Quantitative Determination of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol in Cadaver Blood

Abstract
A long-term program involving the quantitative identification of cannabinoids in biological fluids made it clear that there was a significant need for the development of an accurate and reliable assay procedure for the determination of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) in blood samples obtained from autopsy. It is frequently of considerable concern to know whether a subject was under the influence of marijuana at the time of death, and since Δ9-THC is the major psychoactive agent present in marijuana, a definitive identification of Δ9-THC in blood from an autopsy sample presents direct and unquestionable evidence of the subject's use of this drug.