Identification of Synthetic Cannabinoids in Herbal Incense Blends in the United States

• NCJ Number: 242038
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 57 Issue: 5 Dated: September 2012 Pages: 1168-1180
• Author(s): Barry K. Logan, Ph.D.; Lindsay E. Reinhold, M.S.; Allan Xu, Ph.D.; Francis X. Diamond, B.S.
• Date Published: September 2012
• Length: 13 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Technical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article reports on synthetic cannabinoid agonists and the methods used for detection of this illicit drug.

Abstract

Synthetic cannabinoid agonists are chemically diverse with multiple analogs gaining popularity as drugs of abuse. The authors report on the use of thin layer chromatography, gas chromatography mass spectrometry, high-performance liquid chromatography, and liquid chromatography time of flight mass spectrometry for the identification and quantitation of these pharmacologically active chemicals in street drug dosage forms. Using these approaches, we have identified the synthetic cannabinoids JWH-018, JWH-019, JWH-073, JWH-081, JWH-200, JWH-210, JWH-250, CP47,497 (C=8) (cannabicyclohexanol), RCS-4, RCS-8, AM-2201, and AM-694 in various commercially available products. Other noncannabinoid drugs including mitragynine have also been detected. Typical concentrations of drug in the materials are in the range 5-20 mg/g, or 0.5-2 percent by weight for each compound, although many products contained more than one drug. Abstract published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons.