The fast detection and identification of narcotic and psychotropic substances have activated a global analytical challenge. Nowadays, it is increasingly important from a pharmacological, toxicological and clinical point of view to have rapid and reliable methods available for the analysis of several compounds in a very short time (screening) and in case of positivity, continue with the confirmation analyses.
The determination of illicit drugs in biological fluids represents a fundamental key-point in the field of pharmacotoxicological and forensic investigations. In this scenario, certainly the application of hyphenated techniques represent the instrumental configurations of choice.
In this situation, however, it must be considered that other instrumental configurations, methods and/or devices for field analysis can also successfully support hyphenated techniques.
An example above all is represented by the technological and methodological progress for Cannabis and derived product analysis.
In this context, and especially considering the dual use (legal for therapeutic purposes and illegal) of this product, it is clear that high performing analytical methods must be available in order to characterize the samples, evaluate the possible use, and in case helping the police to support any legal action and assumes the character of judicial evidence.
It should be considered that the methods should guarantee the quality of the data, but above all be able to correctly discriminate the material being analyzed (whether for therapeutic or recreational use).
In this presentation, the state of the art will be evaluated regarding the most recent methods that allow the analysis (both screening and confirmation) of Cannabis-based products and samples, highlighting their applications in several fields such as galenic and pharmaceutical, pharmacotoxicology, and forensics. Application examples will also be given for the analysis of seized materials to highlight the importance of the analytical approach in support of the police forces.