A significant proportion of U.S. adults have reported using delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in their lifetime according to a recently published study, and use is more prolific in states prohibiting all marijuana use.
Delta-8 THC is an intoxicating cannabinoid similar to Delta-9. It naturally occurs in very low quantities in hemp plants, but can be created through manipulating cannabidiol (CBD), which hemp can be abundant in.
A loophole in federal law that only mentions Delta-9 has seen a proliferation of Delta-8 products available, and often without any regulatory oversight. Manufacturers argue due to this omission, delta-8 THC can be produced from legally cultivated hemp.
Delta-8 THC products have been sold in convenience stores and online, with some products mimicking snacks or candies popular with children. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received numerous reports of adverse events linked to the use of such products.
A study by researchers from Stanford University and University of California San Diego indicates that of 1,523 U.S. adults surveyed in October–November 2023, approximately 7.7% reported using delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol at any point in their lifetimes. This translates to approximately 19.3 million individuals at the national level. And given a couple of years have passed since the survey was carried out, it’s possible the proportion is now even higher.
The prevalence of delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol use was lower in states permitting recreational marijuana use (5.5%) and also lower in states permitting medical use only (8.5%) than in states prohibiting all marijuana use (10.9%). Adults in states that regulated (3.9%) or prohibited (4.5%) Delta-8 THC sales reported lower rates of use than adults in states with unregulated markets (10.5%).
“These findings underscore that people don’t just stop using cannabis when their state bans it,” said the study’s senior author, Eric Leas, Ph.D., M.P.H. “They often shift to alternatives that are easier to access, even if they’re less well-studied or poorly regulated.”
Leas went on to say:
“Providing legal access to cannabis that meets safety standards and disallowing understudied and poorly regulated products like delta-8 THC could be one way to prioritize public health in our cannabis policies.”
The study has been published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
