Consistency of Label Claims of Internet-Purchased Hemp Oil and Cannabis Products as Determined using IMS and LC-MS : A Marketplace Survey

Abstract

In this paper we describe the use of ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) and liquid chromatography – high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) to screen for the presence of cannabinoids and other potential hazards in a set of products with hemp oil and/or cannabinoid label claims purchased via the internet. Preliminary screening was performed using IMS to examine the products for the presence of cannabinoids, illicit drugs or undeclared pharmaceuticals before analysis by LC-HRMS to quantitatively determine the presence of four of the most common naturally occurring cannabinoids while simultaneously qualitatively screening for the presence of nine of the most common cannabinoids.  No other illicit drug or undeclared pharmaceutical was detected in any sample from IMS screening. Eighteen of twenty-three samples tested positive for the presence of at least one cannabinoid by LC-HRMS, with  three products containing less than 0.01%(w/w) of a cannabinoid. Four products with explicit CBD label claims were found to not contain any CBD, while three products featured levels of cannabinoids below label claim.https://doi.org/10.21423/jrs-v04n03p001 (DOI assigned 5/31/2019)