Statistical analyses of hemp cannabinoid test results

Author

Rachel J. Stegmeier, James Madison UniversityFollow

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

Date of Graduation

5-14-2022

Publish

yes

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (BS)

Department

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Advisor(s)

Daniel M. Downey

Debbie L. Mohler

Chrisi A. Hughey

Abstract

Cannabis sativa L. is a flowering plant used for recreational and industrial purposes that produces a class of compounds called cannabinoids. Industrial hemp is a strain of Cannabis sativa L. that has been propagated to have a low Δ 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹THC) and a high cannabidiol (CBD) content. With recent advancements in legislation, farms are now growing hemp for fiber, CBD production and other hemp derived product purposes but crops risk being destroyed if THC content levels exceed the current maximum legal limit of 0.3%. For the present study hemp samples were dried, ground, extracted with various alcohols, filtered, and assayed by ultra-High Pressure Liquid Chromatography with ultraviolet detection (uHPLC-UV) and Gas Chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) for ten cannabinoids, with primary focus on THC and CBD. Three replicates were done for each sample strictly following published protocols. We have found that the results of analyses vary considerably due to variations in cannabinoid content in plant biomass, different hemp varieties, growing location and before/after drying. The random sampling procedure, the heterogeneity of the crop and large standard deviations for analyses affected results. We have statistically evaluated data and conclude that large sample standard deviations are intrinsic with the protocols. These may lead to crops that are actually within the legal limit being destroyed by regulators. As a result, it was concluded that either 0.3% THC should not be applied as an absolute value for legality but should be associated with sample standard deviation for replicates of analyses, or the absolute criterion be raised to 0.5%.

Recommended Citation

Stegmeier, Rachel J., "Statistical analyses of hemp cannabinoid test results" (2022). Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current. 136.
https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/honors202029/136