Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived 
Compounds: Quality 
Considerations for Clinical 
Research 
Guidance for Industry 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 
Food and Drug Administration 
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) 
 
January 2023 
Pharmaceutical Quality/Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) 
 
   
Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived 
Compounds: Quality 
Considerations for Clinical 
Research 
Guidance for Industry 
 
Additional copies are available from: 
Office of Communications, Division of Drug Information  
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research 
Food and Drug Administration 
10001 New Hampshire Ave., Hillandale Bldg., 4th Floor  
Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002  
Phone: 855-543-3784 or 301-796-3400; Fax: 301-431-6353 
Email: druginfo@fda.hhs.gov  
https://www.fda.gov/drugs/guidance-compliance-regulatory-information/guidances-drugs  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 
Food and Drug Administration 
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) 
January 2023 
Pharmaceutical Quality/Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC)
  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 
 
 
I.  INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................. 1 
II.  BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................... 2 
III.  RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................................. 3 
A.  Sources of Cannabis ....................................................................................................................... 4 
B.  Resources for Information on Quality Considerations .............................................................. 4 
C.  Considerations of Control Status Under the CSA ...................................................................... 8 
  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
 
Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived Compounds: Quality 
Considerations for Clinical Research 
Guidance for Industry1 
 
 
This guidance represents the current thinking of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) on 
this topic. It does not establish any rights for any person and is not binding on FDA or the public. You can 
use an alternative approach if it satisfies the requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations. To 
discuss an alternative approach, contact the FDA office responsible for this guidance as listed on the title 
page.  
 
 
 
 
I.  INTRODUCTION  
 
This guidance outlines FDAs current thinking on several topics relevant to clinical research 
related to the development of human drugs containing cannabis or cannabis-derived 
compounds.2 As defined in section 201(g) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C 
Act), drug includes any product that is intended to diagnose, cure, mitigate, prevent, or treat a 
disease, or any product (other than food) intended to affect the structure or any function of the 
body.3 In general, this means any product (including one that contains cannabis or cannabis-
derived compounds) marketed with a claim of therapeutic benefit, or with any other disease-
related claim, is considered a drug. To be legally marketed in interstate commerce, drugs that are 
not biological products generally must either (1) receive premarket approval by FDA through the 
new drug application (NDA) or abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) process, or (2) for 
certain over-the-counter nonprescription drugs, meet the requirements in the FD&C Act for 
marketing without an approved NDA or ANDA.4 The recommendations in this guidance are 
intended for products that meet the legal definition of a drug under the FD&C Act.  
 
Cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds that may be used in manufacturing human drugs 
include botanical raw materials, extracts, and highly purified substances of botanical origin. This 
guidance provides recommendations for sponsors interested in developing such cannabis and 
cannabis-derived compounds for use in human drugs for clinical research. This guidance does 
not address development of fully synthetic versions of substances that occur in cannabis, 
sometimes known as cannabis-related compounds (e.g., dronabinol), which are regulated like 
other fully synthetic drugs. This guidance is limited to the development of drugs for human use 
and does not cover other FDA-regulated products.  
 
 
1 This guidance has been prepared by the Office of Pharmaceutical Quality in the Center for Drug Evaluation and 
Research at the Food and Drug Administration.  
2 For discussion of terms used in this guidance, see FDA and Cannabis: Research and Drug Approval Process at 
https://www.fda.gov/news-events/public-health-focus/fda-and-cannabis-research-and-drug-approval-process.  
3 See 21 U.S.C. 321(g). 
4 See sections 201(p), 301(d), 505(a), and 505G of the FD&C Act. 
  1  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
 
This guidance addresses the legal definitions and regulatory controls related to cannabis (see 
section II), and it addresses certain questions raised in a public hearing about drugs containing 
cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds.5 The guidance also introduces key FDA regulatory 
concepts to stakeholders who may be less familiar with FDA or our authorities than other drug 
developers. 
 
