The imperatives and challenges of analyzing Cannabis edibles

The study of Cannabis sativa (L.) is growing in importance due to the many medicinal and pharmacological benefits of the plant. These benefits are exhibited by its most abundant constituents, the cannabinoid and terpene molecules. Cannabis-based products can be found in many different shapes and forms, such as raw plant material and extracts, which can be consumed by themselves or prepared in different ways to make them more attractive for human consumption. Among the breadth of these products, the most challenging to analyze are edibles due to the complexity of the matrices, which vary among recipes and can potentially require a myriad of sample preparation and cleanup techniques before analysis. The consumption of edibles has rapidly increased due to increased availability, ease of use, and reduced adverse health effects relative to smoking. Even so, some authorities are moving to ban edibles because of the difficulty associated with their quality control. Different extraction techniques may be required based on the type of matrix and the possible related interferences present. Here, the most common techniques for food sample preparation are reviewed, with an eye towards their use for analysis of cannabis edibles.