Date of Award
5-1-2024
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Chemistry
First Advisor
Kinsel, Mary
Abstract
Cannabis sativa L. is a species of flowering plant from the Cannabaceae family which contains over 100 different phytocannabinoids and terpenes. The therapeutic effectiveness of Cannabis sativa L. depends on the cannabinoid content, and the unique aroma in this plant is produced by the terpenes. The two most widely known cannabinoids are Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). The legalization of hemp (defined as Cannabis sativa L. < 0.3% Δ9-THC by dry mass) has flooded the market with various hemp and hemp-derived consumer products. These studies focus on using Liquid Chromatography and Gas Chromatography to survey the cannabinoid and terpene content observed for commercially popular Cherry Wine hemp cultivars. Twelve samples of Cherry Wine hemp were obtained representing three field grown hemp plants, a hemp plant grown in a controlled indoor environment, and eight cloned hemp plants also grown in a controlled indoor environment. The analyses revealed variability in the cannabinoid and terpenes contents that reflect plant genetics, daylight exposure duration, and hemp processing and storage conditions. Nitrogen was examined as a substitute carrier gas for increasingly expensive helium for the analysis of terpenes. Finally, Liquid Chromatography was also applied to evaluate the cannabinoid content versus label claims of ten Δ8-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8-THC) hemp-derived consumer products. Examples of under and over reporting of cannabinoids were observed indicating potential risks to consumer safety and need for improved product regulation.
Access
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