Identification and quantification of cannabinoids in postmortem fluids and tissues by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

•A LC-MS/MS method was developed for cannabinoids detection in postmortem samples.•Main THC metabolites, glucuronides, and minor phytocannabinoids are quantified.•The method was applied to a pilot fatally injured in a plane crash. Cannabis sativa is commonly used worldwide and is frequently detected by forensic laboratories working with biological specimens from potentially impaired drivers or pilots. To address the problem of limited published methods for cannabinoids quantification in postmortem specimens, a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated to quantify Δ9–tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 11-hydroxy-THC (11-OH-THC), 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC (THCCOOH), 8β,11-dihydroxy-THC (8β-diOH-THC), 8β-hydroxy-THC (8β-OH-THC), THC-glucuronide (THC-g), THCCOOH-glucuronide (THCCOOH-g), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), and 11-nor-9-carboxy-THCV (THCVCOOH). Solid phase extraction concentrated analytes prior to analysis on a biphenyl column coupled to a mass spectrometer in electrospray positive ionization mode using multiple reaction monitoring. Linearity ranged from 0.25-50 ng/mL (THC-g), 0.5-100 ng/mL (CBN), 0.5-250 ng/mL (THC, 11-OH-THC, THCCOOH, CBD, and CBG), 1-100 ng/mL (8β-diOH-THC, THCVCOOH, 8β-OH-THC, and THCV) and 1-250 ng/mL (THCCOOH-g). Within-run imprecision was