Forensic analysis of medical marijuana: a case study

Anna Trynda; Anna Duszyńska; Adam Frankowski; Grzegorz Pawluczuk

Titles

Abstract

The aim of this article is to present the issues of forensic examination of medical marijuana, taking into account possible limitations in forensic expertise and issues related to the material remaining after vaporization. An example, which illustrates the research and procedure to confirm the compliance of the chemical composition of the questioned substance, confiscated during a home search by the police, with the provision on prescriptions for an individual patient, is presented.
The issue of medical marijuana vaporization as well as controversy which may arise from the remaining material with high concentration of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), both in relations to its utilizing as well as possible storage of the remaining marijuana by the patient is considered. The obtained results shows the possibility to determine the concentration of key cannabinoids: CBD and THC in questioned dried hemp and comparison with prescription values. Therefore, it is possible to support law enforcement authorities in proceedings related to dried hemp, in particular to distinct whether cannabis are medicinal products declared on prescriptions or packages, or it is a drug prohibited by law. An additional issue that has arisen during the research is the need of regulations to the material remaining after vaporization of medical marihuana to protect patients from the allegation of possession of illegal substance.

Keywords

Medical marijuana, Vaporization, Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, Cannabidiol, Cannabis

References

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Information

Information: Problems of Forensic Sciences, 2023, 136, pp. 283 - 294

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4467/12307483PFS.23.016.19623

Article type: Original article

Titles:

English: Forensic analysis of medical marijuana: a case study

Polish: Forensic analysis of medical marijuana: a case study = Badania kryminalistyczne marihuany medycznej – studium przypadku

Authors

Anna Trynda

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8814-0301

Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bialystok, University of Bialystok
Poland

Center for Forensic Science, University of Warsaw, Warszawa, Poland, University of Warsaw
Poland

Anna Duszyńska

Center for Forensic Science, University of Warsaw, Warszawa, Poland, University of Warsaw
Poland

Adam Frankowski

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4951-1915

Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bialystok, University of Bialystok
Poland

Center for Forensic Science, University of Warsaw, Warszawa, Poland, University of Warsaw
Poland

Grzegorz Pawluczuk

Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bialystok, University of Bialystok
Poland

Published at: 08.05.2024

Received at: 12.10.2023

Accepted at: 12.01.2024

Article status: Open

Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

Copyrights:

Percentage share of authors:

Anna Trynda (Author) - 25%

Anna Duszyńska (Author) - 25%

Adam Frankowski (Author) - 25%

Grzegorz Pawluczuk (Author) - 25%

Article corrections:

-

Publication languages:

English, Polish

View count: 276

Number of downloads: 143

Forensic analysis of medical marijuana: a case study

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