Delta-8: What to know.

Delta-8 and THC-related items have become more and more prevalent around campus but it remains a confusing subject for those outside of the smoking community. One of the confusing parts is where it currently sits in terms of legality

Ohio Senate Bill 57, which was signed in 2019 by Gov. Mike DeWine, made hemp and hemp-derived compounds legal to sell. This law also made a sort of legal loophole allowing cannabinoids like Delta 8, CBD, CBN, and others legal sell. 

Delta-8 stands for Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol, which is also known as Delta-8 THC. This chemical provides users with the typical euphoric “high” sensation often associated with marijuana. Interestingly since 2019 when Delta-8 and CBD were made available for purchase, Marijuana possession arrests fell significantly.

While Delta-8 is legal to use that doesn’t mean they are entirely safe from some kinds of legal actions or consequences said Rose Humphries, the manager of “Puff and Stuff” a local store that sells Delta-8.

“Just because the state recognises it is legal doesn’t mean that a cop pulling you over would understand. It seems like there’s a lot of confusion and misinformation about Delta eight. And, you know, the average police officer may not know what the difference is between Delta-8 and Delta nine or even that there are different kinds of THC. So while I don’t believe you would be able to get into any kind of permanent trouble. Will they confiscate it? Maybe. Would they give you a ticket? Maybe.” 

Delta-8, when used in gummies is mostly made in a lab using other cannabinoids. Delta 8 is not currently regulated by the FDA to make sure its contents are healthy and up to any kind of code, said Joan Seidel, the Kent City Health Commissioner

“There are a lot of different chemicals that can be found in some of these Delta-8 products because they’re synthesized,” Seidel said. “It depends on who’s manufacturing them and how cleanly they’re doing it. So there can be mercury, and there can be other toxic chemicals in there that you’re then ingesting into your lungs. So that’s a concern.”

Humphries said that many companies will attach lab results and ingredient lists to their products in the form of QR codes and are safe with their Delta 8 creation. The worst you have to be worried about she said is someone selling you something that they say has Delta-8 in it when in fact it has nothing in it.

“You should absolutely be cautious when buying Delta-8 and any other product that isn’t overseen by the FDA. We check the lab results of everything that we purchase. We do not sell anything that we do not have access to lab results for, for a reason… Delta eight is pretty cheap to manufacture. So I haven’t really heard a lot about people trying to cut it with other chemicals because odds are it would be more expensive to do that in the long run. There’s not much of a point to doing that.”

Another notable issue with Delta-8 usage is that it is still THC and can show up in tests meant to screen for marijuana usage. As it is nearly impossible to tell the two apart, there is an inherent risk to using Delta-8 products. If someone goes into a drug test for marijuana and they have been taking Delta-8, they can still get in trouble for drug usage. 

William Goldman, a doctor for Akron Children’s Medical Hospital’s Addiction services, also operates a substance-free program for adults with addiction and has had to fail members of the program because he couldn’t tell the difference as to whether they were still using marijuana or not.

“I do have people who want to use CBD and say ‘I heard CBD is good for me or Delta-8’ and they test positive for THC, which then threatens their programming because I can’t differentiate,” Goldman said. “The biggest problem we see is people that are already on the radar for substance use, and they’re using the substance [Delta-8] on top of it, which confuses their programming because they’re saying I’m using Delta, but I don’t know that you’re not using something else.”

Some people are concerned that it is dangerous for children. Many of the edible kinds of Delta-8 come in the form of brightly colored gummies which can look appealing to children. A few months ago a group of eight Akron elementary school students unknowingly ingested Delta 8 gummies, with one being transported by ambulance to a local Akron hospital.

Humphries said that this is one of those substances that is on parents and adults to keep these out of the reach of children. The eight Akron Students exemplify what happens when caution isn’t taken with children. 

“There are lots of things you can buy at the grocery store that children should not be ingesting. You hear the same stories about children getting their hands on their parent’s alcohol and drinking beer in the school bathroom or stealing your parent’s cigarettes or medical marijuana. It’s really on whoever left them lying around, those should have been put somewhere. I don’t have children, but if I did, I certainly wouldn’t leave things like that lying around for them to get their hands on.”

She also expressed her sympathy for the students and how she was upset to see that people were making a big deal about the situation.

“I’m sure that they had a lot of anxiety. I’m sure that it was a very different feeling for them, especially considering I have no idea what kind of dose they took. They probably took way more than the recommended amount for adults, which is super unfortunate. I feel for those kids.”

In short, Delta-8 is legal to use in Ohio and can be safe when used in moderation. As with all unregulated substances caution is advised when purchasing. There are still many things we don’t know when it comes to using Delta-8 so once again, caution is advised.

Just published a story all about Delta 8 check it out belowhttps://t.co/7dLiN0XlsJ

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