By now, you’ve probably heard of CBD (cannabidiol, a cannabis ingredient) and claims of widespread benefits. But there are other related products that appear all over the market that are appearing in the headlines and causing some concern.
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Like CBD, delta-8 (delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol) is just one of more than 100 chemical compounds found in the sativa cannabis plant. Most people are familiar with THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol), the main psychoactive compound in cannabis that causes you to have a euphoric boost.
The 2018 Farm Bill legalized the production and sale of CBD (non-increase) products at the federal level in the U.S. as long as they contain less than 0.3% THC. In theory, this would allow federal legalization of CBD products with delta-8 under these same guidelines, but doctors, such as internal medicine specialist Paul Terpeluk, DO, are expressing concerns about delta-8 products because delta-8 is psychoactive and produces highs equal to or similar to THC.
“Delta-8 can have about 50% to 80% of the psychoactive effect like delta-9 (THC), which means it can increase you, but not as much,” says Dr. Terpeluk.
Potential side effects of delta-8 use
There is not enough research on delta-8 to determine exactly how it varies from CBD and THC and whether it offers any positive benefits, but some studies suggest that delta-8 may help with some medical conditions such as anxiety, chronic pain. , stress. and depression.
Naturally, delta-8 is found in very small amounts in cannabis plants. But concentrated amounts of delta-8 can be created synthetically from CBD in a laboratory, which means that many CBD products on the market now have much higher levels of delta-8 than what is naturally produced in extracts. crus.
“What you’re starting to see across the spectrum of CBD marketing is that they specifically say that their CBD oil contains high levels of delta-8,” says Dr. Terpeluk.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that many of the chemicals used to synthesize delta-8 can be harmful. Because it is so similar to THC, many of its usual side effects could increase and could include:
- Vomiting.
- Hallucinations.
- Loss of consciousness.
- Problems standing up.
- Memory loss.
- Coordination problems.
- Dry mouth.
- Changes in appetite and weight.
Is Delta-8 legal?
The legality of Delta-8 is still being decided at the federal level. In November 2021, Texas temporarily lifted the restriction on the sale of delta-8 products after deciding that a previous classification of delta-8 as a List 1 drug did not meet administration requirements. According to Reuters, in August 2021, 18 states have banned or imposed delta-8 restrictions, and that may continue to change.
“At some level, it’s an unregulated drug manufacturing market,” says Dr. Terpeluk.
If you are considering using a delta-8 product, we recommend that you first check state laws and talk to an authorized healthcare provider about whether it is safe. However, there may be a high risk: according to the FDA, there was an increase in calls to delta-8-related poison control centers between January 1, 2021, and July 31, 2021. , with 41% of these calls related to children. .
