ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 April 1979
Page Count: 9

Quantitative Determination of Δ⁹-Tetrahydrocannabinol in Cadaver Blood
Brine, D
Senior mass spectrometrist and chemist, Chemistry and Life Sciences Group, Research Triangle Institute, N.C.

Rosenthal, D
Senior mass spectrometrist and chemist, Chemistry and Life Sciences Group, Research Triangle Institute, N.C.

(Received 15 June 1978; accepted 1 September 1978)

Abstract

A long-term program involving the quantitative identification of cannabinoids in biological fluids made it clear that there was a significant need for the development of an accurate and reliable assay procedure for the determination of Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹-THC) in blood samples obtained from autopsy. It is frequently of considerable concern to know whether a subject was under the influence of marijuana at the time of death, and since Δ⁹-THC is the major psychoactive agent present in marijuana, a definitive identification of Δ⁹-THC in blood from an autopsy sample presents direct and unquestionable evidence of the subject's use of this drug.

Keywords:

Paper ID: JFS10832J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS10832J
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