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Table 4.4 Carbon Isotope Composition of
Cannabis Sativa L. Male and Female Samples
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Sample Sample description dd d d C (‰) Average
A Leaf, male, rural –28.11 –27.99
–27.82
–28.05
–28.85
B Leaf, male, rural –28.76 –28.80
–28.79
C Leaf, metropolitan –29.85 –30.25
–30.64
D Leaf, male, indoor –31.64 –31.72
–31.79
–34.15
E Flower, male, indoor –34.26 –34.13
–33.97
–32.82
F Leaf, female, indoor –32.79 –32.80
–32.78

Source: Reprinted, with permission, from the Journal of Forensic
Sciences, Vol. 47, © ASTM International, 100 Bar Harbor Dr.,
West Conshohocken, PA 19428.)
4.4.3.2 Coca Leaves
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Coca leaves from South America were found to vary in their d C (–32.4 ‰
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to –25.3‰) and d N (0.1–13.0‰) values. Humidity levels and the length
of the rainy season and differences in soils were thought to affect the fixation
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processes and cause the observed subtle variations in C and N contents,
respectively. In conjunction with the variations of trace alkaloids (truxilline
and trimethoxycocaine) contents found in cocaine, researchers were able to
correctly identify 96% of 200 cocaine samples originated from the regions
studied (Figure 4.5).

4.4.3.3 Heroin, Morphine, and Cutting Agents
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Differentiations of C-enrichment levels have been applied to samples of
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forensic science interest on the molecular level. 72–76 Specifically, the C-enrich-
ment level in heroin samples derived from various geographic regions are
measured. Reported data are converted into graphical presentation by this
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author and shown in Figure 4.6. Since the d C values in a heroin sample are
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linked to the geographical origin of the papaver and the d C value of the
acetic anhydride used to convert morphine to heroin, this method may be
effective for differentiating heroin batches, but may not be used directly for
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assigning geographic origins of samples with specific d C values. For geo-
graphical region differentiation, heroin samples were hydrolyzed to morphine,
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