When it comes to the cannabis plant, delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has traditionally been the cannabinoid of interest.
In recent years, cannabidiol (CBD) has also gained popularity due to its perceived benefits and lack of psychoactivity.
But there’s a psychoactive cannabinoid derived from CBD that has been making waves as of late.
A Contested Cannabinoid
Potent and unregulated, delta-8 THC has caused a considerable stir in the cannabis industry and governing bodies.
Delta-8 products are allegedly legal under the 2018 Farm Bill because they contain less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC.
But according to a new report, three-quarters of delta-8 THC products sold in the United States exceed legal limits and violate federal law.
A Concerning Report
A new report commissioned by CBD Oracle and conducted by FESA Labs analyzed the delta-8 and delta-9 content of 51 of the most popular hemp-derived delta-8 THC products.
According to the report, 76 percent of the products exceeded the 0.3 percent delta-9 THC limit.
Additionally, the report showed that the same products contained an average of 15 percent less delta-8 THC than advertised.
The report showed that DOPE’s Blueberry Muffin vape pen contained 23 percent delta-9 THC, 77 times above the legal limit.
The average across all products was 6.6 percent.
According to the report, Binoid’s Blue Dream had only one-third of its advertised delta-8 content, illegal levels of delta-9, and an undeclared 64 percent CBD.
“The current delta-8 products on the market are very concerning,” says Jayneil Kamdar, Ph.D. of InfiniteCAL Labs. “Because there is no regulatory body monitoring the safety of these products.”
Report Results
The report states that illegal delta-9 levels are more likely in vaping products and concentrates than cannabis flowers, tinctures, and edibles.
According to the report, products with illegal delta-9 levels were more likely to come from gas stations and smoke shops than more established companies.
Regarding underage sales, the report showed that only 14 percent of companies required age verification for online purchases.
One company required a signature upon delivery, and five others used an online verification platform requiring the purchaser to upload a picture of their driver’s license.
According to CBD Oracle, most companies only had a pop-up that asked users to verify that they were over 18 or 21.
While the eight products that FESA Labs tested for contaminants showed no signs of heavy metals, pesticides, solvents, mycotoxins, microbial impurities, or vitamin E acetate, there is still an issue.
The report states that even though 84 percent of companies have lab reports available for their products, 67 percent are not tested for impurities.
According to the report, 55 percent of companies have warning labels on their products, while the rest have nothing.
“Overall, the lab investigation paints a picture of an industry with some reputable companies being dragged down by many who don’t deliver what is promised to consumers, often selling products that are indisputable illegal at the federal level and open consumers up to risks,” states the report’s executive summary. “Customers can check lab results, but with little correspondence between lab results shown to customers and the results of testing on the actual product, this doesn’t really offer much assurance. Regulation is needed to fix the industry, but consumer diligence or even avoidance is strongly recommended until then.”
CBD Oracle says that the delta-8 situation has the potential to cause serious harm to public health and cannot be ignored.
According to the company, delta-8 is a ticking time bomb that could damage the cannabis industry’s reputation for years to come.
