title: Comparison of bulk and compound-specific δ13C isotope ratio analyses for the discrimination between cannabis samples.
abstract: Five marijuana samples were compared using bulk isotope analysis compound-specific isotope ratio analysis of the extracted cannabinoids. Owing to the age of our cannabis samples, four of the five samples were compared using the isotope ratios of cannabinol (CBN), a stable degradation product of Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Bulk δ(13)C isotope analysis discriminated between all five samples at the 95% confidence level. Compound-specific δ(13)C isotope analysis could not distinguish between one pair of the five samples at the 95% confidence level. All the measured cannabinoids showed significant depletion in (13)C relative to bulk isotope values; the isotope ratios for THC, CBN, and cannabidiol were on average 1.6‰, 1.7‰, and 2.2‰ more negative than the bulk values, respectively. A more detailed investigation needs to be conducted to assess the degree fractionation between the different cannabinoids, especially after aging.
authors.affiliation: Center for Intelligent Chemical Instrumentation, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701-2979, USA.
authors.forename: Zeland
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Muccio
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wöckel
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Glen P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Jackson