Buyer Beware: Delta-8 is the 'Russian Roulette' of Cannabis

A product derived from cannabis, created in laboratories around the country, has led to thousands of calls nationwide to poison control centers and sent hundreds of people to emergency rooms with complaints of vomiting, hallucinations, not being able to stand, and even passing out. And it’s widely available and legal.

 How Delta-8 THC Became the Hot Semi-Legal High

It’s a new way to get baked — but it’s largely unregulated, untested, and unstudied.

 I Took A Delta-8 Gummy Before Going On A Run. Things Got Weird — Really Weird

It all started with a watermelon-flavored gummy. On a warm Monday evening in early June, I popped the sweet glob into my mouth, hoping for a little bit more than just a sugar high. The candy in question allegedly contained Delta-8, a fairly new player in the cannabis world. Often marketed as a legal way to get high, Delta-8 is a cannabis compound that can be sold even in some states where weed isn’t otherwise available for recreational use. It promises to get users stoned, but in a less intense way than “normal” THC would. In fact, it’s sometimes touted as “weed lite.” But my experience felt anything but “lite.”

 The Science Of The Delta-8 Craze

OK, so there's weed, pot, grass - whatever you call it. We're talking today about the cannabis industry, which is kind of where the chem lab meets agriculture. And there's this one type of cannabis product that's getting a lot of attention. It's called delta-8-THC, or simply delta-8. It's chemically synthesized and is now the fastest-growing product in the hemp industry.

5 Things to Know About Delta-8 Tetrahydrocannabinol: Delta-8 THC

Manufacturing of delta-8 THC products may occur in uncontrolled or unsanitary settings, which may lead to the presence of unsafe contaminants or other potentially harmful substances.

A Legal-ish Way to Get Stoned Is on the Rise. Is It Legit?

Delta-8 is on the rise in the U.S, and no, it’s not another COVID-19 variant. Nicknamed “diet weed” or “weed lite,” delta-8 is a weed product that seems more readily available––and less regulated––than other cannabis goods.

A psychoactive hemp product is available where marijuana is banned due to a loophole

It's kind of the Wild West. There's no age limit on this stuff. I got prosecutors calling me all the time that are like, hey, I got a kid. We found him with a bag of Delta-8 gummies - middle school. I want to charge him. And it's like, it's not a crime.

Can delta-8 THC provide some of the benefits of pot – with less paranoia and anxiety?

Delta-8 THC is a hemp-derived compound that’s closely related to delta-9 THC – what’s commonly called THC and is the psychoactive component of cannabis that’s responsible for the high that users feel. Like garden variety marijuana, delta-8 THC can be vaped or eaten. However, it’s rarely smoked. Anecdotally, its fans swear by its benefits – that it helps with relaxation and pain relief without intense highs that can veer into anxiety or paranoia. Yet there’s been a dearth of research on this compound. As public health scholars, we decided to conduct the first survey of delta-8 THC users to find out who was using it, why they were using it and what sort of effects it had.

Delta-8 Cannabis Products Can Cause Scary Health Effects, the CDC and FDA Warn

The manufacturing process for delta-8 products may be different from the processes for other cannabis products and can include the use of certain chemicals that can be harmful. “The natural amount of delta-8 THC in hemp is very low, and additional chemicals are needed to convert other cannabinoids in hemp, like CBD, into delta-8 THC,” the FDA explains. “The final delta-8 THC product may have potentially harmful by-products (contaminants) due to the chemicals used in the process.”

Delta-8 THC vs. Delta-9 THC: What’s The Difference?

Because cannabis sativa contains only a small amount of delta-8 THC, it’s typically manufactured in concentrated amounts from hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD). While CBD doesn’t have any intoxicating effects, delta-8 THC has similar psychoactive properties to delta-9 THC, although it is generally less potent than delta-9. Delta-8 THC products are available in many forms, including gummies, chocolate and other candies, cookies, tinctures, vaping cartridges, infused drinks and even breakfast cereal.

Don’t believe the high: FDA issues warning over misleading legal weed claims

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warnings to companies selling products including delta-8 THC, a cannabis compound, for making unsupported claims about the health benefits of the items. The FDA said even though there is very little research on delta-8 THC, a substance found in the cannabis sativa plant, online retailers and cafes are claiming products containing the compound will reduce anxiety or help with sleeping.

How Delta-8 THC Works, and Why Experts Are Worried About It

This popular cannabis product claims to be milder than regular marijuana. But is it legal? And is it safe? Delta-8’s rise started with the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, which made hemp legal. Hemp and marijuana are both types of cannabis plants, but marijuana produces delta-9-THC and hemp doesn’t. Think of hemp and marijuana like two varieties of tomato plants, if one type of tomato could get you high.

Pot producers are pushing to clamp down on Delta-8 THC; here’s why, and what it is

A little-known substance derived from hemp is flying off the shelves of U.S. gas stations and smoke shops, offering users a cheap and convenient high even in states where marijuana isn’t legal. But large cannabis producers are now pushing to clamp down on Delta-8 THC amid worries that a lack of oversight means heavy metals and unexpected intoxicants are cropping up in some of the products.

The U.S. has a chance to regulate delta-8 THC. Will it?

The compound, which is similar to the psychoactive ingredient found in marijuana, can be sold legally thanks to a loophole in the 2018 farm bill.

Weed Light: An Exploratory Study of Delta-8 THC Conversations on Reddit

Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a newly popular cannabinoid that can be purchased easily at gas stations, vape shops, and online retailers in most regions of the United States. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expressed the need for novel data sources to understand the use of products like Delta-8 and rapidly detect potential safety issues. Using social media platform Reddit, we examined users’ reported experiences with Delta-8.

Weed Not Legal Where You Live? Try Delta 8 Gummies, Which Probably Are

The hemp-derived form of THC stands to offer a nice baby high.

What is delta-8 THC? 7 things to know about the marijuana alternative

Hemp plants, which look very much like marijuana, produce minimal delta-8. However, a lot more of it can be made synthetically from a non-intoxicating chemical called cannabidiol, or CBD, which can be extracted from the plants. Delta-8 gets generated from CBD through a chemical process, after which it's sold in products like vape cartridges and edibles.

What is the difference between thc and delta 8?

Delta 8 THC is a minor cannabinoid that occurs naturally in cannabis plants but at lower concentrations than delta-9-THC. It interacts with both CB1 and CB2 receptors in a similar manner but typically produces a less intense high compared to traditional THC. Some users find this milder experience preferable as it offers relaxation without excessive intoxication.

Why Delta 8 Gummies Are Taking the Market by Storm

The legal status of Delta-8 THC is one of the primary factors contributing to its surge in popularity. Unlike Delta-9 THC, which is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law in the United States, Delta-8 THC has found a legal loophole. The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp-derived products, including Delta-8 THC, as long as they contain less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC. This legal distinction has made Delta-8 THC accessible in many states where Delta-9 THC remains restricted.