Cleveland, OH: Trace levels of THC and other cannabinoids are present in United States paper currency, according to the findings of a study published in the September issue of the Journal of Analytical Toxicology.
Researchers from the Cuyahoga County Coroner’s office in Cleveland analyzed 165 randomly collected paper currency notes from 12 US cities and four foreign countries (Colombia, Qatar, India, and New Zealand) for various cannabinoids, including THC, cannabinol (CBN) and cannabidiol (CBD).
“THC was present in 1.6 percent (2 notes), CBN in 10.31 percent (13 notes), [and] CBD in 1.6 percent (2 notes),” authors found. “For the foreign currency, THC and CBN were present in 22.5 percent (9 notes),” all of which came from New Zealand.
“This study demonstrated that marijuana (cannabinoids) may contaminate both paper and [foreign] currency,” authors concluded.
NORML Foundation Executive Director Allen St. Pierre said that the findings illustrate the failure of US marijuana policy, noting, “The use of cannabis remains ubiquitous enough that even despite its prohibition, marijuana is detectable on a notable portion of both US and foreign currency.”
For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre at (202) 483-5500.