# Method validation for the analysis of cannabinoids in animal specimen and hemp-based animal feed products

> **NIH FDA U18** · KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $76,000

## Abstract

Project Summary
The purpose of this application is develop and validate the analysis of cannabinoids in hemp-
derived food products as well as in animal specimen. The 2014 Farm Bill legalized the cultivation
and production of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa containing < 0.3%Tetrahydrocannabinol) and
the removal of industrial hemp as DEA Schedule I drug. More recently, the 2018 Farm Bill has
allowed for increased interest in hemp cultivation as a novel agricultural commodity under certain
provisions. Hemp plants and their by-products, are considered to have nutritional and potentially
therapeutic value when used as a feed source in livestock. Many commercially available hemp
oils and feed product are available on the market with little information of their cannabinoids
content. In addition, there is a need to develop a cannabinoid screen in animal specimen as little
is known about their distribution in cattle following oral administration and the time required for
depletion in edible tissues. There is also a need to have a diagnostic test available in the
toxicology laboratory as pets are regularly intoxicated with cannabis-derived products: in this
case, plasma and urine would be specimen of choice to detect exposure to THC. The outcomes
will include: 1) the broadening capacity of the FDA to investigate animal food or drug related
concerns, 2) an Increased capacity to respond to large-scale animal food/feed emergency events,
3) the improvement in the quality and standardization of Federal and State surveillance of animal
food and feed. We already have experience in quantifying cannabinoids in oil and hemp-based
supplements and have started to work on developing the method in bovine plasma.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10468637
- **Project number:** 5U18FD006915-03
- **Recipient organization:** KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Steven M Ensley
- **Activity code:** U18 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** FDA
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $76,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-08-01 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10468637

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10468637, Method validation for the analysis of cannabinoids in animal specimen and hemp-based animal feed products (5U18FD006915-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10468637. Licensed CC0.

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