In vitro contamination of hair by marijuana smoke.

Abstract Background: The deposition of cannabinoids on/into hair from environmental smoke can be considered as a potential source of drug findings in hair. We studied external uptake of cannabinoids from marijuana smoke, investigating possible influencing factors on drug uptake and the efficiency of decontamination procedures. Methods: Strands of a natural hair sample were moistened with water, greased with sebum or sebum/sweat, or bleached or permed. Treated and untreated samples were exposed to marijuana smoke for 60 min. Aliquots of each hair strand were either kept unwashed or were washed with methanol, dichloromethane, or 5 g/L dodecyl sulfate in water. Cannabinoid concentrations in un…