Cannabinoids – a Tutorial Review: Psychoactivity, Regulation, Common and IUPAC Nomenclature, Structures and Abbreviations in Relation to Cannabidiol (CBD) Products

Public Analysts and other forensic scientists frequently deal with the analysis of cannabis or cannabinoids, the nomenclature and abbreviations for which can be confusing. More recently, cannabidiol, (CBD), has gained salience as an ingredient in food supplements and in some cosmetic products. Apart from medicines with a market authorisation (eg Epidiolex and Sativex) which contain CBD, CBD-containing edible products must be regarded as food or as a food supplement. In the light of Food Standards Agency (FSA) advice after 31 March 2021 only certain CBD products for which the FSA has a valid application will be allowed to remain on the market. They must also be compositionally safe, correctly labelled, and must not contain substances that fall under controlled drugs legislation in the light of any extant or future Home Office guidance. It is to be anticipated that surveillance and, if necessary, enforcement action will take place against any non-compliant CBD products on the market after 31 March 2021. Wide variation in compliance with label claims as to the content of CBD in products has been recorded and the presence of controlled cannabinoids is a known risk. In this paper cannabis and cannabinoid psychoactivity, regulation, control and medicinal use are reviewed together with developments in CBD regulation as a novel food. Cannabinoid nomenclature and structure are described with an overview of the common abbreviations. Analytical approaches are discussed however analysis of cannabinoids at low concentrations in complex food matrices is challenging and requires either extensive sample clean-up or the sensitivity allowed by mass spectrometric detection. The intention signalled by government to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act, 2001 to permit CBD products containing no more than a defined percentage trace concentration of certain controlled cannabinoids is welcomed to aid clarity. This should also influence better availability of appropriate cannabinoid reference standards. Harmonisation of target priority cannabinoids, analytical approaches and reporting conventions and better understanding of laboratory capability are recommended to assist appropriate numerical definition of the “trace” cannabinoid threshold and regulation of CBD-products. 1 Journal of the Association of Public Analysts (Online) 2021 49 001-028 Walker et al Table of Contents Summary ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 1 Table of Contents …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2