Characterization of aerosols from hemp-derived pre-roll joints

Abstract

Objective

Availability and consumer use of hemp products is rapidly increasing, but little work has been done to assess aerosol emissions of hemp pre-rolls. The objective of this research was to characterize the aerosol of pre-rolled joints from hemp material enriched for production of cannabigerol (CBG) that were smoked on a test system mimicking human use patterns.

Materials and methods

Aerosol emissions were collected and analyzed using glass microfiber filters and charcoal cartridges. The aerosol was screened for nine phytocannabinoids and 19 terpenes.

Results

Three phytocannabinoids (CBG, cannabichromene (CBC), and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)) were detected and quantified at a mean (SD) concentration of 19.4 (4.7), 0.48 (0.01), and 0.40 (0.04) mg per pre-roll, respectively. Five terpenes ((–)-α-bisabolol, (–)-guaiol, β-caryophyllene, nerolidol, and α-humulene) were detected and quantified at an average concentration of 352.7 (112.0), 194.3 (66.4), 106.0 (50.4), 28.3 (9.3), and 27.7 (11.2) µg per pre-roll, respectively. Particle size distribution testing via aerodynamic particle sizer and inertial impactor showed that average size of emitted aerosols was 0.77 (0.0) and 0.54 (0.1) µm, respectively.

Conclusions

This study describes methodology for characterization of cannabinoid and terpene dose in emitted aerosols and aerosolization efficiency from hemp pre-rolls. It also presents these data for one of the marketed products.

Keywords:

• Cannabigerol
• CBG
• hemp
• aerosol
• emissions
• cannabinoid
• terpene

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Cynthia Turcotte, MSc, and Mehdi Haghdoost, PhD (Canopy Growth Corporation) for their invaluable help in interpreting cannabinoid analyses.

Disclosure statement

Authors JK and TL are full-time employees of Canopy Growth Corporation, a producer and retailer of cannabis and hemp products. No competing financial interests exist for HI, PJK, and JDM, as Lovelace Biomedical is a nonprofit research institution.

Data availability statement

All data underlying this publication are available in the article and in its online supplementary material.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by Canopy Growth Corporation.