Delta-8 THC is legal, available, and gets you high, but what do the FDA and NCBI say about that now?

Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol is a hallucinogenic compound found in the cannabis sativa plant, of which hemp and marijuana are two strains. Delta-8 THC is just one of over 100 cannabinoids naturally extracted from the cannabis plant, albeit not in significant quantities from the plant. For this reason, concentrated amounts of delta-8-THC are commonly made from hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD).

Consumers should be informed that the FDA has not reviewed or approved products containing delta-8 THC for safe use in any situation. They should be kept out of the reach of children and especially dogs, as they may be sold in a manner that endangers the health of the general public.

Products containing delta-8 THC are widely available in most parts of the US after the 2018 Farm Bill and later in 2020 where key products were used by hemp processors, particularly where the use of delta-9 -THC was still illegal or medicinally required permission.

According to research by the NCBI, there is a growing unregulated market for delta-8-THC, but there is no practical assessment of the public’s interest in this compound.

Below are five things the FDA says you should know about delta-8-THC to protect those you care about and yourself from products that could pose health risks.

1. PRODUCTS CONTAINING DELTA-8 THC PUT YET TO BE APPROVED OR EVALUATED BY THE FDA FOR SAFE CONSUMPTION AND MAY BE SOLD THROUGH MEANS THAT ARE RISK TO PUBLIC HEALTH.

The FDA is aware of the growing concern about goods containing delta-8 THC that are now being sold offline and online. The FDA has not tested or cleared these items for safe use in any situation. Variations in product composition and branding, the presence of other cannabinoids and terpenes, and varying delta-8 THC concentrations are some of the issues. Additionally, some of these goods may be referred to simply as “hemp products,” which can confuse customers who mistakenly believe “hemp” means “non-psychoactive.” The FDA is also concerned about the increase in the number of products containing delta-8-THC that are advertised for therapeutic or medicinal uses without FDA approval. It is a violation of federal law to sell unapproved products with unsupported therapeutic claims, and because these items have not been shown to be safe or effective, they can also put consumers at risk. Because patients and other consumers may use them in place of drugs that have been shown to be effective in treating serious and even fatal conditions, the fraudulent marketing of untested cures poses significant public health problems.

2. THE FDA HAS RECEIVED NEGATIVE REPORTS OF EVENTS WITH PRODUCTS CONTAINING DELTA-8 THC. It

A total of 104 adverse events in patients using Delta-8-THC products from December 1, 2020 to February 28, 2022.

Reports indicate that 77% of these 104 adverse events were in adults, approximately 15% were age unreported, and 8% were in pediatric patients less than 18 years of age. Another 55% required assistance (e.g. assessment by medical services) or hospitalization. And 66% characterized the negative events after eating delta-8 THC-containing foods, such as gummy bears and brownies. Some of these events include confusion, hallucinations, anxiety, vomiting, tremors, dizziness and loss of consciousness.

3. DELTA-8 THC HAS HALLUCINOGENIC AND STRESSING EFFECTS.

Similar to delta-9-THC (ie the substance responsible for the “high” people can feel after consuming cannabis), delta-8-THC possesses psychoactive and euphoric properties. The FDA is aware of media reports claiming that products containing delta-8 THC make users “high”. The FDA is particularly concerned because products containing delta-8-THC are likely to expose consumers to significantly higher levels of the chemical than found in raw hemp-marijuana extracts. As a result, it is impossible to determine the level of safety of these products in humans based on past cannabis use.

4. PRODUCTS CONTAINING DELTA-8 THC NORMALLY INVOLVE THE USE OF POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS TO PRODUCE THE LEVELS OF DELTA-8 THC DESCRIBED IN THE MARKET.

Since hemp is naturally relatively low in delta-8-THC, other cannabinoids in hemp such as CBD must be converted using additional chemicals (i.e. synthetic conversion). This process poses the following issues:

This chemical synthesis method is used by some manufacturers to create delta-8 THC from potentially hazardous household substances. The shade of the end product can be altered by additional chemicals. Due to the chemicals used in the process, the finished Delta-8 THC product may contain potentially hazardous by-products (contaminants), and there is uncertainty about other possible contaminants that may be present or evolved depending on the composition of the original raw material. These compounds, including some used to generate (synthesize) delta-8-THC and the by-products formed during synthesis, can be hazardous if ingested or inhaled.

5. PRODUCTS CONTAINING DELTA-8 THC MUST BE KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN AND PETS.

Manufacturers package and market these delta-8-THC-infused products in a way that may attract children’s attention (chocolate, candy, cookies, gummy bears, etc.). These products are available online as well as in various retail outlets such as gas stations and convenience stores where there are likely no age restrictions for purchasing these products. There have been many poison control center alerts concerning pediatric patients exposed to all products containing delta-8-THC. In addition, animal poison control centers have noted a rapid general increase in pet accidental susceptibility to these products. Therefore, this product should be kept out of the reach of children and pets.

FINAL EFFECT

NCBI found that delta-8-THC can provide many of the experiential benefits of delta-9-THC with fewer side effects. Although these investigations are hampered by the legal status of both delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC, a future systematic study is needed to verify the participants’ accounts. Collaborations between academia, government and the cannabis industry sector can accelerate the development of knowledge about delta-8-THC and other cannabinoids.

The FDA clearly states that it has not yet conducted an adequate evaluation of products containing delta-8-THC and therefore has not approved the sale or availability of such products for consumption as delta-8-THC is a hazardous substance.

MORE ABOUT DELTA-8 AND DELTA-9 READ THIS..

DELTA-8 VS DELTA-9 – THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY CIVIL WAR!