Critical evaluation of analytical methodologies for the discrimination of hemp and drug-type cannabis

Classification of cannabis samples as hemp- or drug-type is an ever-increasing problem worldwide. Colorimetric tests and infrared spectroscopy were selected and critically compared among the available techniques. Cannabis samples with different THC and CBD concentration were analyzed by paper-based analytical devices (µPAD) using the 4-aminophenol colorimetric reaction, attenuated total reflectance mid infrared spectroscopy (ATR-MIR), and diffuse reflectance near infrared spectroscopy (DR-NIR). For the µPAD analysis, cannabis samples were extracted with methanol and later mixed with reagents to develop the colored complex. On the other hand, MIR and NIR spectra were obtained directly on raw samples, and partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was used for cannabis classification. All the selected methodologies successfully discriminate between hemp-type and drug-type samples, being suitable to be used in-field. Additionally, assayed methodologies together a reference gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS) were evaluated and compared from a Green Analytical point of view using the AGREE criteria.