Cannabinoid receptor 1 binding activity and quantitative analysis of Cannabis sativa L. smoke and vapor

Cannabis sativa L. (cannabis) extracts, vapor produced by the Volcano® vaporizer and smoke made from burning cannabis joints were analyzed by GC-flame ionization detecter (FID), GC-MS and HPLC. Three different medicinal cannabis varieties were investigated Bedrocan® , Bedrobinol® and Bediol® . Cannabinoids plus other components such as terpenoids and pyrolytic by-products were identified and quantified in all samples. Cannabis vapor and smoke was tested for cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) binding activity and compared to pure Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC). The top five major compounds in Bedrocan® extracts were Δ9-THC, cannabigerol (CBG), terpinolene, myrcene, and cis-ocimene in Bedrobinol® Δ9-THC, myrcene, CBG, cannabichromene (CBC), and camphene in Bediol® cannabidiol (CBD), Δ9-THC, myrcene, CBC, and CBG. The major components in Bedrocan® vapor (>1.0 mg/g) were Δ9-THC, terpinolene, myrcene, CBG, cis-ocimene and CBD in Bedrobinol® Δ9-THC, myrcene and CBD in Bediol® CBD, Δ9-THC, myrcene, CBC and terpinolene. The major components in Bedrocan® smoke (>1.0 mg/g) were Δ9-THC, cannabinol (CBN), terpinolene, CBG, myrcene and cis-ocimene in Bedrobinol® Δ9-THC, CBN and myrcene in Bediol® CBD, Δ9-THC, CBN, myrcene, CBC and terpinolene. There was no statistically significant difference between CB1 binding of pure Δ9-THC compared to cannabis smoke and vapor at an equivalent concentration of Δ9-THC.