Application of Ambient Ionization Mass Spectrometry to the Analysis of Cannabis

To circumvent multiple challenges associated with Cannabis analysis by conventional methods such as gas chromatography (GC), liquid chromatography (LC), and hyphenated techniques such as GC and LC mass spectrometry (MS), there is increasing interest in the application of ambient ionization mass spectrometry (AIMS) for its chemical characterization, as this approach can in principle address several of the issues associated with interrogation of Cannabis -derived complex matrix samples. Among the advantages that these methods confer are rapid analysis times; limited or no need for sample pretreatment steps; detection of a range of compound classes in a single analysis, including cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and pesticides; avoidance of nuanced method development tailored to particular analyte classes; and the ability to analyze samples in their native forms. This review highlights the progress thus far in the nascent area of application of AIMS approaches to Cannabis and Cannabis -derived materials, and the further developments required in order for AIMS methods to be more widely adopted for routine analysis.