In general, FDAs guidance documents do not establish legally enforceable responsibilities. 
Instead, guidances describe the Agencys current thinking on a topic and should be viewed only 
as recommendations, unless specific regulatory or statutory requirements are cited. The use of 
the word should in Agency guidances means that something is suggested or recommended, but 
not required. 
 
 
II.  BACKGROUND 
 
The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-334), often referred to as the 2018 
Farm Bill, changed how cannabis is treated under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The 
2018 Farm Bill, which is generally implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(USDA),6 defines hemp as including cannabis and derivatives or extracts of cannabis with no 
more than 0.3 percent by dry weight of the compound delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (see 
section III.C for further discussion).7 The bill removes hemp from the definition of marihuana8 
provided in section 102 of the CSA,9 which means that hemp is no longer a controlled substance 
under Federal law. However, at this time, botanical raw materials, extracts, and derivatives that 
contain cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds with delta-9 THC content above 0.3 percent by 
dry weight remain Schedule I controlled substances under the CSA.10 
 
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is the lead Federal agency for regulating 
controlled substances. Activities related to growing and manufacturing cannabis for use as an 
investigational drug for research must comply with CSA and DEA requirements if the cannabis 
or cannabis-derived compounds exceed the threshold of 0.3 percent delta-9 THC by dry 
weight.11 When submitting an investigational new drug (IND) application, sponsors should 
consider the delta-9 THC content to determine the controlled substance status of any botanical 
raw materials, drug substances, and drug products covered by the submission.12 FDA does not 
enforce the CSA or regulations within DEAs jurisdiction. Sponsors, investigators, and 
manufacturers are encouraged to contact DEA with questions regarding the control status under 
 
5 Scientific Data and Information About Products Containing Cannabis or Cannabis-Derived Compounds. Public 
hearing, May 31, 2019. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/fda-meetings-conferences-and-workshops/scientific-data-
and-information-about-products-containing-cannabis-or-cannabis-derived-compounds  
6 The USDA administers Federal laws regarding hemp production. 
7 For a detailed discussion of the calculation of total delta-9 THC content (i.e., delta-9 THC and 
tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA)), including the proper treatment of measurement uncertainty, see 7 CFR 990.1 
and 990.25 and any succeeding regulations. 
8 The CSA uses the spelling marihuana; marijuana is a common alternative. 
9 See 21 U.S.C. 802(16). 
10 See 21 CFR 1308.11 Schedule I (d)(31)(i). 
11 See 21 CFR 1318. 
12 As defined in 21 CFR 314.3 
  2  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
 
the CSA of the cannabis or cannabis-derived materials (e.g., botanical raw materials, drug 
substances, and drug products) and applicable DEA regulatory requirements for Schedule I 
cannabis-derived materials.  
 
The 2018 Farm Bill preserved FDAs authority to regulate products containing cannabis or 
cannabis-derived compounds under the FD&C Act and section 351 of the Public Health Service 
Act. Human drugs that contain cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds (regardless of whether 
the products fall within the definition of hemp under the 2018 Farm Bill) are generally subject to 
the same authorities and requirements, including quality standards, as FDA-regulated drug 
products containing any other substance. As part of drug development, sponsors may conduct 
clinical trials under an IND to determine if a drug is safe and effective for a particular intended 
use.13 The IND provides a mechanism for those developing a new drug to conduct studies and 
ship their proposed drug to clinical trial sites.14 The data obtained from these studies may later 
become part of an NDA, which is then used to formally propose that FDA approve a new drug 
for sale in the United States. Entities submitting an IND are referred to as sponsors or 
investigators,15 while those submitting an NDA are referred to as applicants.16 Early interaction 
with FDA may prevent clinical issues and aid sponsors in developing a complete IND.17 
 
 
III.  RECOMMENDATIONS 
 
Sponsors, including sponsor-investigators, must meet all FDA requirements to conduct human 
clinical trials, regardless of their source of cannabis or any other botanical product under study in 
the trial.18 FDAs website contains information, including guidance documents, to assist 
sponsors in preparing INDs both generally19 and for cannabis specifically.20 This section 
describes FDAs recommendations regarding sources of cannabis for clinical research and 
resources for information on quality and control status considerations.  
 
