NCJ Number
57022
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 24 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1979) Pages: 291-302
Date Published
1979
Length
12 pages
Annotation
TWO LEVELS OF GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY MASS SPECTROMETRY WERE USED TO VALIDATE THE 3-LEVEL LABORATORY PROCEDURE USED BY CANADIAN AGENCIES TO IDENTIFY CANNABIS MATERIALS. AGREEMENT WAS FOUND FOR ALL 100 SAMPLES.
Abstract
IN CANADA, THE FORENSIC SCIENCE IDENTIFICATION OF CANNABIS MATERIALS IS PERFORMED BY TWO FEDERAL AGENCIES: HEALTH AND WELFARE (HEALTH PROTECTION BRANCH) AND ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE (RCMP) CRIME DETECTION LABORATORIES. THESE AGENCIES HANDLE SO MANY SAMPLES THAT THEIR METHODS MUST BE NOT ONLY SPECIFIC BUT ALSO AS RAPID AS POSSIBLE. A 3-LEVEL PROCEDURE IS USED: (1) MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION FOR THE EASILY SEEN CYSTOLITH HAIRS OF THE CANNIBIS PLANT FAMILY, (2) A MODIFIED DUQUENOIS-LEVINE COLOR TEST, AND (3) A THIN-LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHIC EXAMINATION OF EXTRACTS. IN COURT THESE TESTS HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED, ATTORNEYS SUGGESTING THAT MORE SOPHISTICATED METHODS MIGHT HAVE HAD DIFFERENT RESULTS. THE BULK OF THIS PAPER DESCRIBES THE DETAILED TESTING OF 100 SAMPLES RECEIVED FROM THE RCMP AND THE RESULTING CHEMICAL FINDINGS. THE SAMPLES INCLUDED CONFISCATED CASE MATERIALS AND PIPES SUSPECTED OF USE IN SMOKING MARIHUANA OR HASHISH. SEVEN SAMPLES WERE NEGATIVE; TWO WERE PLACEBOS PLANTED BY THE RCMP AND TWO WERE PIPES. IN THE OTHER 93 SAMPLES AT LEAST TWO, AND SOMETIMES THREE, OF THE MOST COMMONLY ENCOUNTERED CANNABINOIDS WERE FOUND. THIS AGREED COMPLETELY WITH THE RCMP TESTS. IN MANY OF THE MATERIALS THE DRUG LEVEL WAS QUITE LOW. THIS CONFIRMS THE VALIDITY OF THE RCMP PROCEDURE. THE ARTICLE IS WELL-ILLUSTRATED WITH TECHNICAL DATA AND SAMPLE SPECTRA. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)