Evaluation of trace elements in cannabis products

Hemp is one of the most complete plants for industrial and consumer purposes. In pharmaceutical industry, cannabidiol (CBD) extracts are gaining increasing attention due to their therapeutic properties. There is a lack of information about their inorganic constituents, as well as assessment of these elements that are essential and/or potentially toxic towards humans. The inorganic elements quantified in the hemp samples by ICP OES were: Mg (5–8000); Ca (10–1780); P (39–17500) and K (6500–14000) mg kg−1. The microelements obtained were: Mo (0.03–1.1); Ba (0.09–2.4); Sr (0.21–7.8); Cr (0.30–0.62); Ni (0.81–1.0); Na (1.4–11.1); Cu (19.5–24.0); Mn (0.66–152); Zn (51–96) and Fe (111–168) mg kg−1. The elements levels are related to the manufacturing processes of the hemp products, being below the tolerable upper daily intake levels. For the seeds samples, the inorganic constituents levels were: Ca (313–1164); Mg (4498–6734); K (7500–12104) and P (9623–13636) mg kg−1. The microelements levels were: Mo (0.46–1.3); Cr (0.48–1.9); Ba (0.48–11.0); Ni (0.66–3.7); Sr (4.6–22.0); Cu (10.2–14.2); Na (11.1–87.0); Mn (38−83); Zn (62–82) and Fe (92–112) mg kg−1. Hemp seeds also represent an excellent source of trace elements essential to health. The CBD extracts, showed low levels of inorganic constituents, that there was no risk to human health. The nutritional order established for the Cannabis-based products as it follows: hemp protein > shelled seeds > peeled seeds > hemp butter > hemp oil and CBD extracts.