13 Clinical trials conducted under an IND are generally divided into three phases: phase 1 includes the initial 
introduction of the investigational drug into humans; phase 2 includes studies conducted to evaluate the 
effectiveness of the drug for a particular indication or indications in patients with the disease or condition; phase 3 
includes expanded studies that are intended to further assess the safety and effectiveness of the drug to evaluate the 
overall benefit-risk relationship of the drug. For more information on the phases of an investigation, see  
21 CFR 312.21. 
14 21 CFR part 312. For general information about the different types of applications, see 
https://www.fda.gov/drugs/how-drugs-are-developed-and-approved/types-applications. 
15 21 CFR 312.3 
16 21 CFR 314.3 
17 See the guidance for industry and review staff Best Practices for Communication Between IND Sponsors and 
FDA During Drug Development (December 2017). We update guidances periodically. For the most recent version 
of a guidance, check the FDA guidance web page at https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-
guidance-documents. 
18 21 CFR part 312 
19 For general information about the IND process, see https://www.fda.gov/drugs/types-applications/investigational-
new-drug-ind-application.  
20 For information specific to cannabis, see https://www.fda.gov/news-events/public-health-focus/fda-and-cannabis-
research-and-drug-approval-process. 
  3  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
 
A.  Sources of Cannabis 
 
For many years, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Drug Supply Program (DSP)21 
provided the only domestic, federally legal source of cannabis for clinical research. Cannabis for 
the DSP is grown under contract by the University of Mississippi at the National Center for 
Natural Products Research. While the NIDA DSP continues to be a domestic federally legal 
source of cannabis over the 0.3 percent delta-9 THC threshold for clinical research, it is no 
longer the only federally legal source.22 This development gives sponsors and investigators of 
clinical studies new sourcing options that do not involve the NIDA DSP.23 Additionally, 7 CFR 
990 and the changes made by the 2018 Farm Bill allow hemp, as defined in the bill24 (i.e., 
cannabis at or below 0.3 percent delta-9 THC on a dry weight basis), to serve as a source of 
cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds for drug development.  
 
In light of the developments described above, FDA is clarifying its current thinking on sources of 
cannabis for clinical research: 
 
  Sources of cannabis with not more than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC on a dry weight basis 
and those over 0.3 percent delta-9 THC on a dry weight basis may be used for clinical 
research if deemed to be of adequate quality by FDA when reviewed as part of an IND 
(see section III.B).  
 
  Sponsors and investigators may use the NIDA DSP as a source of cannabis over the 0.3 
percent delta-9 THC threshold, or they may use other sources authorized by DEA to 
provide Schedule I cannabis materials for research. Sponsors can find DEA regulations 
for importation of controlled substances in 21 CFR 1312. A list of DEA-authorized 
growers of Schedule I cannabis is available online.25 We refer sponsors and investigators 
to the DEA for guidance and answers to frequently asked questions about cannabis 
production and sources for research.  
 
B.  Resources for Information on Quality Considerations 
 
As part of an IND for any drug (including drugs that contain cannabis or cannabis-derived 
compounds), sponsors are expected to show that they can consistently manufacture a quality 
product. In each phase of clinical investigation, sponsors must submit sufficient information to 
demonstrate the identity, quality, purity, and potency or strength of the investigational drug.26 
The amount of information appropriate to meet this expectation increases with successive stages 
of drug development. The guidance for industry Content and Format of Investigational New 
 
