BACKGROUND: Generally, urinary 11-nor-9-carboxy-Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THCCOOH) after alkaline hydrolysis is monitored to detect cannabis exposure, although last use may have been weeks prior in chronic cannabis users. Delta9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and 11-hydroxy-THC (11-OH-THC) concentrations in urine following Escherichia coli beta-glucuronidase hydrolysis were proposed as biomarkers of recent (within 8h) cannabis use. OBJECTIVE: To test the validity of THC and 11-OH-THC in urine as indicators of recent cannabis use. METHODS: Monitor urinary cannabinoid excretion in 33 chronic cannabis smokers who resided on a secure research unit under 24h continuous medical surveillance. All urine specimens were collected individually ad libidum for up to 30 days, were hydrolyzed with a tandem E. coli beta-glucuronidase/base procedure, and analyzed for THC, 11-OH-THC and THCCOOH by one- and two-dimensional-cryotrap gas chromatography mass spectrometry (2D-GCMS) with limits of quantification of 2.5 ng/mL. RESULTS: Extended excretion of THC and 11-OH-THC in chronic cannabis users' urine was observed during monitored abstinence; 14 of 33 participants had measurable THC in specimens collected at least 24h after abstinence initiation. Seven subjects had measurable THC in urine for 3, 3, 4, 7, 7, 12, and 24 days after cannabis cessation. 11-OH-THC and THCCOOH were detectable in urine specimens from one heavy, chronic cannabis user for at least 24 days. CONCLUSION: For the first time, extended urinary excretion of THC and 11-OH-THC is documented for at least 24 days, negating their effectiveness as biomarkers of recent cannabis exposure, and substantiating long terminal elimination times for urinary cannabinoids following chronic cannabis smoking.
BACKGROUND: Generally, urinary 11-nor-9-carboxy-Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THCCOOH) after alkaline hydrolysis is monitored to detect cannabis exposure, although last use may have been weeks prior in chronic cannabis users. Delta9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and 11-hydroxy-THC (11-OH-THC) concentrations in urine following Escherichia coli beta-glucuronidase hydrolysis were proposed as biomarkers of recent (within 8h) cannabis use. OBJECTIVE: To test the validity of THC and 11-OH-THC in urine as indicators of recent cannabis use. METHODS: Monitor urinary cannabinoid excretion in 33 chronic cannabis smokers who resided on a secure research unit under 24h continuous medical surveillance. All urine specimens were collected individually ad libidum for up to 30 days, were hydrolyzed with a tandem E. coli beta-glucuronidase/base procedure, and analyzed for THC, 11-OH-THC and THCCOOH by one- and two-dimensional-cryotrap gas chromatography mass spectrometry (2D-GCMS) with limits of quantification of 2.5 ng/mL. RESULTS: Extended excretion of THC and 11-OH-THC in chronic cannabis users' urine was observed during monitored abstinence; 14 of 33 participants had measurable THC in specimens collected at least 24h after abstinence initiation. Seven subjects had measurable THC in urine for 3, 3, 4, 7, 7, 12, and 24 days after cannabis cessation. 11-OH-THC and THCCOOH were detectable in urine specimens from one heavy, chronic cannabis user for at least 24 days. CONCLUSION: For the first time, extended urinary excretion of THC and 11-OH-THC is documented for at least 24 days, negating their effectiveness as biomarkers of recent cannabis exposure, and substantiating long terminal elimination times for urinary cannabinoids following chronic cannabis smoking.
Authors: Suzaynn F Schick; Benjamin C Blount; Peyton Jacob; Najat A Saliba; John T Bernert; Ahmad El Hellani; Peter Jatlow; R Steven Pappas; Lanqing Wang; Jonathan Foulds; Arunava Ghosh; Stephen S Hecht; John C Gomez; Jessica R Martin; Clementina Mesaros; Sanjay Srivastava; Gideon St Helen; Robert Tarran; Pawel K Lorkiewicz; Ian A Blair; Heather L Kimmel; Claire M Doerschuk; Neal L Benowitz; Aruni Bhatnagar Journal: Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol Date: 2017-05-18 Impact factor: 5.464
Authors: Marilyn A Huestis; Cristina Sempio; Matthew N Newmeyer; Maria Andersson; Allan J Barnes; Osama A Abulseoud; Benjamin C Blount; Jennifer Schroeder; Michael L Smith Journal: J Anal Toxicol Date: 2020-10-12 Impact factor: 3.367
Authors: Mallory J E Loflin; Brian D Kiluk; Marilyn A Huestis; Will M Aklin; Alan J Budney; Kathleen M Carroll; Deepak Cyril D'Souza; Robert H Dworkin; Kevin M Gray; Deborah S Hasin; Dustin C Lee; Bernard Le Foll; Frances R Levin; Joshua A Lile; Barbara J Mason; Aimee L McRae-Clark; Ivan Montoya; Erica N Peters; Tatiana Ramey; Dennis C Turk; Ryan Vandrey; Roger D Weiss; Eric C Strain Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2020-04-26 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: Dayong Lee; Erin L Karschner; Garry Milman; Allan J Barnes; Robert S Goodwin; Marilyn A Huestis Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2012-11-10 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: Nathalie A Desrosiers; Dayong Lee; Karl B Scheidweiler; Marta Concheiro-Guisan; David A Gorelick; Marilyn A Huestis Journal: Anal Bioanal Chem Date: 2013-12-01 Impact factor: 4.142