Expert witness service
Hemp vs Marijuana Classification Expert Witness
Hemp and marijuana are the same plant species. They look and smell alike, and the legal difference turns on THC measurements made under specific rules.
Ted explains how material is sampled and tested, what a COA does and does not establish, and why visual or odor identification cannot reliably separate the two.
Available nationwide for state and federal matters.
When this applies
When this expertise is useful.
Whether material is hemp or marijuana, and what the testing actually shows.
- Hemp is seized as suspected marijuana
- A hemp crop tests over the THC limit
- Field tests or odor are used to identify material
- A buyer rejects product on testing grounds
Ted Menadier, MBA
Ted Menadier, MBA provides expert witness services in litigation involving cannabis, marijuana and hemp cultivation, crop loss, crop valuation, business operations, insurance claims, testing, classification and related industry matters.
- Matters retained
- 38+
- Industry since
- 2015
- Courts
- State & federal
- Availability
- Nationwide
Issues
Issues Ted may evaluate.
- Delta-9 THC versus total THC
- Sampling method and timing
- Field identification limits
- Chain of custody for samples
- Applicable definitions over time
Analysis may be based on: COAs and lab reports, Sampling records, Photos of material, Transport and shipping documents.
Representative matter types
Matters Ted has been retained on.
Anonymous categories only. Client names, case details and outcomes are confidential.
Scope
What Ted does not do.
Clear limits save time for counsel and keep opinions defensible.
- Ted does not provide legal advice and is not counsel for any party.
- Ted does not hold himself out as a business valuation or business appraisal expert.
- Ted does not hold himself out as a molecular genetics or plant-genetics laboratory expert; specialized genetic evaluation may require another expert.
- Ted is not a CPA, forensic accountant or economist. Economic-loss work stays within crop value, production loss, market pricing and lost revenue.
- Scope is determined by the facts and issues of each engagement, and matters outside his experience are declined early.
Related
Related expertise and case types.
Locations
Hemp vs Marijuana Classification Expert Witness by state.
Available in every state. Ted is based in Denver and does not maintain offices elsewhere.
FAQ
Common questions
Can anyone tell hemp from marijuana by looking?
Not reliably. Both are Cannabis sativa L. and can look and smell the same. Classification depends on testing.
Does Ted give legal opinions on classification?
No. Ted explains the industry and testing facts. Legal conclusions are for counsel and the court.
Ted Menadier is an expert witness and industry consultant, not an attorney. Nothing on this website is legal advice, and contacting Ted does not create an attorney-client relationship. Expert scope is determined by the facts and issues of each engagement.