THE CANNABINOID CONTENT OF MARIJUANA SAMPLES SEIZED IN GREECE AND ITSFORENSIC APPLICATION

The three major cannabinoids, hg-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta(9)-THC), cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN) were identified and determined quantitatively using a GCD (GC-EI) instrument, in samples of illicit h erbal cannabis, seized by Customs and Police authorities in two areas of Greece (Ipiros and Lakonia) during 1996. These samples were sent by the above authorities to the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxi cology, University of Athens, for forensic chemical analysis. The cann abinoid content of these samples led to the classification of cannabis into two chemical phenotypes and to the differentiation of resinous a nd textile plants by using three different classification indexes. The cannabinoid content of cannabis plants is of forensic value in determ ining the geographical origin of cannabis samples, since it can be use d for their classification, allocating this way the area of cultivatio n of the relative plants. The forensic aspects of cannabis classificat ion are discussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights r eserved.