New field test can reportedly distinguish between hemp and marijuana

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Virginia seems to have found the key to easily telling the difference between the two

With many more changes to come to legalize cannabis across the country, authorities need to improve on the tools they use to regulate this market. Not only is understanding the differences between hemp and marijuana plants high in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) important, but it also helps to have a tool that can confirm that difference. The Virginia Department of Forensic Science just announced the purchase of 16,000 kits for testing plants that will be distributed across all police departments in the state.

Currently, cannabis with high content of THC is illegal to grow and possess unless it’s destined for medical use. These field tests will help law enforcement officials to quickly differentiate between those two kinds of cannabis. The investment into the purchase was made through a grant approved by the Virginia Department of Justice Services and had a cost of $97,500. This need comes from the fact that high-THC cannabis plants and hemp plants look basically the same and even have a similar odor and appearance, which constantly creates a struggle for police officers trying to distinguish between the two.

Hemp is known as a type of cannabis plant that has less than 0.3% of THC, which is the compound that has a psychoactive effect on people. As of the Hemp Farming Act in 2018, hemp can be grown, cultivated, processed and sold legally, even in a federal scheme. The Duquenois-Levine test will still be used just the same, but if it tastes positive, then the new test, which is named 4-AP, will be applied to identify if it could be illegal cannabis. This test won’t measure the amount of THC itself, but it will indicate which compound is in greater amount, THC or its partner, cannabidiol (CBD) and, based on that, it will be sent out for further testing.