Edible products advertised as containing delta-8 THC offered for sale at a smoke shop in Seattle in 2022. Teens can overdo it with products like these, health officials warn. Gene Johnson/AP hide caption
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Gene Johnson/AP
Edible products advertised as containing delta-8 THC offered for sale at a smoke shop in Seattle in 2022. Teens can overdo it with products like these, health officials warn.
Gene Johnson/AP
A national survey of more than 2,000 high school seniors across the country found that more than 11% used a drug called delta-8 THC in the past year.
The psychoactive compound is derived from hemp, and often called "diet weed' or "weed lite." It's milder than its cousin, delta-9 THC, the main intoxicant in marijuana, but has similar effects on the brain and the body.
The percentage of teens using the drug is higher in the 19 states with no regulations around the compound and in states where marijuana has not been legalized.
The findings are published in a study published this week in JAMA. The data comes from Monitoring the Future, which surveys teen behaviors. It's the first time teens were asked about this drug in this survey.
"It's a growing concern," says Renee Johnson, a professor at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. Johnson wasn't involved in the new study, but wrote an accompanying editorial about the public health concerns over the largely unregulated sale of delta-8 THC products.
Products containing delta-8 began to be marketed after the 2018 Agricultural Improvement Act (commonly known as the Farm Bill) included a provision legalizing the sale of hemp-derived cannabis products, containing less than 0.3% of delta-9 THC. This led to the "de facto legalization" of hemp-derived psychoactive delta-8 products," writes Johnson.
But the problem is the lack of oversight around delta-8 products – often sold as edibles or vapes – in many states, says Johnson.
"What is sold is unregulated," she says. "In most states we don't know the potency [of the drug]."
Delta-8 products are made by processing hemp-derived CBD, which can concentrate the drug, she adds. "We're getting higher concentrations of it than we would have ever got in an actual cannabis plant."
Preliminary studies show users reporting adverse health effects, including "cough, rapid heart rate, paranoia, anxiety, breathing problems and seizure," says Johnson.
And teens in particular are at greater risk of these symptoms. "They're new to drugs. So they're not great at taking drugs and understanding how long it takes to feel the effects, when to stop all of that," says Johnson.
Johnson is particularly concerned about teens consuming edibles containing delta-8 THC.
"Most people probably don't have a good sense of how long it takes for an edible to hit," she explains. "So it takes 30 to 40 minutes. So they could wait 20 minutes. Beyond that, they take another and then they've sort of over ingested."
That brings a "real risk of folks going to the hospital for over-ingestion of cannabis."
Most states also don't have laws requiring labeling of products containing delta-8, she adds. "When there is labeling, studies show that the labels are wrong. There are no standards for how this stuff is manufactured."
Public health officials have taken note of the risks of the drug. In 2022, the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning about the potential risks, stressing that the agency has not evaluated or approved the delta-8 THC for safe use. It noted that poison control centers received more than 2,300 delta-8 exposure cases between January 1, 2021, and February 28, 2022.
As of January 2023, delta-8 had been banned in 15 states and is regulated in some way in eight others, according to Johnson's editorial.
FAQs
Teens can overdo it with products like these, health officials warn. A national survey of more than 2,000 high school seniors across the country found that more than 11% used a drug called delta-8 THC in the past year.
Is delta-8 unregulated? ›
Because of the legal loophole in the Farm Bill, there's very little regulation of delta-8. “There's no [federal] minimum purchasing age for delta-8 and other hemp-derived THC products,” Harlow says. “And they're being sold in stores that are frequented by youth … often without age verification.”
Is delta-8 safer than regular THC? ›
Delta-THC products have increased in popularity in recent years due to availability and the misconception that they're less potent, or more 'natural' than other forms of THC. The biggest risk of delta-8 THC is that it's not regulated. This means that the safety, purity, and strength can't be guaranteed.
