Cannabinoid-Based Classification of Ghanaian Cannabis for Regulatory and Commercial Applications

Ghana’s emerging cannabis legislation distinguishes industrial hemp from marijuana primarily by Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content, using a threshold of 0.3% THC by dry weight. To support regulation, enforcement, and commercial development, this study characterized phytocannabinoid profiles in cannabis samples collected from three farms in two major producing regions of Ghana and in seized samples. Farm samples first tested positive for Cannabis sativa with the Duquenois-Levine reagent. The 4-aminophenol (4-AP) presumptive test then produced pink, blue, and inconclusive purple outcomes, which were confirmed by HPLC-DAD through quantification of cannabidiol (CBD) and THC. Among the 12 farm samples, substantial chemical variability was observed; 7 exhibited THC-dominant profiles consistent with drug-type chemotypes, whereas only a small proportion met the industrial hemp threshold. Analysis of seized material showed elevated cannabinol (CBN) in older samples, consistent with cannabinoid degradation during storage. Discriminant analysis based on THC, CBD, and CBN indicated that phytocannabinoid composition reflected plant type more strongly than geographical origin. Overall, most cannabis examined would not qualify as industrial hemp under the proposed legal threshold, highlighting the need for confirmatory instrumental analysis, chemotype-specific breeding, and evidence-based regulatory frameworks for medicinal cannabis and industrial hemp development in Ghana.