Emergence of Hexahydrocannabinol as a psychoactive drug of abuse in e-cigarette liquids

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have tremendously grown into societies. Due to the absence of regulation and standardization in their production, electronic cigarette liquids (e-liquids) present a complex matrix and a debate on their use and efficiency within the public health community. E-liquids are introduced into a delivery device that might include drugs of abuse such as cannabinoids. Despite the health problems associated, novel cannabis vaporizer ingredients continue to arise, such as Δ 8 -Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ 8 -THC), Dronabinol (aka Δ 9 -THC) and Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC). The aim of the present study was to investigate drugs of abuse in e-cigarettes seized by Dubai Police. Four e-liquids were analyzed through Gas Chromatography-Electron Ionization-Mass Spectrometry (GC-EI-MS). Our results showed that all seized e-cigarettes contained HHC and Dronabinol whereas 75% of samples contain Δ 8 -THC. Our study revealed a rapid and sensitive GC-MS approach to detect newly trending cannabinoids in a short period of time (30 min/sample) in e-liquids. These findings could be helpful in further investigations considering the rapid evolution of e-cigarettes as mean for delivery of drugs of abuse and the critical need to make lawmakers aware of the legal loopholes used by manufacturers where “legal” drugs of abuse can be delivered to your door without consequences for the sellers.