In 2012, the state of Washington passed Initiative 502, which legalized the growth, production, and distribution of recreational cannabis. After four years of legalization and two years of open recreational stores, virtually nothing is known about how legalized cannabis has affected its use. This study estimates consumption trends of cannabis using wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) by quantifying the main metabolite of the active ingredient in cannabis, 11-nor-9-carboxy-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH), in samples from a wastewater treatment plant servicing 150,000 people in Western Washington. Wastewater samples were collected and analyzed from December 1st 2013 through July 31st, 2016 providing for the eight months preceding the implementation of Initiative 502 in 2014 to be determined as background. Annually, over 100 samples are obtained in a stratified random approach as well as daily samples in December and July. Starting July 1st 2016, the state of Washington started the Cannabis Patient Protection Act, which regulated medical as well as recreational stores. Thus this study will show trends in wastewater THC-COOH levels both with the opening of state licensed recreational and the first month of state regulated medicinal stores. Trends in the levels of THC-COOH in the wastewater will be presented in comparison to state tracked sales data trends in this same area.<br/>

Quantification of 11-nor-9-carboxy-tetrahydrocannabinol in wastewater from Washington State to estimate consumption patterns of cannabis use

253rd National Meeting (2017)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.