CANNABIS DNA BID TO BEAT TRAFFICKERS

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.