Characterization of Cannabinoids in Cannabidiol (CBD) Products

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to determine what cannabinoids other than cannabidiol (CBD) can be found in various CBD products, as well as determine their legality. CBD is federally a Schedule I drug, although CBD products are legal for sale in the State of Oklahoma if they contain less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Many CBD products sold do not have all the cannabinoids in the product included on the label, which could be a health risk. The samples in this study were purchased from CBD shops in Oklahoma and provided to Oklahoma State University (OSU) for analysis. Liquid chromatography with ultra-violet detection and liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry were used to separate 12 different cannabinoids commonly found in the Cannabis plant. The results showed that all five products had a higher amount of CBD than any other cannabinoid. It was also found that when CBD was present, cannabidivarin (CBDV) was also present, although most packages did not indicate the presence of cannabinoids other than CBD. All products contained at least two cannabinoids, with the highest concentration being CBD. All products tested were determined to have false information on their packaging, although they are legal in the State of Oklahoma since the detectable level of THC was less than 0.3%.