TITLE:[Brief
history of recent hemp cultivation in Switzerland and subsequent medico-legal
problems resulting from hemp cultivation]
[Bref historique de la culture recente
du chanvre en Suisse et problemes medico-legaux engendres par cette culture.]
Schweiz Rundsch Med Prax 1999 Jan
21;88(4):113-21 (ISSN: 1013-2058)
Giroud C; Broillet A; Augsburger M;
Bernhard W; Rivier L; Mangin P, Institut Universitaire de Medecine Legale,
Lausanne. Christian.Giroud
In March 1995, a decision about
cultivation of cannabis was issued by the Swiss Federal Offices of Public
Health, Police and Agriculture in order to satisfy the growing interest of
farmers and other people in hemp farming. It pointed out that 1)... each hemp
plant contains THC and must be therefore considered a drug, 2)... no permission
is required for those who grow hemp without the intention to produce drugs ...
meaning that the choice of the plant variety was not restricted to those which
are characterized by a low THC concentration and grown in a few countries
belonging to the European Union. Claiming that natural hemp must contain
significant amounts of THC and thanks to the Swiss legislation, areas dedicated
to hemp cultivation develop considerably. Most hemp plants which are submitted
to our laboratories by the police for THC quantification belong to the
drug-type. Nowadays, a great deal of goods (food and beverages, cosmetics,
drugs) made of hemp are marketed in Switzerland. Strong suspicions exist however
that several of these products could be used as a screen for the illegal market
of cannabis. For instance, despite financial support from the state, fiber hemp
cultivation remains unsuccessful. No advantage with regard to seed productivity,
edible seed and essential oils qualities and yields have been found for drug
hemp over fiber hemp by agricultural research stations up to now. Several clues
about the possible illicit use of hemp goods rich in THC, especially hemp tea
made of flower tops and "therapeutic" pillows filled with cannabis exist.
Recently, two Federal edits were issued in order to restrict the selling of hemp
seedlings and of hemp foods and beverages to those containing only low amounts
of THC. However, the marketing of hemp plants used for decorating remains free
partly explaining the recent success of these "beautiful" plants. Broadly
speaking, the Swiss and European legislations about hemp have approached
mutually during the last years.
Costantino A; Schwartz RH; Kaplan P,
American Medical Laboratory, Chantilly, Virginia 20151, USA.
A hemp oil product (Hemp Liquid Gold)
was purchased from a specialty food store. Fifteen milliliters was consumed by
seven adult volunteers. Urine samples were taken from the subjects before
ingestion and at 8, 24, and 48 h after the dose was taken. All specimens were
screened by enzyme immunoassay with SYVA EMIT II THC 20, THC 50, and THC 100
kits. The tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid (THCA) concentration was
determined on all samples by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) (5). A
total of 18 postingestion samples were submitted. Fourteen of the samples
screened above the 20-ng cutoff, seven were above the 50-ng cutoff, and two
screened greater than the 100-ng cutoff. All of the postingestion samples showed
the presence of THCA by GC-MS.
TITLE:
Marijuana-positive urine test results from consumption of hemp seeds in food
products.
Fortner N; Fogerson R; Lindman D;
Iversen T; Armbruster D, PharmChem Laboratories, Inc., Menlo Park, California
94025, USA.
Commercially available snack bars and
other foodstuffs prepared from pressed hemp seeds were ingested by volunteers.
Urine specimens were collected for 24 h after ingestion of the foodstuffs
containing hemp seeds and tested for marijuana using an EMIT immunoassay and gas
chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Specimens from individuals who ate one
hemp seed bar demonstrated little marijuana immunoreactivity, and only one
specimen screened positive at a 20-ng/mL cutoff. Specimens from individuals who
ate two hemp seed bars showed increased immunoreactivity, and five specimens
screened positive at a 20-ng/mL cutoff. A single specimen yielded a quantitative
GC-MS value (0.6 ng/mL), but it failed to meet reporting criteria. Several
specimens from individuals who ate three cookies made from hemp seed flour and
butter screened positive at both 50- and 20-ng/mL cutoffs. Two specimens
produced quantitative GC-MS values (0.7 and 3.1 ng/mL), but they failed to meet
reporting criteria. Several specimens also tested positive with an FDA-approved
on-site marijuana-screening device. Hemp seeds similar to those used in the
foodstuffs did not demonstrate the presence of marijuana when tested by GC-MS.
In this study, ingestion of hemp seed food products resulted in urine specimens
that screened positive for marijuana. No specimens gave a GC-MS quantitative
value above the limit of detection for marijuana.
