Selling Delta-8 THC Products? What You Need to Know About Delta-8 Risks for Minors

Marijuana is illegal in 26 states; however, consumers in these states may be confused to find cannabis products for sale at the checkout counter. For instance, marijuana is illegal in Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama where Stinger Compliance operates. Yet, behind thousands of locked glass cabinets in these states, cannabis-infused candy products and vape liquid are on display. The cannabis products are for sale to the public and, too often, are sold directly to minors. 

What they’re selling at gas stations is something called “delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol,” a cannabis product whose main consumers are under the age of 25. With brains that are still developing, the use of delta-8 products is a cause for concern as it’s been linked with extreme cases of psychosis and lung injuries. 

According to the 2018 Farm Bill, any product with less than 0.3% delta-9 THC (also known as “regular THC”) is considered a “hemp” product. Therefore, delta-8, which meets this requirement,  is legal in most states and categorized as hemp, a plant grown for its fiber.  

Minors across the country are inhaling and ingesting delta-8 THC only to get high, but find their lives completely altered by the delta-8’s adverse effects. Between January 2021 and February 2022, the national poison control centers received 2,362 exposure cases of delta-8 THC products. Of those cases, 41% of the cases involved patients under 18 years of age. 

As delta-8 products are easily acquired by minors, all business owners selling these age-restricted products must ensure their staff members are checking identification and keeping these products out of the hands of children. This is vital for the longevity of the businesses within our communities, but also for the safety of the upcoming generation. 

In this blog, we will define delta-8 and delta-9, share some of the adverse side effects of these products, and highlight how Stinger Compliance can help business owners sell these products safely. 

What are Delta-8 and Delta-9?

Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol is just one of more than 100 cannabinoids found in the cannabis sativa plant. This cannabinoid can be easily extracted from the plant to create THC oil that is then vaporized and provides a consumer with an intense high. 

Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol is a minor cannabinoid found in marijuana that is synthesized and condensed using a chemical process. The byproduct is commonly consumed via vape pens, but it’s also frequently consumed through edibles. Though it’s not as potent as delta-9 THC, it can still provide a psychoactive effect on users. 

Unfortunately, the production of delta-8 is not well regulated. Without regulation on the items being sold, the products are often found to be laced with other harmful chemicals or have higher concentrations of delta-9 THC than the legal limit. 

This lack of regulation impacts law enforcement agencies as they do not have readily available tests to detect if a product is delta-8 THC or delta-9 THC. Therefore, they usually treat all possession of cannabis products as illegal until proven otherwise. The products are sent for lab tests that take months, leaving the accused in limbo while awaiting the results.

In Texas, one teen reported for smoking delta-8 THC was arrested and suspended from his school for possession of illegal cannabis. The student is facing a felony charge if the lab results indicate the vape liquid contained more than the legal limit of 0.3% delta-9 THC. 

Wondering if delta-8 THC is legal in a specific state? Check out this website which shares the laws for the sale of delta-8 in all 50 states. 

The Side Effects of Delta-8 THC

Delta-8 THC is not well regulated and is not approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). This means that the consumers of these products have no idea what they are consuming unless they have sent the products off to independent labs for testing. 

With a lack of regulation, comes an influx of injuries. According to the FDA, users of delta-8 products regularly report hallucinations, tremors, vomiting, dizziness, anxiety, confusion, and a loss of consciousness. 

In cases where children unknowingly consume a large quantity of delta-8, the patients are admitted to ICUs for shallow breathing and slowed heart rates. In one case reported by the National Poison Control Agency, one child lost their life due to the consumption of delta-8. 

The worst cases are those where otherwise healthy teens are sent into a deep psychosis and are irrevocably changed. One 14-year-old from Newton County, Georgia spiraled into psychosis after consuming delta-8 products. An Emory University Hospital Addiction Center psychiatrist told WSB-TV in Atlanta, “About 50% of individuals who get diagnosed with a cannabis-induced psychotic disorder can go on to have a primary psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia.”

Selling Delta-8 to Minors 

A sting operation in Ohio this year found gas stations selling hemp products like delta-8 THC to minors without checking their identification. In some cases, kids as young as twelve years old could purchase these products without any issue at gas stations across the state. Because the candy products look so similar to regular candy products, the risk for their health and accidental consumption is extremely high. 

Delta-8 exposes children to many health and safety risks, causing politicians and attorneys across the USA to call for a complete removal of hemp products from stores. Many letters to Congress have been sent urging them to fix the loophole found in the 2018 Farm Bill. 

Business owners should, of course, check for identification before selling any delta-8 THC products. To add another level of safety, business owners selling delta-8 products might consider the removal of copycat candy products marketed to children as well as candy-flavored delta-8 liquid concentrate. 

How to Keep Communities Safe 

Business owners selling delta-8 products have a responsibility to their neighbors to keep delta-8 THC products out of the hands of minors. Business owners of smoke shops, gas stations, and other storefronts selling these age-restricted products should consider using secret shopper services to confirm their staff members are compliant with local laws. 

Stinger Compliance offers secret shopping services to businesses selling age-restricted products like tobacco, alcohol, and hemp products. By scheduling a private Sting (learn more about Stings here), business owners ensure their employees are checking identification and complying with policy regularly. Through the use of regular Stings, business owners keep their staff members vigilant to reduce their exposure to the risk of legal issues, business closure, or high fines. 

Stinger Compliance offers effective tools to business owners who take safety and compliance seriously. Ready to book a Sting with Stinger Compliance? Click here!