{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,21]],"date-time":"2026-02-21T12:55:22Z","timestamp":1771678522395,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":25,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,6,8]],"date-time":"2024-06-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1717804800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)","award":["https:\/\/doi.org\/10.54499\/UIDB\/00709\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["https:\/\/doi.org\/10.54499\/UIDB\/00709\/2020"]}]},{"name":"Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)","award":["https:\/\/doi.org\/10.54499\/UIDP\/00709\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["https:\/\/doi.org\/10.54499\/UIDP\/00709\/2020"]}]},{"name":"Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)","award":["https:\/\/doi.org\/10.54499\/2020.09070.BD"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["https:\/\/doi.org\/10.54499\/2020.09070.BD"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Molecules"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Cannabis-based products have gained attention in recent years for their perceived therapeutic benefits (with cannabinoids such as THC and CBD) and widespread availability. However, these products often lack accurate labelling regarding their cannabinoid content. Our study, conducted with products available in Portugal, revealed significant discrepancies between label claims and actual cannabinoid compositions. A fully validated method was developed for the characterisation of different products acquired from pharmacies and street shops (beverages, herbal samples, oils, and cosmetic products) using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a diode array detector. Linearity ranged from 0.4 to 100 \u00b5g\/mL (0.04\u201310 \u00b5g\/mg) (THC, 8-THC, CBD, CBG, CBDA, CBGA), 0.1\u2013100 \u00b5g\/mL (0.01\u201310 \u00b5g\/mg) (CBN), 0.4\u2013250 \u00b5g\/mL (0.04\u201325 \u00b5g\/mg) (THCA-A), and 0.8\u2013100 \u00b5g\/mL (0.08\u201310 \u00b5g\/mg) (CBCA). Among sampled beverages, none contained detectable cannabinoids, despite suggestive packaging. Similarly, oils often differed from the declared cannabinoid compositions, with some containing significantly higher CBD concentrations than labelled. These inconsistencies raise serious concerns regarding consumer safety and informed decision-making. Moreover, our findings underscore the need for stringent regulation and standardised testing protocols to ensure the accuracy and safety of cannabis-based products.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules29122737","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,6,10]],"date-time":"2024-06-10T08:59:06Z","timestamp":1718009946000},"page":"2737","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["Characterisation of Cannabis-Based Products Marketed for Medical and Non-Medical Use Purchased in Portugal"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"29","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4181-9130","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Bruno","family":"Pires","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Centro de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o em Ci\u00eancias da Sa\u00fade, Faculdade de Ci\u00eancias da Sa\u00fade da Universidade da Beira Interior (CICS-UBI), 6200-506 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"},{"name":"Laboratorio de F\u00e1rmaco-Toxicologia-UBIMedical, Universidade da Beira Interior, 6200-000 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2517-7801","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Patrik","family":"Oliveira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centro de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o em Ci\u00eancias da Sa\u00fade, Faculdade de Ci\u00eancias da Sa\u00fade da Universidade da Beira Interior (CICS-UBI), 6200-506 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"},{"name":"Laboratorio de F\u00e1rmaco-Toxicologia-UBIMedical, Universidade da Beira Interior, 6200-000 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3199-1866","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ana Y.","family":"Sim\u00e3o","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centro de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o em Ci\u00eancias da Sa\u00fade, Faculdade de Ci\u00eancias da Sa\u00fade da Universidade da Beira Interior (CICS-UBI), 6200-506 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"},{"name":"Laboratorio de F\u00e1rmaco-Toxicologia-UBIMedical, Universidade da Beira Interior, 6200-000 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Jo\u00e3o","family":"Reis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centro de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o em Ci\u00eancias da Sa\u00fade, Faculdade de Ci\u00eancias da Sa\u00fade da Universidade da Beira Interior (CICS-UBI), 6200-506 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Sofia","family":"Ramos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centro de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o em Ci\u00eancias da Sa\u00fade, Faculdade de Ci\u00eancias da Sa\u00fade da Universidade da Beira Interior (CICS-UBI), 6200-506 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3333-5977","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ana Paula","family":"Duarte","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centro de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o em Ci\u00eancias da Sa\u00fade, Faculdade de Ci\u00eancias da Sa\u00fade da Universidade da Beira Interior (CICS-UBI), 6200-506 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"},{"name":"Laboratorio de F\u00e1rmaco-Toxicologia-UBIMedical, Universidade da Beira Interior, 6200-000 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1661-0367","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Cl\u00e1udia","family":"Margalho","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Servi\u00e7o de Qu\u00edmica e Toxicologia Forenses, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal e Ci\u00eancias Forenses\u2014Delega\u00e7\u00e3o do Centro, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0469-2895","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tiago","family":"Rosado","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centro de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o em Ci\u00eancias da Sa\u00fade, Faculdade de Ci\u00eancias da Sa\u00fade da Universidade da Beira Interior (CICS-UBI), 6200-506 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"},{"name":"Laboratorio de F\u00e1rmaco-Toxicologia-UBIMedical, Universidade da Beira Interior, 6200-000 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"},{"name":"Centro Acad\u00e9mico Cl\u00ednico das Beiras (CACB)-Grupo de Problemas Relacionados com Toxicofilias, 6200-000 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8848-2734","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"M\u00e1rio","family":"Barroso","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"AlphaBiolabs, 14 Webster Court, Carina Park, Warrington WA5 8WD, UK"},{"name":"Servi\u00e7o de Qu\u00edmica e Toxicologia Forenses, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal e Ci\u00eancias Forenses\u2014Delega\u00e7\u00e3o do Sul, 1169-201 Lisboa, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1802-8998","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Eugenia","family":"Gallardo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centro de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o em Ci\u00eancias da Sa\u00fade, Faculdade de Ci\u00eancias da Sa\u00fade da Universidade da Beira Interior (CICS-UBI), 6200-506 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"},{"name":"Laboratorio de F\u00e1rmaco-Toxicologia-UBIMedical, Universidade da Beira Interior, 6200-000 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"},{"name":"Centro Acad\u00e9mico Cl\u00ednico das Beiras (CACB)-Grupo de Problemas Relacionados com Toxicofilias, 6200-000 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,6,8]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"12","article-title":"A regulatory take on cannabis and cannabinoids for medicinal use in the European Union","volume":"71","author":"Razinger","year":"2020","journal-title":"Arch. 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