There is a good chance that you have already seen delta-8 cannabis products on the market. Are you wondering what’s up with these vape cartridges and gummies? According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration, they are unregulated and might have adverse effects.
The government bodies alerted consumers of the dangers and unknowns involved in consuming delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol products. THC is often called delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol. On the other hand, delta-8 is naturally found in cannabis too. It is believed to have less potency than delta-9.
Even though these products have proliferated greatly in the last several years, there is not much research on the health effects of this compound. Be aware that delta-8 has caused visits to the emergency room and poison control.
As for the latter, 39% of 600 calls to poison control centers involved people below 18 years of age. Those who ingest too much delta-8 might suffer from slurred speech, lethargy, heart rate changes, sedation, and uncoordinated movements. The CDC says that it might even induce coma. The state gets to specify if companies are allowed to legally sell cannabis or hemp products with delta-8.
Unfortunately, the labeling of these products is not always clear. In fact, it might only say “hemp”, making people not realize they are really taking the psychoactive delta-8 compound. The FDA has yet to approve or even evaluate products with delta-8 THC. People typically think hemp is non-psychoactive, so this kind of marketing is potentially harmful. The agency wants to quell the appeal of these products to children who might not realize they can get high off them.
Delta-8 products may be manufactured differently from typical cannabis products. They may also have certain harmful chemicals. Due to the low amount of delta-8 THC in hemp, additional chemicals are often used for the conversion of cannabinoids in hemp into THC.
As for consumers, it is important to know these things to make informed decisions. Even though it suggests only a mild high, the psychoactive effects might exceed that. The lack of proper labeling is a huge cause for concern and might lead to emergencies and adverse health effects. If you have young children, you should be particularly cautious regarding the effects of delta-8 products. Make sure to always keep these products out of children’s reach.
