A comprehensive overview of analytical methodologies for detecting and quantifying therapeutically and recreationally relevant cannabinoids in cannabis products.
Analytical chemists, cannabis testing laboratories, regulators, and product quality managers.
Methods reviewedMultiple analytical methodologies compared for cannabinoid detection across product types
What the researchers found
The review catalogs and compares multiple analytical methods including chromatography, spectroscopy, and immunoassay techniques for cannabinoid detection and quantification, addressing the growing regulatory need for accurate cannabis product testing.
Why it matters
As CBD legalization expands globally and product markets grow, reliable analytical methods are essential for ensuring product safety, label accuracy, and regulatory compliance.
The numbers in context
The review covers analytical methods for low-THC, high-CBD Cannabis sativa plants and products across countries where CBD products are legal.
How the study worked
Review of analytical methodologies including chromatography, mass spectrometry, and other techniques for cannabinoid detection and quantification.
Who was studied
Cannabis and hemp products requiring analytical testing for cannabinoid content.
What this study cannot tell us
Rapid methodology evolution may outpace review coverage; method performance varies by laboratory conditions; not all methods are equally accessible across regulatory environments.
How to read the evidence
Technical review of established analytical methods; provides methodological guidance rather than clinical evidence.
When this study was published
Recent review reflecting current state of cannabis analytical chemistry.
The bigger picture
Standardized analytical methods are the foundation of cannabis product regulation, consumer safety, and quality assurance across the rapidly growing global cannabis industry.
Replication
Technical review; methodologies are established and widely validated in the analytical chemistry community.
Funding
Not specified
Conflicts of interest
Not specified
Questions still open
- Which methods are most cost-effective for routine testing?
- How can field-deployable testing improve enforcement?
- Are current methods adequate for novel cannabinoids?
Read the original research
Phytocannabinoids - An Overview of the Analytical Methodologies for Detection and Quantification of Therapeutically and Recreationally Relevant Cannabis Compounds.
Critical reviews in analytical chemistry, 53(1), 211-231
Citation
Madden, Olena; Walshe, Jessica; Kishore Patnala, Prem; Barron, John; Meaney, Claire; Murray, Patrick. (2023). Phytocannabinoids - An Overview of the Analytical Methodologies for Detection and Quantification of Therapeutically and Recreationally Relevant Cannabis Compounds.. Critical reviews in analytical chemistry, 53(1), 211-231. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408347.2021.1949694