A Proposed Method of Sample Preparation and Homogenization of Hemp for the Molecular Analysis of Cannabinoids

Abstract BackgroundThe use of Cannabis sativa, or hemp, in commercial, recreational, and pharmacological applications is on the rise in the United States and worldwide. Many of these applications have guidelines associated with them dependent on the concentration of cannabinoid molecules that keep the products classified as hemp versus marijuana or that allow the producer to comment on the purity and potency of their product. Herein, we propose a method for homogenization of hemp that results in small particle sizes, uniform samples, and does not alter the cannabinoid concentrations during processing, allowing for optimal and reproducible potency testing. MethodsUsing a novel “active grinding media” we homogenized commercially available hemp to analyze approximately 100mg samples of homogenate via sieve analysis and high-performance liquid chromatography to assess the resulting size and potency of the sample when using this methodology. ResultsWhen processing hemp samples with our proposed methodology, we have demonstrated the ability to produce 60.2% of all particles <1.25 mm with increased cannabinoid recovery compared to homogenates with larger average particle sizes. Maintaining sample temperatures below 35° C during processing, we showed that our method does not thermally induce decarboxylation reactions that would result in major cannabinoid profile changes.ConclusionWe have developed a method for hemp processing via homogenization that does not alter the cannabinoid profile during processing, while consistently producing small particle sizes in a uniformly processed sample. This method allows for optimal and reproducible hemp processing when evaluating hemp and hemp-based products being brought to commercial markets.