Introduction

Many studies of the nutritional properties and a few studies oxidation of cold-pressed hemp seed oil (CPHSO) have been previously conducted . More recently, researches have started to investigate the cannabinoid content and decarboxylation properties of cannabinoids in CPHSO, but much of the research has been conducted outside North America .
This study is the first known investigation of CPHSO manufactured explicitly in North America. Production of CPHSO began in Canada many years before it was allowed in the United States, so American manufacturers generally have less experience than Canadian producers . Nevertheless, this researcher is not aware of any published data indicating significant differences in American vs. Canadian CPHSO.
The data and findings from this study apply to multiple areas of industry and future investigations, and the analysis provides insights and informs other researchers and the scientific community at large. Also, regulators interested in cannabinoid safety and toxicity require bonafide sources of credible information to make informed decisions. Finally, animal feed and human food formulators can consider these findings as they incorporate hempseed oils into their products.
One study suggests cannabinoids are present in the nut when tested after dissection. More recent studies suggest cannabinoids are not produced in the seeds of the plant, but small quantities are transmitted to the seed and oil by contact with other plant surfaces . Also, some researchers have postulated that seed cleaning methods and procedures may account for significant variances in cannabinoid content found in CPHSO, but there are conflicting opinions on this subject, and other studies primarily attribute differences to cultivar .
Current data suggests that the cannabis plant contains over one hundred (100) identifiable cannabinoids, but standardized tests and reference materials are lacking for most . While complete elimination of cannabinoids in CPHSO is unlikely, proper processing and seed cleaning steps will minimize them . Current research suggests that cannabinoids in cold-pressed hemp seed oil (CPHSO) be treated as naturally-occurring contaminants, much like those found in many other food products, since they are not germane to any nutritional value.
This study quantifies the cannabinoid content of commercially available CPHSO manufactured in North America (Canada and the United States). In addition, the investigator evaluates the observed variances in cannabinoid content to determine if such variances correlate to cultivars, suppliers, or both. The term supplier is analogous to the CPHSO manufacturer in this study.
Observational and statistical analysis was performed in two phases. In the first phase, statistical analysis was conducted without removing outliers. The second phase re-analyzed the data with outliers removed. Outliers for phase 2 are defined as those measurements more than the 95% confidence interval upper limit calculated in the phase 1 data set. This paper provides an analysis of the findings and sets forth the conclusions drawn from the findings.