Quantitation of Terpenes in Cannabis Products Using the Triple Quad™ 3500 LC-MS/MS System

With the recent legalization of cannabis in several states, there is a growing need for robust, cost-effective analytical methods to facilitate routine testing. While testing of potency (and for pesticide and herbicide residues) is important, manufacturers of cannabis products also need fit-to-purpose analytical methods that provide information on the sensory profile of their products to ensure lot-to-lot consistency. Here, we present an LC-MS/MS method that uses atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and the budget-friendly SCIEX Triple Quad™ 3500 LCMS/ MS system for the analysis of terpenes (major determinant of aroma) in cannabis products. Examples of accurate quantitation are shown for a variety of cannabis products.