Subj: UK: Cannabis DNA bid to beat traffickers



Date: 2 Apr, 1999



Source: The Herald (Glasgow)





ubject: Cannabis DNA bid to beat traffickers

ELIZABETH BUIE 



FORENSIC scientists at Strathclyde University claim to have 

developed a rapid new way of testing whether someone has 

been handling cannabis.



Dr Adrian Linacre, a DNA specialist, believes the test can 

also be extended to detect other plant-based drugs such as 

cocaine and heroin.



But more importantly, he is hoping that with around UKP25,000 

funding, he could create a database of the DNA fingerprints 

of different strains of cannabis that would allow police and 

customs officials to trace the supply routes of drug-

traffickers across the world.



While the possibility of developing a hand-held DNA-based 

test that would have the same rapidity and certainty of a 

drink-drive test has great potential, it is the chance to 

create a database that would track the route of illegal 

drugs that Dr Linacre believes may have particular benefits.



The doctor has already developed a test using the cannabis 

plant's DNA which he believes is more sensitive and specific 

than existing tests, which are generally based on detecting 

anti-bodies and have been criticised as being less specific.



For instance, as the cannabis plant shares certain 

similarities with the hops plant, some currently-used drugs 

tests will give a positive result if someone has had beer 

spilled on their hands.



Equally, some tests show positive if someone has simply 

handled money previously held by someone who had been 

touching drugs.



Dr Linacre believes that his test avoids these problems, but 

admits it does have one drawback - if someone who has been 

handling cannabis then washes his hands using soap, the 

detergent ingredient will get rid of all traces of the drug, 

as detergents are used to draw DNA from plants.



He believes this is the first time that DNA science has been 

applied to drugs testing and hopes a commercial company will 

fund the development of a rapid, hand-held test. To date, 

his research has been funded by fees from private work 

carried out for defence solicitors involved in criminal 

cases or for clients seeking to establish paternity cases.



Until now, police have only been able to prove that cannabis 

resin found on two different people in different places came 

from the same source by proving the two pieces were a 

"physical fit" or match from a larger block - evidence which 

has not always been accepted in court.



However, Dr Linacre hopes that the specific nature of a DNA 

fingerprint which would show up in all cannabis from the 

same source would offer a huge breakthrough to police and 

customs officers.