JustScience Podcast

This presentation is part of the Molecular Autopsy Implementation Panel, hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on September 26, 2023.

This presentation is part of the Molecular Autopsy Implementation Panel, hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on September 26, 2023.

This presentation is part of the Molecular Autopsy Implementation Panel, hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on September 26, 2023.

This presentation is part of the Molecular Autopsy Implementation Panel, hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on September 26, 2023.

This webinar is part of the Molecular Autopsy Implementation Panel, hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on September 26, 2023.

This discussion is part of the Molecular Autopsy Implementation Panel, hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on September 26, 2023.

As evident by the Cannabinoid Connundrums webinar series, the rapidly changing world of cannabinoids offers many conundrums. To tackle some of these questions, Dr. Ruth Winecker led a panel discussion with Dr. Ed Cone, Dr. Nathalie Desrosiers, Mr. Justin Poklis, and Mr. Nelson Santos. This diverse slate of thought leaders includes experts in analytical chemistry, forensic toxicology, clinical research, and drug chemistry. This webinar was hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on August 3, 2023. 

This presentation is part of the virtual workshop "Qualifications of an Expert Witness for Legal Professionals – The Daubert Standard," hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on August 2, 2023.

This presentation is part of the virtual workshop "Qualifications of an Expert Witness for Legal Professionals – The Daubert Standard," hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on August 2, 2023.
 

This presentation is part of the virtual workshop "Qualifications of an Expert Witness for Legal Professionals – The Daubert Standard," hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on August 2, 2023.
 

This presentation is part of the virtual workshop "Qualifications of an Expert Witness for Legal Professionals – The Daubert Standard," hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on August 2, 2023.
 

This presentation is part of the virtual workshop "Qualifications of an Expert Witness for Legal Professionals – The Daubert Standard," hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on August 2, 2023.
 

Controlled drug administration studies are valuable tools for acquiring a detailed understanding of the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profiles of cannabinoids. ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinoid (THC) is the primary psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis with the potential to negatively impact cognitive and psychomotor performance and workplace safety. These studies establish behavioral and subjective effect profiles while simultaneously collecting pharmacokinetics data.

This presentation describes the nature of the merge of the e-cigarette and cannabis industries. Quality assurance issues as a result of the absence of regulation and oversight is described. Cases of self-reported adverse events and the challenges of cannabis product analysis are also discussed.

This webinar was hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on June 29, 2023. 

With the passage of the 2018 Agricultural Improvement Act (Farm Bill), forensic laboratories have been tasked with differentiating seized cannabis samples as either hemp or marijuana. The new legislation declassified hemp as a Schedule 1 drug substance and defined it as cannabis containing 0.3 % or less of decarboxylated-Δ9-THC (total Δ9-THC). The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been working to help forensic laboratories with these challenging measurements through the development of extraction protocols and analytical methods.

THC isomers, also known as THC analogs or semi-synthetic cannabinoids, are structurally related to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and have similar toxicity and impairing effects. A recent study indicated that Δ8-THC use was around 27% of marijuana use, based on detection and ratios of cannabinoid metabolites in workplace drug testing. Other analogs of interest include hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) and THC-O. THC isomers are generally perceived as legal and are also seen in states with legal marijuana.

Dr. Julie L. Valentine provides background information on the challenges in tracking prosecution outcomes in sexual assault cases of adult victims. Research utilizing the National Institute of Justice Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Practitioner Toolkit in two Utah counties is presented. Variables predicting prosecution are be explored. Participants are invited to consider societal, structural, and legislative barriers to prosecution of adult sexual assault cases faced in their jurisdiction to encourage multidisciplinary collaboration.

Dr. Julie L. Valentine introduces the application of touch DNA in sexual assault cases through a case study. A literature review on touch DNA is summarized to provide contextual information and research on touch DNA analysis findings in groping sexual assault cases is discussed. The webinar concludes with recommendations for multidisciplinary partners to collect, submit, and analyze evidence in sexual assault cases for touch DNA.

This webinar was hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on April 18, 2023.

This presentation explores the issue of lawfully “owed” DNA, which is a DNA sample from a qualifying offender who should have their DNA sample in CODIS (based on applicable state law), but from whom a sample has never been collected or submitted to a lab for testing.