Detection of Cannabinoids in Plant Material

The chemical composition of C. sativa is very complex and about 500 compounds in this plant are known. A complete list can be found in [81] with some additional supplementations [2,82]. The complex mixture of about 120 mono- and sesquiterpenes is responsible for the characteristic smell of C. sativa. One of these terpenoic compounds, carophyllene oxide, is used as leading substance for hashish detection dogs to find C. sativa material [83]. It is a widespread error that dogs that are addicted to drugs are employed for drug detection. A9-THC is an odorless substance and cannot be sniffed by dogs. 

The aim of the analysis of cannabinoids in plants is to discriminate between the phenotypes (drug-type/fiber-type). Quantification of cannabinoids in plant material is needed if it will be used in medicinal appHcations, e.g., in C. sativa extracts. The ratio between A9-THC and CBN can be used for the determination of the age of stored marijuana samples [84]. 

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