government Delegation in Castile and Leon. Valladolid. Spain for the support given.Conflicts of interest: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Citation

Tejedor Tejada, E., De la Fuente Marcos, D., Cuesta Lozano, M.J., Benedí González, J., Moro Aguado, J. and Tejedor Muñoz, J.M. (2021), "Concentration of tetrahidrocannabinol in joints", Drugs and Alcohol Today, Vol. 21 No. 2, pp. 146-156. https://doi.org/10.1108/DAT-07-2020-0050

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

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