21 For information about NIDAs DSP, see https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/marijuana/nidas-role-in-
providing-marijuana-research. 
22 See 21 CFR 1318 for information on procedures governing the registration of manufacturers seeking to plant, 
grow, cultivate, or harvest marihuana. 
23 The Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act (Public Law 117-215) includes provisions 
related to cannabidiol and marijuana registration, research applications, and research protocols. The statute is not 
specifically addressed in this guidance, which focuses on quality considerations for human drug development. 
24 See 7 U.S.C. 1639o. 
25 See https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drugreg/marihuana.htm.  
26 See 21 CFR 312.23 for the types of information required in an IND for each phase of a clinical study.   
  4  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
 
Drug Applications (INDs) for Phase 1 Studies of Drugs, Including Well Characterized, 
Therapeutic, Biotechnology-Derived Products (November 1995) provides recommendations for 
what data to provide for phase 1 investigations, and the guidance for industry CGMP for Phase 1 
Investigational Drugs (July 2008) provides recommendations for how to follow current good 
manufacturing practice (CGMP) for drugs in phase 1 clinical investigations.27 The regulations in 
21 CFR parts 210 and 211 govern CGMP for phase 2 and phase 3 investigations and for 
marketed drug products. The guidance for industry INDs for Phase 2 and Phase 3 Studies 
Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls Information (May 2003) contains FDAs 
recommendations for how to address chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC) in phase 2 
and phase 3 investigations. Sponsors must provide a description of the investigational drug 
substance, which should include quantitative data regarding phytochemicals that are present in 
their proposed drug including but not limited to cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids.28 
Although the guidance for industry Analytical Procedures and Methods Validation for Drugs 
and Biologics (July 2015) does not address method validation in an IND, sponsors preparing 
INDs may find the recommendations in this guidance helpful. In addition, sponsors can refer to 
the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) draft guidance for industry Q2(R2) 
Validation of Analytical Procedures (August 2022)29 for further recommendations regarding 
method validation. For a marketing application (e.g., an NDA), submissions must include a 
detailed description of all analytical methods used.30 When an applicant proposes a departure 
from compendial or other standard methods relevant to the drug, the applicant should include 
justification for these departures in the application.  
 
Guidance documents on pharmaceutical quality are available on FDAs website.31 The United 
States Pharmacopeia (USP) and the National Formulary (NF)32 contain chapters on tests, 
equipment, and analytical methods for drug quality aspects such as identification, excipients, 
impurities, and microbiological controls for nonsterile (e.g., non-aqueous inhalation drugs, oral 
drugs) and sterile (e.g., aqueous inhalation drugs33) products. The draft guidance for industry 
Microbiological Quality Considerations in Non-Sterile Drug Manufacturing (September 2021)34 
contains additional information on control of objectionable microorganisms35 in nonsterile 
products. 
 
The following additional principles and recommendations are particularly relevant for 
developing drugs that contain cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds: 
 
27 We update guidances periodically. For the most recent version of a guidance, check the FDA guidance web page 
at https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents. 
28 See 21 CFR 312.23(a)(7)(iv)(a) and the guidance for industry Botanical Drug Development (December 2016) for 
information regarding quantitative description of the drug substance used in the drug product. 
29 When final, this guidance will represent the FDAs current thinking on this topic. 
30 See 21 CFR 314.50(d). 
31 For resources related to pharmaceutical quality, see https://www.fda.gov/drugs/development-approval-process-
drugs/pharmaceutical-quality-resources and https://www.fda.gov/drugs/pharmaceutical-quality-resources/guidances-
and-manuals-pharmaceutical-quality.  
32 https://www.usp.org  
33 See 21 CFR 200.51. 
34 When final, this guidance will represent the FDAs current thinking on this topic. 
35 See 21 CFR 211.113(a). The term objectionable microorganisms as used here refers to organisms that are 
objectionable due to their detrimental effect on products or their potential harm to patients, or it refers to an 
objectionable total number of organisms. See the Federal Register of Sep. 29, 1978 (43 FR 45053).  
  5  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
 
  Cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds are held to the same regulatory standards as 
any other botanical raw material, botanical drug substance, or botanical drug product. 
The general considerations and recommendations for botanical drugs contained in the 
guidance for industry Botanical Drug Development (December 2016) provide core 
principles for conducting clinical research on botanical drugs, including drugs that 
contain cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds. In addition, FDA recommends that 
those pursuing drug development using cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds 
consider the following principles and documents: 
 
  Adequate characterization of cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds, for 

example via a chemical fingerprint, is critical to ensuring batch-to-batch 
consistency. 
 
