title: Marijuana-positive urine test results from consumption of hemp seeds in food products.
abstract: Commercially available snack bars and other foodstuffs prepared from pressed hemp seeds were ingested by volunteers. Urine specimens were collected for 24 h after ingestion of the foodstuffs containing hemp seeds and tested for marijuana using an EMIT immunoassay and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Specimens from individuals who ate one hemp seed bar demonstrated little marijuana immunoreactivity, and only one specimen screened positive at a 20-ng/mL cutoff. Specimens from individuals who ate two hemp seed bars showed increased immunoreactivity, and five specimens screened positive at a 20-ng/mL cutoff. A single specimen yielded a quantitative GC-MS value (0.6 ng/mL), but it failed to meet reporting criteria. Several specimens from individuals who ate three cookies made from hemp seed flour and butter screened positive at both 50- and 20-ng/mL cutoffs. Two specimens produced quantitative GC-MS values (0.7 and 3.1 ng/mL), but they failed to meet reporting criteria. Several specimens also tested positive with an FDA-approved on-site marijuana-screening device. Hemp seeds similar to those used in the foodstuffs did not demonstrate the presence of marijuana when tested by GC-MS. In this study, ingestion of hemp seed food products resulted in urine specimens that screened positive for marijuana. No specimens gave a GC-MS quantitative value above the limit of detection for marijuana.
authors.affiliation: PharmChem Laboratories, Inc., Menlo Park, California 94025, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fortner
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fogerson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lindman
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iversen
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Armbruster
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002188:Cannabis / Q000737:chemistry*; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000652:urine*; D017248:Enzyme Multiplied Immunoassay Technique; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000652:urine*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D006213:Hallucinogens; D013759:Dronabinol