Aplicação da RMNq na química forense: análise de canabinoides

Abstract

The consumption and trafficking of illicit drugs represent major challenges for contemporary society, with direct impacts on public health, security, and the judicial system. Substances such as cannabinoids and cocaine are often adulterated to increase volume and enhance psychoactive effects, which not only raises their toxicity but also complicates their proper identification in forensic analyses. In this context, Forensic Chemistry plays a crucial role in the identification and quantification of these substances, providing technical and scientific support for legal actions and public health strategies. Among the available analytical techniques, Quantitative Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (qNMR) stands out for enabling absolute quantification of compounds without the need for external standards identical to the analyte, in addition to distinguishing similar chemical structures and detecting adulterants with high precision. This study aims to investigate the application of qNMR in forensic drug analysis, with an emphasis on cannabinoids, discussing its advantages and limitations in comparison to other methodologies, such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry (MS). Studies demonstrating the effectiveness of qNMR in determining purity and identifying illicit compounds are also presented, contributing to the development of more robust and reliable methods in forensic chemistry.