With the approval of the 2018 Farm bill in the United States, hemp crops have now been legalized to grow and sell exempted from regulation by the Controlled Substances Act. To be considered as hemp, cannabis plants should have Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) level less than 0.3% which is insufficient to induce psychoactive effects. We developed regression algorithms for the real-time screening of major cannabinoids (CBD (cannabidiol) and THC) content in dry and ground hemp flower utilizing the full NIR range. Modes are set to analyze dry, cured, and ground samples of hemp (THC<0.6%) by Neospectra scanner.

• Predictive algorithms we developed address the needs by the industry for tools that can verify hemp legal status (THC <0.3%) and CBD levels at the point of sale as received basis. The algorithms allow the detection and quantification of both two predominant cannabinoids (THC and CBD) and their acidic forms (THCA and CBDA) through the same NIR spectrum enabling real-time and field-based predictions for controlling the product stream, addressing risk management, and assessing safety and brand equity. The end result is a compositional profile that can be obtained from chemometric predictive algorithms.

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• Samples at room temperature (18 – 25 ∘C)
• Calibrate the Neospectra Scanner by placing the reflective background cap on the appropriate location
• Blend ~1 g of dry hemp sample using a laboratory blender (Coffee blender/grinder as alternative).
• To get a better and consistent result, blended samples can be sieved (No. 16, 1.18mm)
• Place about 0.4g of sample in the powder dish and compacted into a thin layer (with no visible cracks) using the metallic sample weight provided with the powders dish kit.
• Leave the metallic sample weight on top of the sample
• Place the powder dish on the scanner for NIR measurements.

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