Citation

Caligiani A, Palla G, Bernardelli B. J. Forensic Sci. 2006; 51(5): 1096-1100.

Affiliation

Dipartimento di Chimica Organica e Industriale, Università di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 17A, 43100-Parma, Italy. augusta.caligiani@unipr.it

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1556-4029.2006.00202.x

PMID

17018088

Abstract

This report describes the analytical characterization of 16 hashish samples confiscated in Italy. The samples were solvent extracted and subjected to GC-MS analysis for the separation and quantitation of the main cannabinoids. One of the analyzed samples was shown to contain extraneous compounds, identified as resin acids characteristic of colophony (rosin). Colophony is a natural resinous product obtained from various species of pine, spruce, and larch; it is a skin sensitizer and its fumes produce nonspecific irritation that can cause bronchial asthma. Similar adulterations of hashish have not been reported previously; therefore, at present there is no information about the effects of smoking colophony or a combination of hashish and colophony. It is presumed, however, that such a combination would be highly detrimental to the health of the user.

Language: en