US health officials warn of possible dangers of “THC delta-8”, a derivative compound marijuana, after seeing an increase in hospitalizations linked to the substance.
On Tuesday (September 14), both Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) alerted consumers to a recent increase in the availability of products containing THC delta-8, as well as reports of adverse product effects.
Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is one of more than 100 compounds known as “cannabinoids” found in the cannabis plant. It is similar to delta-9 THC, the psychoactive compound primarily responsible for people’s experience marijuana. Delta-8 THC is estimated to be 50% to 75% as psychoactive as delta-9 THC, but occurs naturally only at very low levels in cannabis plant, According to the CDC.
For this reason, some manufacturers use chemicals to convert other non-psychoactive cannabinoids, such as cannabidiol (CBD), to THC delta-8. According to the FDA, this process can create by-products or contaminants that are harmful to people’s health.
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In addition, products containing THC delta-8 are sometimes simply labeled as “hemp“A term that refers to the non-psychoactive parts of the cannabis plant and its derivatives. This labeling can mislead consumers into thinking they are taking a product with no psychoactive effects,” the FDA says. In addition, some products containing delta-8 THC can be labeled only with the delta-9 concentration, rather than the total THC content, which would underestimate the dose of THC in the product.
Recently, the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) began monitoring adverse events related to THC delta-8 and found that from January 1 to July 31, 2021 there were 660 exposure reports in the THC delta-8, nearly 20% of which required hospitalization, according to the CDC. Almost 40% of these cases involved children under 18 years of age. The FDA notes that manufacturers of THC delta-8 products usually package and label products in a way that children like, including selling products such as jelly beans, chocolates, cookies, or candy.
The FDA received 22 separate reports from December 2020 to July 2021 of people who experienced adverse reactions (including vomiting, hallucinations, foot problems, and loss of consciousness) after taking products with THC delta-8 .
Consumers should be aware that the FDA has not evaluated or approved THC delta-8 products for any use and that companies may market or label the products in a way that puts people’s health at risk, according to the FDA. People should also be aware that products labeled as hemp or CBD may contain THC delta-8 and cause psychoactive effects. Parents should keep products containing THC or CBD away from children and pets, officials said.
People who experience severe effects from THC or CBD products should call for poison control or seek immediate medical attention, according to the CDC.
Originally published in Live Science.