Elemental Composition\nof Commercially Available Cannabis\nRolling Papers

Abstract

With the recent legalization\nof cannabis in multiple\njurisdictions\nand widespread use as a medical treatment, there has been an increased\nfocus on product safety and the potential impacts of contaminants\non human health. One factor that has received little attention is\nthe possible exposure to potentially hazardous levels of toxic elements\nfrom rolling (smoking) papers. The elemental composition of rolling\npapers is largely unregulated, with a minority of jurisdictions regulating\npapers only when they are part of a final cannabis product. This study\nreports the concentrations of 26 elements in commercially available\nrolling papers and estimates potential maximum exposures relative\nto USP232 and ICH Q3D dosages in pharmaceutical compounds. Exposure\nestimates indicate that the concentrations of several elements in\nsome products, particularly Cu, Cr, and V, may present a potential\nhazard to frequent users. Several elements, including Ag, Ca, Ba,\nCu, Ti, Cr, Sb, and possibly others, are likely present in elevated\nquantities in some papers due to product design and manufacturing\nprocesses. Our results further suggest that Cu-based pigments are\nused by a number of manufacturers and that regular use of these products\nmight result in exposures as high as 4.5–11 times the maximum\nexposure limits. Further research to quantify the contribution of\nrolling papers to elemental exposure under realistic smoking conditions\nis warranted.