  USP General Chapter <61> Microbiological Examination of Nonsterile Products: 

Microbial Enumeration Tests. 
 
  USP General Chapter <62> Microbiological Examination of Nonsterile Products: 

Tests for Specified Microorganisms. 
 
  USP General Chapter <71> Sterility Tests. 

 
  USP General Chapter <232> Elemental ImpuritiesLimits. 

 
  Tests for residual pesticides should include pesticides routinely used in the 

botanical raw materials countries of origin. See USP General Chapter <561> 
Articles of Botanical Origin for further information. 
 
  USP General Chapter <563> Identification of Articles of Botanical Origin. 

 
  USP General Chapter <1111> Microbiological Examination of Nonsterile 

Products: Acceptance Criteria for Pharmaceutical Preparations and Substances 
for Pharmaceutical Use. 
 
  USP General Chapter <1225> Validation of Compendial Procedures. 

 
  Quality tests, including those specific to dosage form, can be found in the topic-specific 
annexes to the ICH guidance for industry Q4B Evaluation and Recommendation of 
Pharmacopoeial Texts for Use in the ICH Regions (February 2008) and in various USP 
chapters.  
 
  Highly purified substances of botanical origin are considered analogous to conventional 
synthetic single-chemical active pharmaceutical ingredients for the purposes of drug 
  6  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
 
development (including nonclinical considerations)36 and FDA review.37 However, a 
naturally occurring compound isolated from a botanical source would be expected to 
have a different impurity profile from the corresponding synthetically produced cannabis-
related compound, and impurities for the naturally occurring compound should be 
controlled accordingly. 
 
  If a device is to be used in combination with a drug (e.g., when the product is delivered 
via an inhaler or other device), the product is considered to be a combination product38 
and must comply with the CGMP requirements in 21 CFR part 4, subpart A, including 
requirements for design controls (see 21 CFR 820.30).39 
 
  Sponsors and applicants should consider selection of a container closure system or device 
constituent part carefully. As drug development progresses, applicants pursuing FDA 
approval should generate adequate characterization information and safety assessment 
data for extractable and leachable compounds to support a marketing application. 
However, when there are specific concerns (e.g., pediatric patient populations, device-
related concerns), data to justify the safety should be submitted earlier in development. In 
these cases, FDA recommends submitting these data early in the IND phase and sponsors 
are encouraged to discuss the container closure system or device with the review division. 
The evaluation of extractable and leachable compounds under the specific conditions of 
use of the proposed drug, including identification of qualification thresholds, should be 
consistent with: 
 
  USP General Chapter <1663> Assessment of Extractables Associated with 

Pharmaceutical Packaging/Delivery Systems  
 
   USP General Chapter <1664> Assessment of Drug Product Leachables 

Associated with Pharmaceutical Packaging/Delivery Systems  
 
  Guidance for industry Container Closure Systems for Packaging Human Drugs 

and Biologics (May 1999) 
 
  As described in the guidance for industry Botanical Drug Development, IND sponsors 
may submit literature to support early clinical development. However, in general, 
 
