U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Funding & Awards
 Research and Development Using High-level Quantum Chemistry Calculations for the Creation of a Rapid Field Test for the Identification and Differentiation of Hemp and Marijuana
Award Information
Awardee
              RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, THE
Award #
              15PNIJ-22-GG-04423-SLFO
Funding Category
              Competitive Discretionary
Location
                    ALBANY, NY
Congressional District
              20
Status
              Open
Funding First Awarded
              2022
Total funding (to date)
              $604,176
Original Solicitation
              NIJ FY22 Research and Development in Forensic Sciences for Criminal Justice Purposes
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2022, $604,176)
The Department of Justice has identified several areas that require focused attention to improve criminal justice practice in the seized drugs discipline, including development of a “field test for discrimination of hemp versus marijuana”. This is necessary because hemp and marijuana plants are simply variants of the same species, Cannabis sativa, making them difficult to differentiate from one another. While both varieties contain THC, marijuana and hemp differ in the amount of this psychoactive molecule present. Federal laws define C. sativa with >0.3% THC as the illegal drug-type (i.e., marijuana), while material with ≤0.3% is the legal fiber-type (i.e., hemp). This definition has imposed severe challenges on crime labs, including the dramatic increase in workload that results from the need to analyze and quantify the THC content of incoming C. sativa samples so that seized material can be appropriately designated. Therefore, a method to triage C. sativa plant material in the field is urgently needed.
This project seeks to develop a screening method to differentiate between hemp and marijuana. The development of an approach to rapidly distinguish between these C. sativa varieties would aid forensic investigation and triage of evidence prior to submission to forensic laboratories for confirmatory testing. This project leverages the power of high-level computational chemistry calculations for predicting the spectroscopic characteristics of cannabinoid/metal complexes, and uses the information gleaned to create a reagent that, when combined with C. sativa, will register a colorimetric or fluorescence response (when exposed to UV light of appropriate wavelength) that will be distinct for marijuana versus hemp. This project will assess the binding interactions of cannabinoids with metals using computational calculations, at a high level of theory, for prediction of those that will yield differential color, UV-Vis and/or fluorescence characteristics (Specific Aim I). These high-level quantum calculations will inform the experimental assessment of the differential color and fluorescence characteristics of cannabinoid/metal binding (including THC/Metal and CBD/Metal pairs) (Specific Aim II). To our knowledge, this will be the first method that utilizes computational chemistry to inform experimental design regarding forensic science research. The main anticipated outcome will be the creation of a preliminary test with high sensitivity and specificity to distinguish hemp and marijuana, which will ultimately aid forensic practitioners in decreasing testing backlogs. Semi-annual and final progress and financial reports, as well as scholarly products (e.g., peer-reviewed articles) will be produced. CA/NCF

  
Date Created: September 27, 2022
    
          Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              Current Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Forthcoming Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Expired Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
    
      
            
            
            
      Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
    
      
            
            
            
      Fellowship & Student Programs
    
      
            
            
            
      Travel Scholarships
    
      
            
            
            
      NIJ Challenge ProgramSimilar Awards
        
                      Quantifying the accuracy of low quality DNA sample analysis from genotyping to genealogical searching and integration as a bioinformatic pipeline
                  Impact of Relic DNA on Forensic Microbiome Applications in Criminal Investigations
                  The Low-Down on Methamphetamine Isomers: Prevalence and Pharmacology in Humans
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov