Potency Trends of Δ9‐THC and Other Cannabinoids in Confiscated Cannabis Preparations from 1993 to 2008*

Abstract: The University of Mississippi has a contract with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to carry out a variety of research activities dealing with cannabis, including the Potency Monitoring (PM) program, which provides analytical potency data on cannabis preparations confiscated in the United States. This report provides data on 46,211 samples seized and analyzed by gas chromatography‐flame ionization detection (GC‐FID) during 1993–2008. The data showed an upward trend in the mean Δ⁹‐tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹‐THC) content of all confiscated cannabis preparations, which increased from 3.4% in 1993 to 8.8% in 2008. Hashish potencies did not increase consistently during this period; however, the mean yearly potency varied from 2.5–9.2% (1993–2003) to 12.0–29.3% (2004–2008). Hash oil potencies also varied considerably during this period (16.8 ± 16.3%). The increase in cannabis preparation potency is mainly due to the increase in the potency of nondomestic versus domestic samples.     

生物剽窃的法律问题初探

生物剽窃的法律问题是有关生物多样性的若干知识产权问题下辖的子课题之一.它缘起于现代生物产业的发展以及南北国家在遗传资源、传统知识保护和惠益分享等问题上的矛盾.之所以要对生物剽窃进行规范是因为它不仅减少和破坏了生物多样性,而且侵害了资源输出国、土著和地方社区的相关权利和经济利益.其行为构成包括:未经相关权利人的事先许可,申报专利时隐瞒来源以及独自享有因此获得的收益.     

Distribution of Chemical Phenotypes (Chemotypes) in European Agricultural Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Cultivars

In Europe, more than 50 approved cultivars of fiber hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) are in agricultural production. Their content of psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is legally restricted to <0.2% (%w/w in the dry, mature inflorescences). Cannabis strains with much higher THC contents are also grown, illegally or under license for drug production. Differentiation between these two groups relies on biochemical quantification of cannabinoid contents in mature floral material. For nonflowering material or tissue devoid of cannabinoids, the genetic prediction of the chemical phenotype (chemotype) provides a suitable method of distinction. Three discrete chemotypes, depending on the ratio of THC and the noneuphoric cannabidiol (CBD), can be distinguished: a “THC-predominant” type, a “CBD-predominant” type, and an intermediate chemotype. We present a systematic genetic prediction of chemotypes of 62 agricultural hemp cultivars grown in Europe. The survey reveals the presence of up to 35% B_T allele-carrying individuals (representing either a THC-predominant or an intermediate chemotype) in some cultivars—which is unexpected considering the legal THC limit of 0.2% THC. The fact that 100% of the seized drug-type seeds in this study revealed at least one B_T allele, reflects that plant breeding efforts have resulted in a fixation of the B_T allele in recreational Cannabis. To guarantee a sincere forensic application based on a genetic chemotype prediction, we recommend not to classify material of unknown origin if the samples size is below nine genetically independent individuals.     

传统知识保护的最佳国际论坛

对传统知识保护的问题,已有越来越多的国际论坛予以关注。通过对CBD、WIPO、WTO等主要论坛的分析,讨论传统知识保护的最佳国际论坛。     

Protection and conservation--TRIPs and CBD: a way forward

Legal context: There is a complex relationship and interplay between TRIPsand CBD, two multilateral agreements adopted to attain inherentlydistinctive objectives. Key points: The CBD/TRIPs issue has been discussed in the WTO since 1996in the Committee on Trade and Environment, and has been on theagenda of the TRIPs Council since 1999. At the WTO Doha MinisterialMeeting in 2001, a Trade Minister made reference to the issuein paragraphs 12 and 19, instructing the Council for TRIPs tolook into the relations between TRIPs and CBD. The discussionin the TRIPs Council has gone into considerable detail witha number of ideas and various proposals have been mooted todeal with the same. Practical significance: This paper attempts to discuss and analyse the areas of possibleconflict and reasons for such conflicts. It also seeks to gainan insight into the thought-process of the various stakeholders,then discusses alternative courses of action, and attempts tochart the way forward.     

建设大连CBD的几个重要问题

CBD,是中央商务区的英文简称,是集中进行商务活动及商务相关活动的核心区域。经过20多年的改革开放,在大连规划建立CBD已经具备了条件,为此,完整规划,稳步推进CBD的建设,应当提到日程上来。要借鉴国外和我国其他城市的经验,使我市的CBD建设能够发挥出其后发优势。     

Chemical identification and optimization of the 4-aminophenol colorimetric test for the differentiation between hemp-type and marijuana-type cannabis plant samples

The 4- Aminophenol (4-AP) colorimetric test is a fast, easy-to-use, and cost-effective presumptive assay of cannabis plant material producing different chromophores with THC-rich cannabis (blue color) and with CBD-rich cannabis (pink color). The main drawback of the 4-AP test is a brief observation window where the color rapidly changes to black, limiting the utility of the test. We now report for the first time, the identification of the product chromophores between 4-AP and CBD/THC as well as propose an explanation and a solution for the color degradation of the chromophores. The identification of the chromophores is provided by spectroscopic (UV–Vis), chromatography, and mass spectrometry (TLC and LC-QToF-MS). Oxidation of excess 4-AP (Reagent A) in the presence of NaOH (Reagent B) produces the black color observed for the previously reported 4-AP tests and reported in the literature. The adjustment of reactants concentrations and volumes of 4-AP:THC/CBD to a 1:1 ratio significantly reduces the black oxidation by-product and increases the observation window up to 2 h instead of the previously reported 5–10 min. For the first time, mass spectrometry and chromatography confirmed that the reaction of THC and CBD with 4-AP produced chromophores with m/z (M + H) = 420, consistent with proposed indophenol structures. The TLC method developed confirmed the separation between CBD and THC chromophores. The specificity of the test is also reported, showing false positive results for the presence of THC (blue color) for samples of thyme and oregano. LDA and SIMCA models showed that the optimized 4-AP procedure performs better than the previously reported 4-AP color test.