36 See in particular the ICH guidance for industry M3(R2) Nonclinical Safety Studies for the Conduct of Human 
Clinical Trials and Marketing Authorization for Pharmaceuticals (January 2010) and the guidance for industry 
Nonclinical Safety Evaluation of Drug or Biologic Combinations (March 2006). 
37 For information about how FDA reviews drug applications, see https://www.fda.gov/drugs/development-
approval-process-drugs/how-drugs-are-developed-and-approved and https://www.fda.gov/drugs/guidance-
compliance-regulatory-information/guidances-drugs. 
38 A combination product is composed of two or more of the three types of medical products (i.e., drug, device, and 
biological product) that are either physically, chemically, or otherwise combined into a single entity, copackaged 
together, or under certain circumstances distributed separately to be used together as a cross-labeled combination 
product. See 21 CFR 3.2(e). 
39 Further information about the CGMP requirements for combination products is available in the guidance for 
industry and FDA staff Current Good Manufacturing Practice Requirements for Combination Products (January 
2017).  
  7  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
 
chemical composition information found in published studies of test materials is not 
adequate for bridging to a proposed botanical drug product because the particular 
botanical drug product under review may differ from that of the published study. In 
addition, the available literature may not sufficiently describe the botanical drug and its 
production. Therefore, FDA does not recommend that applicants pursuing FDA approval 
of an NDA rely on published literature in place of data from a full toxicology program to 
support development of a botanical drug product for phase 3 trials and beyond. 
 
  Assays to characterize the metabolic profile of major cannabinoids in humans and in 
toxicology species should be developed early to avoid delays in development. 
Metabolism data are often not available for most cannabinoids. Human-specific and 
disproportionate metabolites (i.e., human metabolite levels that are higher than animal 
levels) should be adequately characterized for safety prior to phase 3 clinical studies.40 
The major human metabolite of cannabidiol, 7-COOH-CBD, is expressed 
disproportionately in humans compared to animals; FDA recommends dedicated 
toxicology studies for this metabolite. 
 
C.  Considerations of Control Status Under the CSA 
 
The 2018 Farm Bills change to hemps control status41 has significantly reduced DEAs 
regulatory requirements for cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds that fall under the 
definition of hemp. However, if the cannabis does not meet the definition of hemp (i.e., it 
exceeds the threshold of 0.3 percent delta-9 THC by dry weight), activities related to growing 
and manufacturing cannabis for use as an investigational drug for research must still comply with 
applicable CSA and DEA requirements.42,43,44 Sponsors and investigators proposing drug 
development activities involving controlled substances should consult DEA about the applicable 
requirements. Sponsors and investigators may find it useful to calculate the delta-9 THC content 
in their proposed cannabis or cannabis-derived investigational drug product early in the 
development process to gain insight into their products potential abuse liability and control 
status. 
 
Calculating the delta-9 THC content may provide sponsors and investigators with information 
about the control status of a proposed botanical raw material, intermediate, drug substance, or 
drug product. However, sponsors and investigators should not rely on the 0.3 percent delta-9 
 
40 See the FDA guidance for industry Safety Testing of Drug Metabolites (March 2020) and the ICH guidances for 
industry M3(R2) Nonclinical Safety Studies for the Conduct of Human Clinical Trials and Marketing Authorization 
for Pharmaceuticals (January 2010) and M3(R2) Nonclinical Safety Studies for the Conduct of Human Clinical 
Trials and Marketing Authorization for Pharmaceuticals: Questions and Answers (March 2013). 
41 See 21 CFR 1308 for further information on the control status of cannabis and 7 CFR 990 for further information 
on the domestic hemp production program. 
42 See 21 CFR 1318. 
43 See section 303(f) of the CSA. 
44 See 21 CFR 1301.18 and 1312.11 in particular. General regulations implementing the CSA can be found in 21 
CFR parts 1300 et seq. 
  8  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
 
THC by dry weight threshold when evaluating tetrahydrocannabinols as impurities for the 
purposes of quality control and application submission (i.e., CMC) (see section B).45 
 
Sponsors using cannabis botanical raw materials in their drug development activities must 
comply with 7 CFR 990 (or any superseding regulations). Sponsors should also refer to USDA 
guidelines for sampling46 and for testing47 methods for evaluating the level of delta-9 THC in a 
cannabis botanical raw material. 
 
An IND for a human drug containing cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds should include, 
along with any other required information, quantitative data (such as the analyses described in 7 
CFR 990.3(a)(3) and 7 CFR 990.25 and any subsequently created regulations) indicating the 
percent delta-9 THC by dry weight in the botanical raw material. 
 
