Sourcing Brazilian marijuana by applying IRMS analysis to seized samples

Multivariate classification based on chemical and stable isotopic profiles in sourcing the origin of marijuana samples seized in Brazil

“…Shibuya et al 6,7 used carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes to investigate the climatic conditions of marijuana growth for samples seized in different Brazilian regions. Some samples from Ceará and Pernambuco appear to be cultivated in humid regions, inconsistently to the local climate, except by the existence of highly irrigated area with soil managemental practices.…”

“…This fingerprint can be established using samples organic, [8][9][10][11] inorganic 6,[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] or isotopic [20][21][22][23][24] profiles which are related to the plant growth conditions such as climatic conditions and elements availability in the soil. Although each one of these strategies provide very interesting and powerful results, the use of a set of variables independents from each other would be able to provides complementary information which could make it a distinct feature in the sourcing their origins.…”

“…16 Unlike inorganic profile, the stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic compositions in plants are strongly related to the climate, mainly water availability, other than temperature, light intensity and nutrients contents on the soil. [29][30][31][32] Although for significant differences the samples must have 6 proved the potentiality of isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) in the establishment of the potential regions of Cannabis productions in Brazil, clearly separating samples from humid and dry regions. However this technique was not satisfactory in identifying the origin of some samples from areas far away from each other that present similar climatic conditions, and in this way, the model shows some overlapping between Midwestern and Amazon groups.…”

“…However this technique was not satisfactory in identifying the origin of some samples from areas far away from each other that present similar climatic conditions, and in this way, the model shows some overlapping between Midwestern and Amazon groups. 6,7 According to the authors, in this case, additional information such as the inorganic profiles could be used to access a better discrimination. 6,7 The aim of this work was to verify the existing differences in the elemental composition of samples seized in the main Brazilian regions of marijuana production, previously separated by their stable isotope results, and use these differences to separate samples according to their origins.…”

Origin of samples of Cannabis sativa through insect fragments associated with compacted hemp drug in South America

“…Efforts to identify shipments of C. sativa through molecular profiles (Castro 2006;Mehmedic et al 2010), as well as through isotropic ratios (Shibuya et al 2006), have been conducted in Brazil; however, judiciary police agencies still do not have a standard operating procedure for this purpose. In 1986, Crosby et al made use of entomological vestiges to identify the geographical origin of a shipment of C. sativa seized in New Zealand.…”