Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation
Law Enforcement > Bureau of Criminal Investigation > Laboratory Division > Drug Chemistry

Drug Chemistry Unit

Forensic scientists in the Drug Chemistry Unit examine physical evidence to determine whether illegal or harmful substances are present. A majority of the unit’s caseload involves drug analysis, including methamphetamine, fentanyl, prescription drugs, marijuana, heroin, cocaine, LSD, designer drugs and more. Scientists identify the presence of controlled substances using analytical instrumentation such as gas-chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and infrared spectroscopy (IR).

THC Quantitation

In July 2019, a new state law went into effect differentiating marijuana and hemp. Marijuana is now classified as cannabis containing more than 0.3% THC as calculated by the dry weight and hemp, less than 0.3%. As a result, forensic scientists at BCI developed new methods utilizing liquid chromatography-ultraviolet-mass spectrometry (LC-UV-MS) instruments to analyze cannabis and related products to calculate the total THC.

Drug Chemistry Unit
Unit Contacts
Jessica Toms
BCI Laboratory
Laboratory Manager
740-845-2616 | Jessica.Toms@OhioAGO.gov
Samuel Fortener
Bowling Green Laboratory
Laboratory Supervisor
419-419-3599 | Samuel.Fortener@OhioAGO.gov
Whitney Voss
Richfield Laboratory
Laboratory Supervisor
234-400-3661 | Whitney.Voss@OhioAGO.gov
Lynne Strainic
London Laboratory
Laboratory Supervisor
740-845-2514 | Lynne.Strainic@OhioAGO.gov