// Definition
A rare cannabinoid degradation product that forms through microbial contamination or oxidative breakdown of THC. Its detection in extracts via NMR analysis indicates the starting material was compromised by microbial activity or improper storage — serving as a chemical marker of poor-quality starting material invisible to standard HPLC cannabis testing.
// From the Episode
Mark Scialdone identified cannabitriol in NMR spectra of cannabis extracts brought in for analysis, explaining it as definitive evidence that the source material had undergone microbial breakdown before extraction. He noted that cannabitriol is not part of standard cannabis testing panels and would be invisible to HPLC analysis, yet its presence signals that the concentrate was made from degraded material.