1. Cannabis

2. Cannabis As of the end of March 2017
29 states and the District of Columbia (DC) have medicinal marijuana laws
8 states and DC have legalized recreational marijuana
Many have also decriminalized possession

3. New IL law lists per se limits:
5 ng/mL in whole blood
10 ng/mL in any other body fluid

4. Short Term Effects
Relaxed euphoric state
Impaired judgment, coordination, reflexes
Distorted sense of time and space
Agitation and paranoia (pot panic)
Hunger and thirst (the "munchies")
Red eyes

5. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (Δ9)
Psychoactive component - Hallucinogen
About 15-18% in plant material (can be as high as 30%)
About 5-12% in hashish
About 15-30% in hash oil

6. Other Cannabinoids Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid
Tetrahydrocannabidivarin
Cannabidiol
Cannabidiolic acid
Cannabidivarin
Cannabidivarinolic acid
Cannabinol
Cannabigerol
Cannabigerolic acid
Cannabichromene
Currently there are 111 known Cannabinoids

7. Metabolic pathway:
THC
THCA
Hydroxy-THC
Carboxy-THC

8. Key Points for carboxy-THC:
Currently the main compound detected by forensic labs and hospitals
Is biologically inactive (has no effects on the human body)
Is fat soluble
Remains in the system for weeks or months after smoking

9. Detection of carboxy-THC:
Recreational users (acute use) – smoke occasionally but not regularly and smaller amounts.
- Carboxy-THC will clear within hours
Chronic heavy users – smoke every day (or almost) and larger amounts.
- Once the user quits the carboxy-THC can be detected in urine for as little as a couple weeks or as much as 8 weeks.

10. Cannabinoid Facts Cannabinoids are fat soluble
Blood THC concentrations rapidly decrease after smoking
THC impairment lasts ~5-6 hours after smoking even with large decreases of serum concentration*
Serum THC levels did not accurately predict impairment level*
*Ramaekers et al 2006 Drug and Alcohol Dependence

11. Collecting a sample
Due to rapid clearance sample collection must be ASAP
Storage is crucial – cannabinoids absorb into glass and plastic
Refrigerate/freeze samples to maintain stability
Analyze ASAP
Look for indications of recent usage (DREs can be helpful here)

12. Medicinal Cannabis
New strains of cannabis can have much higher THC levels or extremely low (high CBD)
Extracts and edible products may not leave behind characteristic smell
Extracts with exceptionally high dosages of THC can lead to hallucinatory behavior

13. QUESTIONS?