When did delta-8 become popular? ›
∆8-THC products partially synthesized from compliant sources (including industrial hemp and derivative cannabidiol extracts) experienced a rise in popularity in the US following the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill.
Does delta-8 THC make you high? ›
3 Delta-8 THC has psychoactive and intoxicating effects
Delta-8 THC has psychoactive and intoxicating effects, similar to delta-9 THC (i.e., the component responsible for the “high” people may experience from using cannabis). The FDA is aware of media reports of delta-8 THC products getting consumers “high.”
Is Delta 8 going to be illegal? ›
A legal dispute challenging the legitimacy of the loophole created by the 2018 farm bill was shot down in May 2022 when a federal judge in California ruled that the production of delta-8 along with other hemp-derived cannabidiols was legal.
Does delta 8 show up on drug tests? ›
Delta-8 THC can show up on a regular drug test. Because it's chemically similar to delta-9 THC, it can cause a positive drug test for cannabis, even if you don't use “regular” cannabis products. If you know you'll be tested for cannabis, it's best to avoid delta-8 products altogether.
Is delta-8 bad for your heart? ›
Some other adverse effects caused by delta-8 may include lethargy, uncoordinated movements, decreased psychom*otor activity, slurred speech, increased heart rate progressing to slowed heart rate, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, sedation and coma, according to the CDC.
Can delta-8 cause permanent damage? ›
But an Emory doctor warns just one high from Delta-8 can cause permanent damage to your child's brain.
Is delta-8 legal in all 50 states? ›
Delta 8 THC is a synthetic product derived from CBD, and as of 2022, it has only been made illegal in 14 states. If you are driving in one of those states, you should not have Delta 8 THC with you. Additionally, you should not use Delta 8 THC and drive even in the states where it is legal.
Delta-8 occurs naturally in small quantities in cannabis, however most of the commercially available delta-8 has been synthesized through a conversion process that uses a variety of chemicals to convert hemp-derived CBD into delta-8.
Why does Delta 8 not hit? ›
If a disposable Delta 8 device fails to produce vapor, users should check the battery, inspect for clogs, refer to unclogging methods, ensure proper activation, and contact the manufacturer or retailer for assistance while exercising caution.
Why is delta-8 bad for you? ›
Still, it got more than 100 adverse event reports about delta-8 from the public by the end of 2022. Most of the cases involved adults, and more than half required help from a hospital or emergency services. Adverse events included hallucinations, vomiting, anxiety, dizziness, confusion and loss of consciousness.
What does delta-8 THC do to the brain? ›
As for the impact on the teen brain, delta-8 THC could pose risks similar to delta-9 THC. Teen brains are still forming and developing. It could have an impact on structure and function. Use could lead to issues like memory loss, cognitive difficulties, and brain developmental processes.
Is Hello Mood legal in Texas? ›
Is Hello Mood legal? Yes, Hello Mood is legal in Texas as long as they contain a THC concentration under 0.30 percent.
Does the FDA regulate Delta 8? ›
While the FDA hasn't made any broad recommendations on delta-8 THC, but it has issued individual warnings to companies selling delta-8 THC in ways that violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, for example by making claims that delta-8 can treat medical conditions.
Is Delta 8 a banned substance? ›
While some states have completely banned the substance, restricting delta-8-THC products is also an option. Policies could include packaging and labeling requirements, a minimum purchasing age, restrictions on where delta-8-THC can be sold, or required testing of products for contaminants.
Is Delta 8 federally legal TSA? ›
Is Delta-8 legal in airports? The TSA's rules describe how Delta-8 can be brought through airports as long as the Delta-9 THC content is less than 0.3% and that it is legal in both the departure and destination states.
Can federal employees use Delta 8? ›
Federal Employees are held to a zero tolerance policy for THC, Agencies don't make exceptions, at this point, for legal CBD or Delta 8 because they still contain THC. Agencies don't discern between legal or illegal THC, if THC is in the CBD or Delta 8 that is enough to terminate a federal employee.