In general, the percentage of delta-9 THC in botanical raw materials is calculated as the amount 
of delta-9 THC (and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA)) naturally present in a sample of the 
material relative to the dry weight of the botanical raw material sample prior to extraction or 
other manufacturing steps. However, this type of dry weight calculation has limited utility for 
intermediates such as solutions or extracts in solution (whether aqueous or non-aqueous) and for 
finished products of various dosage forms. Therefore, FDA recommends that sponsors, 
investigators, or applicants evaluating intermediates or finished products that contain cannabis or 
cannabis-derived compounds base the calculation of total delta-9 THC percentage (i.e., the 
THCA and THC48) on the composition of the formulation with the amount of water removed,49 
including any water that excipients may contain. 
 
The recommended calculation for delta-9 THC content should not be used for other purposes 
such as CMC.  
 
Sponsors should submit documentation regarding the steps of the delta-9 THC calculation when 
they submit the IND. 
 
  For a solution-based material: 
 
1.  Obtain a sample of the solution and determine its mass. 
 
2.  Calculate the water content (in mass units) of the sample of the solution. 
 
3.  Calculate the mass, or mg amount, of delta-9 THC (as total THC, combined with 
mass-adjusted THCA) present in the sample. 
 
45 See 21 CFR 312.23 for the types of information required in an IND for each phase of a clinical study, and 21 CFR 
314.50 for NDA content and format. 
46 See USDAs Sampling Guidelines for Hemp Growing Facilities, available at 
https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/SamplingGuidelinesforHemp.pdf. 
47 See USDAs Testing Guidelines for Identifying Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Concentration in Hemp, 
available at https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/TestingGuidelinesforHemp.pdf. 
48 See 7 CFR 990.3(a)(3). 
49 See USP General Chapter <731> Loss on Drying for the calculation of the Loss on Drying value and General 
Chapter <921> Water Determination for the calculation of water content (Karl Fisher method). 
  9  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
 
 
4.  Calculate the percentage delta-9 THC on a dry weight basis by dividing the mass 
of total delta-9 THC by the water-adjusted mass of the sample, adjusted to 
exclude the mass of the sample attributed to water present in the sample, as 
follows (M = mass):  
 
M
(THC)
THC percentage   
M M
(sample) (water)
  = 100
 
  For a solid oral dosage form (e.g., tablet or capsule), this percentage is similarly 
calculated and would be the weight of delta-9 THC in the dosage unit divided by the total 
water-adjusted formulation weight multiplied by 100. 
 
  For oral capsules, the mass of the capsule itself should not be included in the 

denominator weight. Include only the capsule fill. 
 
  The water-adjusted formulation weight used in the calculation should reflect the 

removal (in mass units such as mg) of the experimentally determined water 
content present in the dosage unit. 
 
  We recommend that you consult DEA regarding the control status of cannabis or 
cannabis-derived materials in manufacturing (i.e., botanical raw materials, intermediates, 
or drug substances) or investigational drug products that are under development. We note 
that, even if the starting materials meet the definition of hemp, intermediates or drug 
products that contain greater than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC by dry weight may no longer 
meet the definition of hemp and may be considered Schedule I controlled substances.  
 
  Cannabis-derived drug products may raise concerns about drug abuse liability. During the 
NDA review process, FDA may need to evaluate such a product for potential scheduling, 
or for transfer to a different control schedule (i.e., rescheduling), under the CSA. Please 
refer to the guidance for industry Assessment of Abuse Potential of Drugs (January 2017) 
for detailed considerations of data that you should collect during the IND stage of 
development so that you are able to provide a complete data package with your NDA 
submission. FDAs review of the NDA may include an abuse potential assessment to 
inform drug product labeling and to provide DEA with a scientific and medical 
evaluation of the drugs abuse potential to allow for drug scheduling or rescheduling 
under the CSA, if necessary. 
  10