Key takeaways:
- The researchers used different methods to convert pure CBD into delta-8 THC.
- They tested the resulting delta-8 THC solutions and commercially available delta-8 gummies, finding that they both contained not only delta-8 but also illegal amounts of delta-9 THC and other cannabinoids we don’t know much about.
- The findings highlight the need for regulation of delta-8 THC production since it can lead to products that are inaccurate, illegal, and potentially unsafe.
A new study by Dutch and Chinese scientists highlights ongoing problems with the safety, legality, and accuracy of delta-8 THC products.
The researchers treated pure cannabidiol (CBD) powder with acid to transform it into intoxicating delta-8 THC — the method used to make delta-8 products like gummies and vapes.
They used eight different approaches and found that the conversion typically produced not just delta-8 THC but also large amounts of delta-9 THC (as much as 49%), a different form of THC called isoTHC, and other THC isomers (molecules with the same molecular formula but a different arrangement of atoms).
The researchers also tested commercially available delta-8 THC gummies, finding that they contained more delta-9 THC than claimed and carried isoTHC.
These findings have important implications:
- Many delta-8 products contain illegal (over 0.3%) amounts of delta-9 THC. And if the levels of delta-9 THC are high enough, they can also pose a safety risk to unsuspecting users.
- Delta-8 products are likely to contain inaccurate amounts of delta-8 THC, largely because it’s difficult for lab tests to differentiate between delta-8, isoTHC, and other THC isomers.
- There are safety concerns with isoTHC, THC isomers, and other unknown cannabinoids produced as byproducts during the conversion of CBD delta-8 THC. They haven’t been studied much (or at all).
The researchers concluded that “these findings highlight the urgency of improving regulations towards converting CBD to Δ8-THC for use as food ingredients.”
Delta-8 THC remains federally legal in the United States, but many individual states have chosen to ban or regulate it.
Gleb is a freelance writer from Vancouver, Canada specializing in CBD and cannabis. He’s read thousands of studies on CBD and other supplements, helping him translate complex science into plain language. Gleb has tried and reviewed dozens of CBD brands and products, written third-party testing reports, and knows the CBD industry inside and out. When not writing, he likes to kickbox, travel, and tell everyone how awesome intermittent fasting is.
