FDA, CDC Issue Warnings on Hemp-Derived Products Containing Delta-8 THC

If you have been using Delta-8 THC, the American Food and Drug Administration and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has issued high level warning against it. The public is urged to discontinue the utilization of Delta-8 THC products because it poses health risks.

The FDA issued the warning in a recent update shared on 5 Things to know about Delta-8 Tetrahydrocannabinol - Delta-8 THC. The seriousness of the notice was captured in bold letters that “DELTA-8 THC HAS SERIOUS HEALTH RISKS” to advise people from continuing with all such products. The DEA has previously issued warnings on Delta-8 THC as well.

A breakdown of the warning

The FDA and CDC warn against:

Their concerns with contamination from Delta-8 THC products are because of certain manufacturing practices.

Deceptive marketing including online ads that may appear appealing to children with products ranging from candies to gummies.

An increase in damaging event reports to the FDA and the country’s poison control centers linked to Delta-8 THC products. The reports resulted from misleading and insufficient labeling with the erroneous belief that the products are non-psychoactive.

The CDC maintains that cannabis refers to every part of the Cannabis Sativa THC, such as flowers, extracts, seeds with over 0.3% Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in dry weight. The parts of the marijuana plant that contains 0.3% or less THC in dry weight will be considered “Hemp,” which was legalized during the 2018 Farm Bill.

Marijuana plants contain more than 100 cannabinoids with psychoactive THC (what could be mind-altering) and lead to a high. CBD is also an active cannabinoid in the cannabis plant, which is not psychoactive and doesn’t lead to a high.

THC denotes Delta-9 THC, while Delta-8 THC naturally thrives in the marijuana plant in minimal quantities and is said to be up to 50-75% psychoactive like the Delta-9 THC. But CBD can be unnaturally changed into Delta-8 THC through a chemical procedure.

The FDA maintains that the resultant Delta-8 THC product may contain some possibly harmful by-products after the chemical changes because of the chemicals used during the procedure. The FDA also asserts that there is some hesitation regarding other probable contaminants that may be produced, but this depends on the composition of the initial raw materials. If these products are inhaled or consumed, the chemicals may cause harm to the body.

The spread of Delta-8 THC products and the need for caution

The Delta-8 THC products are gradually increasing the hemp and cannabis markets. The products are sometimes advertised as “Weed light” to deceive potential buyers or called “Diet weed” to mask the dangers. A wide variety of Delta-8 THC infused products are in the markets ad they cut across products like:

Vapes
Smokables
Tinctures
Gummies
Chocolates
Infused beverages

The CDC has announced that the health impact of Delta-8 THC hasn’t been comprehensively researched and still isn’t well-understood. But Delta-8 THC is a psychoactive substance with relative risks of impairment like Delta-9 THC. Therefore, such products with Delta-8 THC are often labeled with only Delta-9 THC content instead of the total THC substance that will underrate the psychoactive prospects of the products for customers.

Additionally, Delta-8 THC products are retailed by several businesses that offer hemp for sale and may be confused with CBD products and hemp, which are not intoxicating. Consumers who utilize these products will experience unanticipated or heightened THC intoxication.

FDA hasn’t evaluated or confirmed Delta-8 THC products

Thus far, the FDA hasn’t evaluated or authorized Delta-8 THC products for harmless use. Some of the agency’s concerns entail unpredictability in the formulation of products and product classification and other cannabinoid and terpene content with adjustable Delta-8 THC concentration.

Some of the products may be tagged as “Hemp products,” which is highly misleading to the consumer who views hemp as a non-psychoactive substance. The FDA has shared its concerns about how products with Delta-8 THC are advertised as medical and therapeutic solutions to specific health issues.

But if the FDA doesn’t approve something to be consumed, it makes selling it illegal. The sale of such unapproved drugs violates federal law and puts the customer at a health risk. The products are not considered safe for use, and that is the rationale for the FDA’s warning.

Adverse event reports sent to the CDC and FDC with Delta-8 THC products

Did you know that from December 2020 to July 2021, the FDA got hurtful accounts from the consumers and law enforcement? The FDA has also announced that 22 patients who consumed Delta-8 THC products were negatively affected:

Fourteen patients checked into the hospital to treat ingestion after using the Delta-8 THC –infused products.

19 patients also experienced the impact of the adverse impact of consuming Delta-8 THC food such as brownies or gummies.

Most of them experienced trouble while standing for a long time, hallucinations, vomiting, and fainting spells. The FDA has reported that the National Control Centers got a total of 661 Delta-8 THC exposure cases from January 2018 to July 31, 2021. From that number, 660 happened between January 1 and July 31, 2021.

From the complete 661 cases;

18% needed hospitalizations while affected children were required to be placed in intensive care units (ICU).

39% were pediatric patients that were below 18 years of age.

41% entailed accidental exposure to the Delta-8 THC.

77% of the accidental exposures were pediatric patients below 18 years.

The CDC asserts that intoxication from Delta-8 can lead to adverse effects like the ones experienced with Delta-9 THC intoxication, which includes:

Coma
Sedation
Low blood pressure
Slurred speech
Lethargy
Difficulty breathing

Bottom Line

As a cannabis enthusiast, you must stay updated on all the latest news and warnings from the FDA and CDC. You have to be abreast with everything happening in the industry so you can remain protected and only consume healthy weed.

Since the FDA and CDC warned against the use of hemp-derived products that contain Delta-8 THC, cannabis users have started to evaluate the content of the hemp and CBD-related products they purchase. The FDA is working with other federal and state partners to work on the concerns linked to Delta-8 THC products while monitoring the market for additional product complaints.