What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: THC, CBD.

Where was this research published?

Published in Journal of agricultural and food chemistry on September 2, 2026.

Rapid testing could help catch pesticide residues in cannabis

Q: What did this research study find?

The *DART-MS* method detected **108 of 113 pesticides** tested, demonstrating broad screening coverage.

Application of Ambient Ionization Mass Spectrometry for the Screening of Pesticide Contaminants on Cannabis Plant Materials.

Journal of agricultural and food chemistry • September 2, 2026 • Highly Relevant

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AI Summary

This study developed a direct analysis in real-time mass spectrometry (DART-MS) method to rapidly screen cannabis plant materials for pesticide contamination. The method detected 108 of 113 pesticides examined, with positive-ionization mode and a gas temperature of 350 °C providing the most effective detection conditions.

Testing on cannabis materials that were either spiked with pesticides or treated during cultivation showed that the method could be applied to real samples. The researchers conclude that DART-MS is best suited as a qualitative screening tool: it can quickly indicate whether pesticide residues may be present, while follow-up quantitative testing would be needed to determine precise amounts. For consumers and regulators, this could support faster identification of potentially contaminated cannabis products.

💡 Key Findings

The DART-MS method detected 108 of 113 pesticides tested, demonstrating broad screening coverage.

High

80%

Positive-ionization mode with a gas temperature of 350 °C was the most effective combination for detecting the pesticides examined.

High

80%

Testing on pesticide-spiked and cultivation-treated cannabis materials supported the method’s applicability to actual plant samples.

Good

70%

DART-MS can serve as a qualitative screening tool, but follow-up quantitative analysis is needed to measure residue concentrations.

High

90%

📄 Original Abstract

As ambient ionization mass spectrometry is increasingly used for screening due to its ability to rapidly detect trace-level contaminants, this study developed a direct analysis in the real-time-mass spectrometry (DART-MS) method to investigate pesticides commonly used in Cannabis cultivation. While 108/113 pesticides were detected by the DART-MS method, evaluation of instrumental parameters revealed that the positive-ionization mode and a gas temperature of 350 °C were most effective for detecting pesticides. Experiments investigating major pesticide fragments and determining the lowest concentration at which the pesticide could be detected were also performed. Analysis of Cannabis plant materials spiked or treated with pesticides during cultivation demonstrated the applicability of this method to actual samples. The results of this study reveal that DART-MS can successfully screen for pesticide residues in Cannabis and serve as a qualitative screening tool to inform subsequent quantitative analyses.

Paper Type

📄 Research

Publication

Journal: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
Published: September 2, 2026
PMID: 42690792
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.6c00889

Authors (2)

Megan I Chambers Chemical Sciences Division, Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland20899, United States.
Walter B Wilson Chemical Sciences Division, Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland20899, United States.