Delta-8 ‘Diet Weed’ Poison Incidents Rise 82 Percent: Report

Gummies containing CBD (Cannabidiol) are seen in a shop in the Paris area on June 14, 2018. Geoffroy Van der Hasselt/AFP via Getty Images

Poisoning incidents from cannabis compound Delta-8 THC surged in 2022, with experts warning that the low potency of such items provide “a false sense of security” to users, thus encouraging their consumption.

“In 2022, Poison Centers managed 3,358 exposures to Delta-8 THC, an increase of 82 percent from 2021,” the American Poison Centers said in a Jan. 18 report. Delta-8 THC is a naturally occurring chemical compound found in hemp and cannabis/marijuana plants. The rising number of exposures “demonstrates the growing use and popularity of Delta-8 THC products, which are available in many forms, including gummies, chocolate, candies, cookies, vaping cartridges, infused drinks, and even breakfast cereal.”

A natural compound called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in cannabis is responsible for the “high” people feel when they consume the products. Both Delta-8 and Delta-9 are forms of THC.

While Delta-9 produces an intense “high,” Delta-8, also known as “diet weed” or “marijuana lite,” creates a less potent effect. Both compounds act in the brain in a similar manner.

As Delta-8 is only found in small amounts in cannabis, manufacturers synthesize them in labs to produce larger quantities for use in commercial products.

Delta-8 products started becoming popular in 2020 and were introduced to the market following the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized the farming and sale of hemp.

Individuals using Delta-8 products claim that the items help them sleep better and control pain and anxiety like other THC products but without any of the intense effects. However, there are no large medical studies showing the impact Delta-8 THC has on individuals.

Concerns regarding Delta-8 are primarily about how they are synthesized. The substance is usually produced by dissolving cannabis compound CBD in solvents. There are claims that the process leaves behind harmful residue.

Speaking to The Epoch Times, Christopher Hudalla, chief scientific officer at ProVerde Laboratories, a marijuana and hemp testing company, said he found potentially harmful contaminants in thousands of Delta-8 products he had examined.

Delta-8 has “incredible potential as a therapeutic,” he said. However, “delta-8, like unicorns, doesn’t exist. What does exist in the market is synthetic mixtures of unknown garbage.”

In an interview with CNN, Dr. Kait Brown, clinical managing director of America’s Poison Centers, said that even though Delta-8 is marketed as being less potent, a high dose “still can have those most potent THC effects.”

Some of the Delta-8 products “are pretty high dosage.” People who intake such products “may feel a false sense of security with delta-8 being the ‘lightweight drug,’” she said.

Dr. Brown pointed out that the majority of Delta-8 calls received by poison centers either come from children who accidentally consumed the products or from adults who experienced bad reactions from ingesting the drug. In some instances, the user taking the Delta-8 product did not anticipate its strength.

FDA Warning

In 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers that Delta-8 THC products have neither been evaluated nor approved by the agency for safe use “in any context.” Such products “may be marketed in ways that put the public health at risk.”

The federal department said it had received 104 reports of adverse events in individuals who consumed Delta-8 products. Of those cases, 77 percent involved adults, with 55 percent requiring medical intervention or hospital admission.

“Adverse events included, but were not limited to: hallucinations, vomiting, tremor, anxiety, dizziness, confusion, and loss of consciousness,” the FDA stated. The agency highlighted concerns regarding the synthesis of Delta-8.

“Some manufacturers may use potentially unsafe household chemicals to make delta-8 THC through this chemical synthesis process. Additional chemicals may be used to change the color of the final product. The final delta-8 THC product may have potentially harmful by-products (contaminants) due to the chemicals used in the process,” it stated.

The FDA also pointed out that manufacturers were packaging and selling Delta-8 products in a way that appeals to children. The agency specifically asked to “keep these products out of reach of children and pets.”

Last year, the Virginia Poison Center at Virginia Commonwealth University reported that the number of children getting poisoned from food items containing Delta-8 surged from just three calls in 2018 to 88 in 2022.

In an interview with The Epoch Times, S. Rutherfoord “Ruddy” Rose, director of the Virginia Poison Center, called the trend “troubling” and said that only a small number of families call poison centers or opt for medical care in such situations due to worries about legal consequences.

“If a child gets into one of these, they can wait it out. The child might have symptoms or might not but, you know, sometimes they’re embarrassed to call . . . They don’t want to get in trouble,” she said. “We’re sort of at the mercy of what the caller tells us or knows.”

Some of the side effects of Delta-8 include dry mouth, anxiety, rapid heart rate, red eyes, memory loss, slowed reaction time, and trouble with coordination. Since Delta-8 is synthetically produced, it may pose additional risks as well.

According to data from the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA), Delta-8 was legal in 22 states and the District of D.C. as of November 2023. The substance has been banned in 17 states and severely restricted in seven.