Seminar Abstract:

Cannabis sativa is a widely distributed plant with a lengthy history of attention by humanity. Despite this long-standing interest and the accompanying extensive use and consumption plus a substantial scholarly study, the broad and detailed chemistry of the plant and its chemical components are incompletely understood even by many of its modern practitioners. In some ways the plant’s biology is better understood yet it has been observed “Once your harvest is completed all your problems are chemical.”

The Chemistry of Hemp & Cannabis is a recently released studio environment (combined lecture and laboratory) as an interdisciplinary, upper-division chemistry course developed to provide its students with a firm grounding in the natural products, analytical, physical, organic and bio-chemistry aspects surrounding cannabis (broadly defined) and its derived products. Students successfully completing this course (and some lingering in its related graduate master-level program) will carry with them stringent training in scientific investigative, reporting and communication techniques.

The techniques utilized in cannabis analysis, extraction, separation and product development included in this course will be presented, as will novel methods advanced in the course of its execution. Opportunities for visiting the associated chemistry laboratories will be arranged.